What Japan ICU Foundation does

Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in New York in 1949 to support the founding of International Christian University (ICU) in Mitaka, Japan. Headquartered at 475 Riverside Drive in New York with an operations office in Tokyo, the foundation operates with a small staff (approximately 4 personnel) under President and CEO Paul Hastings and Board Chair Fusae Nara. Its mission is to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity by funding innovative educational programs at ICU and other higher-education institutions in Japan.

JICUF delivers a portfolio of programs rather than technology products: scholarships and study-abroad support at ICU partner universities (Georgetown, Middlebury, UC Berkeley, UCLA), faculty grants for innovative research and teaching, the Global Citizen Fellowship (a fully-funded 8-month English-language leadership program launched in 2025), the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program for students from Parami University in Myanmar, the Japan Education Pathways scholarship for refugees, the Refugee Education Japan initiative, SDG Projects, and the Othmer Research Fellowship. There is no proprietary technology platform; the foundation's "product" is curated educational experiences combining retreats, international immersion, coaching, and small grant funding.

The foundation's economic model is philanthropic: it relies on charitable donations from individuals, alumni, and institutional supporters rather than commercial revenue. No financials are publicly disclosed in the source materials. Distribution occurs through direct partnerships with universities, retreat facilities in Japan (Shonan Village Center, Asian Rural Institute) and New York (The Uplands), and alumni/ICU institutional channels. Go-to-market is community-led, leveraging the ICU alumni network and partner-university relationships rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Japan ICU Foundation

Legal name

Japan ICU Foundation

Website

https://jicuf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japan ICU Foundation is a 1949-founded New York nonprofit that funds scholarships, fellowships, and exchange programs at International Christian University and other Japanese universities, including the Global Citizen Fellowship and refugee education pathways.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Philanthropy and Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK), Degree-Level Scholarships (Undergrad/Masters/PhD/Postdoc) (EDAIAOAE)

Keywords

• Higher education philanthropy
• Scholarship and fellowship programs
• Faculty research grants
• Student exchange programs
• Refugee education support

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Philanthropic Support: As a 501(c)(3) foundation incorporated in New York in 1949, JICUF relies on charitable donations from individuals, alumni, and institutional supporters to fund its educational programs, scholarships, and operational activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) is a nonprofit foundation that funds and delivers educational programs in support of International Christian University (ICU) in Japan and other Japanese higher education institutions. It offers scholarships, fellowships, faculty grants, student exchange programs, and refugee education pathways aimed at nurturing global citizens, with flagship offerings such as the Global Citizen Fellowship, Study Abroad Scholarships, Japan Education Pathways, and Faculty Grants. The organization is funded by charitable donations from alumni and institutional supporters.

Product overview

Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF) is a non-profit organization incorporated in New York in 1949 to support International Christian University (ICU) in Japan. JICUF offers a portfolio of educational programs including the Global Citizen Fellowship (leadership program), Faculty Grants, Study Abroad Scholarships, Exchange Student Programs (OYR), the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program, Japan Education Pathways scholarships for refugees, SDG Projects, and the Othmer Research Fellowship. These programs collectively support JICUF's mission to nurture global citizens who contribute to the well-being of humanity through innovative educational initiatives at ICU and other higher education institutions in Japan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Global Citizen Fellowship: A rigorous, English-language leadership program for undergraduate students in Japan who aspire to deepen self-awareness, expand understanding of the world, and contribute to the common good.
• Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program
• Japan Education Pathways
• Refugee Education Japan

Products and services

• Global Citizen Fellowship (GCF) A rigorous, English-language 8-month leadership program (April to December) for undergraduate students in Japan, bringing together 12 fellows from Japanese universities for self-discovery, global engagement, and purpose-driven reflection. Features two weekend retreats in Japan, a 2.5-week intensive in New York City, individual coaching, and peer learning. Fully funded by JICUF with a ¥100,000 social-impact project grant.
• Faculty Grants Grants awarded to ICU faculty members to support innovative educational programs, research projects, and teaching initiatives (e.g., Professor Tomiko Yamaguchi's Public Interest Technologies fieldwork in India during the Fall 2025 cycle).
• Refugee Education Japan A JICUF initiative (10-year anniversary in 2026) supporting students with refugee backgrounds to access higher education in Japan, including the Japan Education Pathways scholarship program.
• Japan Education Pathways (JEP) Scholarship Scholarship program providing full scholarships to students fleeing conflict at universities in Japan. ICU is a founding member alongside Waseda University, Soka University, Ryukoku University, Kansai Gaidai University, and others; JICUF and ICU share the cost of scholarships.
• Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program Cross-cultural exchange program at ICU bringing together students from Myanmar (Parami University) and Japan for nearly two weeks of learning, dialogue, and reflection on global citizenship, democracy, education, peacebuilding, and community belonging. In 2026, 12 Parami University students participated.
• SDG Projects Student projects supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, providing funding and support for youth-led initiatives addressing global challenges.
• Othmer Research Fellowship Research fellowship supporting scholars at ICU, funded by the Othmer bequest from Donald and Mildred Othmer.
• Study Abroad Scholarships Financial support for ICU students studying abroad at partner universities in North America, including institutions such as Georgetown University, Middlebury College, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.
• OYR (One Year Regular) Exchange Student Program Exchange student program hosting international students at ICU for one year as regular students, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and educational exchange.
• Visiting Scholar Program Program established in 2002 supporting the invitation of distinguished international researchers to ICU, with scholars staying at the East Kizakura Dialogue House and engaging with students and faculty.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Parami UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership for the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program bringing Myanmar students to Japan. Made possible through collaboration between JICUF, Parami University, ICU, and Volunteers in Asia (VIA).
• Volunteers in Asia (VIA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026VIA Programs partners with JICUF to facilitate cross-cultural exchange programs, including the Dwight Clark Cross-Cultural Program at ICU for students from Myanmar.
• Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Academic partnership hosting ICU students for field research on Public Interest Technologies in Odisha, India. CUTM actively connects university research with solutions to local community issues in agriculture, drone technology, and environmental areas.
• International Christian University (ICU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1949JICUF was established to found ICU in 1949 and continues as its primary support foundation. The partnership encompasses scholarships, faculty grants, exchange programs, and institutional support spanning over 75 years.
• Asian Rural Institute (ARI)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerARI hosts the final retreat for Global Citizen Fellowship participants in October, providing a transformative rural community experience in Tochigi Prefecture.
• Japan Education Pathways (JEP) ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEP is a multi-university consortium supporting refugee students in Japan. Member universities include Waseda University, Soka University, Ryukoku University, Kansai Gaidai, and ICU. At ICU, JICUF and ICU share the cost of scholarships.
• Refugee Education JapancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA JICUF initiative celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2026, supporting higher education for students with refugee backgrounds. The initiative recently published a 10-year report.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Japan Society (New York): New York-based nonprofit promoting US-Japan cultural and educational exchange. Operates from the same Riverside Drive corridor as JICUF and runs scholarships, fellowships, and educational programs for Japanese and American students.
• Yale-China Association: Founded in 1901, supports Chinese students and faculty at Yale and Chinese universities with fellowships, scholarships, and exchange programs. Closely analogous structure to JICUF as a US-incorporated foundation supporting a specific university relationship.
• Princeton in Asia: Independent nonprofit founded in 1898 providing fellowships and scholarships for Americans to study, teach, and work in Asia. Comparable model of university-affiliated fellowship programs and Asia-focused educational exchange.
• The U.S.-Japan Foundation: Independent US foundation focused exclusively on strengthening US-Japan relations through education, policy, and cultural programs. Closely aligned mission with JICUF and provides grants supporting US-Japan academic exchange and leadership development.
• American Friends of the Middle East (AFME): US-incorporated foundation supporting educational exchange and scholarship programs in a specific region. Comparable to JICUF as a US nonprofit channeling philanthropic dollars to international educational partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• Fulbright Japan: Administers the Fulbright scholarship program for US-Japan academic exchange. Larger-scale peer delivering scholarships, faculty grants, and cross-cultural programming through bilateral government funding.
• American Councils for International Education: Large US nonprofit administering study abroad, fellowships, and language programs across Eurasia and East Asia. Comparable exchange-program operator and grantmaking structure, though with broader regional scope than JICUF.
• The Japan Foundation: Japan's government-affiliated foundation for international cultural and educational exchange. Direct peer in mission to deepen US-Japan educational ties, but operates at much larger scale as a national institution rather than a private nonprofit.
• American Friends of Japan (Nippon Foundation related): Affiliated foundations supporting educational and humanitarian programs tied to Japan. Adjacent peer operating with much larger endowment and broader mission across maritime, education, and social welfare causes.

Emerging players

• Refugee Education UK: UK-based organization supporting refugee access to higher education. Comparable niche focus on refugee scholarship programs like JICUF's Refugee Education Japan initiative, though serving a different national context.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jicuf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japan-icu-foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/JICUF

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japan ICU Foundation