Japan International Volunteer Center

What Japan International Volunteer Center does

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC, 認定NPO法人日本国際ボランティアセンター) is a Tokyo-headquartered international cooperation non-governmental organization founded in 1980. JVC operates community development, humanitarian aid, and peacebuilding programs across six countries and regions: Laos, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Korea, and Myanmar/Burma. The organization has also concluded operations in South Sudan, Syria, South Africa, Afghanistan, Cambodia, and post-2011 Great East Japan Earthquake recovery. JVC's programmatic activities span emergency humanitarian relief, nutritional support for children and mothers, school and clinic restoration, psychosocial care, educational materials distribution, teacher training, and policy advocacy on international cooperation and disarmament issues. Its three stated operational principles are "sharing instead of taking," "overcoming division through dialogue," and "opening possibilities together." Beneficiaries are primarily conflict-affected populations in Asia and the Middle East, with disaster response as needed (most recently the March 2025 Myanmar earthquake).

JVC operates with a small professional team (11-50 staff) including a Tokyo headquarters office and country-based field representatives. Funding is derived from five primary streams: recurring individual monthly donations, annual membership fees (eligible for tax deduction under its Tokyo Metropolitan certified NPO status), corporate partnerships for CSR initiatives and employee volunteering, legacy/bequest gifts, and sale of fair-trade and secondhand goods. Donor acquisition combines digital channels (Salesforce-based donation portal, Yahoo! Donation, social media across Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/YouTube), traditional channels (postal transfer via Yucho Bank), and offline engagement through educational lectures at schools, companies, and labor unions, plus study tours, photo exhibitions, and film screenings. JVC supplements direct operations with partnerships including local NGOs in field countries, Sophia University's humanitarian training programs, Human Rights Watch on Myanmar ODA advocacy, and the Asian Children's Campaign for inter-Korea and Japan friendship activities.

JVC is registered as a Specified Non-Profit Corporation (特定非営利活動法人) under Tokyo Metropolitan government certification, has no parent company or subsidiaries, and is not publicly traded. Recent strategic activity includes the March 2025 launch of Myanmar earthquake emergency response operations and sustained Gaza humanitarian operations since October 2023, while the organization ended its 35+ year JVC International Cooperation Calendar and New Year postcard fundraising line in 2023.

Name

Japan International Volunteer Center

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人日本国際ボランティアセンター

Website

https://ngo-jvc.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) is a Tokyo-based international cooperation NGO founded in 1980 that delivers humanitarian aid, community development, and peacebuilding programs across six countries including Laos, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Korea, and Myanmar, funded primarily by individual Japanese donors, members, and corporate partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Humanitarian-Development-Peace Nexus & Resilience Programming (BPADAEAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Humanitarian Coordination, Information Management & Needs Assessment (BPADADAL), Refugee, IDP & Migration Humanitarian Assistance (BPAGAAAH), International Development & Donor-Funded Education Programs (EDADALAB)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• International cooperation NGO
• Community development programs
• Emergency relief operations
• Peacebuilding activities

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Monthly supporter programs with automatic credit card or bank account deductions, one-time donations, and item donations (stamps, postcards, foreign currency)
2. Membership Program: Annual membership fees providing tax deduction benefits as a certified NPO in Tokyo
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations, volunteer participation programs, and in-kind support from businesses
4. Legacy/Bequest Donations: Bequest and legacy gift programs for long-term supporter engagement
5. Goods Donation Sales: Sale of fair trade items and secondhand goods where proceeds support activities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) is a Tokyo-certified specified non-profit corporation (認定NPO法人) operating as an international cooperation NGO since 1980. It delivers humanitarian aid, emergency relief, community development, educational support, and peacebuilding programs in six countries/regions (Laos, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Korea, and Myanmar/Burma). JVC funds these operations through individual donations, monthly supporter programs, membership fees, corporate partnerships, legacy gifts, and goods donations (used stamps, postcards, foreign currency).

Product overview

Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) is a Tokyo-certified NPO (Specified Non-Profit Corporation) engaged in international cooperation and humanitarian aid. Rather than a technology product company, JVC operates as a charitable organization providing humanitarian assistance, development cooperation, emergency response, and advocacy activities across multiple countries including Laos, Palestine, Sudan, Yemen, Korea, and Myanmar. JVC's services include donation collection programs (monetary and material donations such as used stamps), volunteer recruitment, internship programs, educational lectures, and advocacy campaigns. The organization also publishes an annual activity report and engages in policy advocacy work related to international peace and humanitarian issues.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gaza/Palestine Humanitarian Support Program Emergency humanitarian support including infant formula, nutritional aid, medical supplies, and clinic restoration for children, pregnant women, and nursing mothers in Gaza; plus women's empowerment, vocational training, and business development programs in East Jerusalem through local partner Silwan Attari Women's Center.
• Sudan Educational Support Program School restoration, educational materials, teacher training, and psychosocial care for children affected by conflict in Sudan. Includes facilitator-led children's plaza and safe learning space activities.
• Laos Community Development Program Long-term community development activities in Laos, including preservation of commons, rural development, and human rights initiatives in partnership with Earthian (地球の木).
• Yemen Children's Plaza Program Operations in Taiz City, Yemen, providing children's plaza facilitators and safe learning spaces for conflict-affected children. Local facilitator salaries funded at 15,000 JPY per 2 weeks.
• Korea Peacebuilding Program North-South Korea and Japan friendship activities, including picture letter exchanges between children, in partnership with Asian Children's Campaign (KOREAこどもキャンペーン).
• Myanmar Earthquake Emergency Relief Program Emergency humanitarian relief in response to the March 28, 2025 Myanmar earthquake (magnitude 7.7), providing relief supplies, food, medical aid, and educational support to affected areas in Sagaing and Mandalay regions.
• Advocacy and Policy Research Policy research and advocacy activities addressing root causes of conflict and inequality, including coalition campaigns such as the Campaign to Cut Off Funding to Myanmar Military and webinars on Japan's ODA.
• Monthly Supporter Donation Program Recurring donation program with automatic credit card or bank account deductions, enabling individual supporters to provide ongoing funding for JVC operations.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership with tax deduction benefits enabled by Tokyo-certified NPO status, available to individuals supporting JVC.
• Goods Donation Program Accepts in-kind donations of used stamps, postcards, foreign currency, and other items where proceeds are redirected to support field activities.
• Corporate Partnership Program Corporate donations, employee volunteer participation, in-kind support, and cause marketing partnerships for Japanese companies seeking CSR engagement.
• Legacy/Bequest Donation Program Bequest and legacy gift program for long-term supporter engagement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 209+ million JPY raised for Myanmar earthquake relief within target timeframe
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Earthian (地球の木)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host educational events and study tours related to Laos operations and commons preservation activities
• Campaign to Cut Off Funding to Myanmar Military (#ミャンマー国軍の資金源を断て)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition campaign including Mekong Watch, Ayus Buddhist International Cooperation Network, FoE Japan, and NATLAT working on advocacy regarding Japan's ODA to Myanmar
• Sophia University International Cooperation Human Resource Development CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJVC staff serve as coordinators for emergency humanitarian aid courses at Sophia University, contributing to professional development in the sector
• Human Rights WatchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on webinar regarding Myanmar ODA issues, particularly regarding Bago Bridge construction project concerns
• Asian Children's Campaign (KOREAこどもキャンペーン)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for North-South Korea and Japan friendship activities including picture letter exchanges between children
• Progressive VoiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosting Myanmar seminars and advocacy events
• Silwan Attari Women's Center (AWC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal partner NGO in East Jerusalem working on women's empowerment programs, vocational training, and business development
• JVC Africa Volunteer TeamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer-led team creating YouTube content and organizing photo exhibitions about Africa operations (Sudan and Yemen)
• Various local partner organizations in field countriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal NGOs and community organizations in Laos, Sudan, Yemen, and Myanmar who implement programs with JVC support

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• World Vision Japan: Japan office of World Vision International, supporting child welfare, education, and emergency relief across developing regions. Comparable to JVC in mobilizing Japanese individual donors and operating sponsorship-based programs in Asia and Africa.
• CARE International Japan: Japan office of CARE International, providing humanitarian aid and women's empowerment programs. Comparable to JVC in addressing humanitarian crises and engaging Japanese individual and corporate donors for international cooperation programs.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Japan: Japan office of the global medical-humanitarian organization MSF, providing emergency medical care in conflict and disaster zones. Comparable to JVC in fundraising from Japanese supporters for emergency humanitarian operations in Gaza, Sudan, and Myanmar.
• Plan International Japan: Japan office of Plan International, focused on children's rights, education, and emergency response. Comparable to JVC in operating from Japan with field programs in conflict-affected and developing regions, relying on individual Japanese supporters.

Direct peers

• Japan Platform (JPF): Japan-based emergency humanitarian aid pooling mechanism that channels Japanese government and private donations through member NGOs for overseas disaster response. Operates in similar countries and crisis types as JVC, including Sudan and Myanmar.
• Peace Winds Japan: Japan-based humanitarian NGO providing emergency relief, reconstruction, and development assistance across Asia and the Middle East. Highly comparable to JVC in mission, donor base, and country footprint (Myanmar, Palestine, etc.).
• Save the Children Japan: Japan affiliate of Save the Children, providing humanitarian aid and child-focused development programs across Asia and Africa. Highly comparable in targeting Japanese individual donors and operating in conflict-affected countries.
• Oxfam Japan: Japan office of Oxfam international confederation, focused on poverty, inequality, and humanitarian response. Comparable to JVC in engaging Japanese individual donors for international development and emergency relief programs.
• Shanti Volunteer Association: Japan-based international cooperation NGO with programs in Asia and Africa on education, health, and disaster relief. Comparable to JVC in mission, scale (small Japan-headquartered NGO with country field offices), and target donor base of Japanese supporters.
• AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia): Japanese humanitarian NGO founded in 1984 focused on emergency medical relief and community health. Comparable to JVC in being a Japan-headquartered international cooperation NGO with field operations in conflict-affected Asian and African regions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ngo_jvc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoqSkVz-qRjarTlCGogy7OQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NGOJVC
• Instagraminstagram.com/ngo_jvc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japan-international-volunteer-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japan International Volunteer Center