JEN

What JEN does

JEN (特定非営利活動法人ジェン) is a Tokyo-based international humanitarian NGO founded in 1994 that provides emergency relief and self-reliance support to populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters. The organization operates in 25+ countries since its establishment, with current active operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey (supporting Syrian refugees), Japan (Tohoku disaster recovery since 2019), and Lebanon (added April 2026 in response to the Middle East crisis). Core program areas include emergency response, water and sanitation (WASH) infrastructure, education and child support, livelihood recovery, and women's empowerment. The organization's founding philosophy, "self-reliance support from emergency phase" (緊急期から自立支援), distinguishes its approach from dependency-creating aid models by emphasizing that emergency assistance should lead to autonomous recovery rather than long-term reliance.

The organization is funded through a diversified donation portfolio: monthly recurring JEN Supporter subscriptions (1,000-10,000 yen tiers), item-based donation programs (BOOKMAGIC with Book Off, Brand Pledge with Brandia/Syncable, Otakara Aid with TM Communication Service), corporate partnerships and foundation grants (notably Ajinomoto Foundation for Pakistan nutrition programs), crowdfunding (Congrant, ReadyFor), and merchandise sales (calendar products, mountain spring rice). JEN holds Certified NPO (認定特定非営利活動法人) status granted by Japan's National Tax Agency in September 2005, placing it among only ~2% of Japan's 50,000+ NPOs to achieve this tax-deductible donation status. The organization has 11-50 employees, headquarters in Minato-ku Tokyo, and an item donation processing center in Setagaya.

JEN's donor acquisition and engagement strategy combines multiple digital channels (website, LINE official account, Spotify podcast, YouTube, Facebook, X, Instagram) with experiential events (documentary screenings, charity runs, public exhibitions like Global Festa JAPAN). The organization serves three primary constituent groups: individual Japanese donors (the primary revenue base), corporate and foundation partners, and disaster/conflict-affected beneficiaries in field locations. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the organization does not publish financial statements. JEN does not sell commercial products; all revenue derives from donations, grants, and ancillary merchandise sales.

Name

JEN

Legal name

特定非営利活動法人ジェン (Tokutei Hieiri Katsudou Houjin JEN)

Website

https://jen-npo.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

JEN is a Tokyo-based international humanitarian NGO founded in 1994 that provides emergency relief and self-reliance support to conflict- and disaster-affected populations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey, Japan, and Lebanon. It operates through diversified donations, corporate grants, and certified NPO status.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Community Food and Housing, and Emergency and Other Relief Services (6242), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal, Newborn, Child & Adolescent Health (MNCAH) NGOs (HLAJAKAG)

Keywords

• Humanitarian aid services
• Disaster relief programs
• Refugee support services
• Water sanitation programs
• Nonprofit emergency response

Headquarters

HQ city

Akasaka

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations (JEN Supporter): Monthly recurring donations from individual supporters (JEN Supporter program) with tiered options from 1,000 yen to 10,000 yen per month. Also includes one-time donations and country-specific donations.
2. Merchandise/Item-based Donations: Programs where donated items (books, CDs, DVDs, brand goods, valuables, coins, gift certificates, mobile phones) are converted to donations through partners like Book Off (BOOKMAGIC), Brand Pledge, and お宝エイド.
3. Campaign Donations: Time-limited campaigns such as winter fundraising drives aiming to recruit 50 new supporters, environment month campaigns with Book Off partnerships, and disaster emergency appeals.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate donations, foundation grants (e.g., Ajinomoto Foundation for Pakistan nutrition program), and cause-marketing partnerships.
5. Sales Revenue: Sales of calendar products (e.g., 'Manazashi' 2026 calendar), merchandise with donations attached, and mountain spring rice from supported communities.
6. Event-based Fundraising: Charity events including wine parties, documentary screenings, and participation in festivals like Global Festa JAPAN.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

JEN is a Japanese international NGO that delivers humanitarian aid programs to populations affected by conflicts and natural disasters, with current operations in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey (Syrian refugees), Lebanon, and Japan (Tohoku). Core programs include emergency relief, water and sanitation (WASH), education and child support, livelihood recovery, and women's empowerment, all centered on a "self-reliance support from emergency phase" philosophy. Revenue is raised in Japan through individual monthly donations (JEN Supporter program), item-based donation schemes (BOOKMAGIC, Otakara Aid, Brand Pledge), corporate and foundation partnerships, crowdfunding, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

JEN is a Japanese international NGO established in 1994 that provides humanitarian aid to refugees and displaced persons affected by conflicts and natural disasters. The organization operates through a multi-project portfolio approach, with current activities in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey (supporting Syrian refugees), and Lebanon. Core program areas include emergency response, water and sanitation (WASH), education and child support, livelihood recovery, and women's empowerment. JEN generates donations and public engagement through multiple fundraising products: the monthly JEN Supporter program, BOOKMAGIC (book/CD/DVD donations via Bookoff), Brand Pledge (brand clothing donations), Otakara Aids (valuable item donations), and special campaigns like LINE donations and charity merchandise. The organization also engages supporters through its international cooperation podcast series, online activity report meetings, newsletters, annual reports, and documentary events. Donations are tax-deductible as JEN holds certified NPO (認定、特種非营利活动法人) status with the Japanese National Tax Agency.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BOOKMAGIC: A book and media donation program in partnership with Bookoff where donated books, CDs, DVDs, and games are appraised and the proceeds go to JEN's educational support activities.
• Brand Pledge (ブランドプレッジ)
• お宝エイド (Otakara Aid)

Products and services

• Emergency Relief Programs (緊急支援プログラム)

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,875 people received hot meals during Afghanistan earthquake emergency
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• ブックオフ (Book Off)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBOOKMAGIC partnership where donated books, CDs, DVDs, and games are collected by Book Off, with purchase prices entirely donated to JEN. Includes campaign periods where Book Off adds 10% to donations.
• ブランディア (Brandia) & SyncablesupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand Pledge service where brand clothing and bags are purchased by Brandia, with purchase prices donated to JEN plus 300-500 yen per application.
• お宝エイド (TM Communication Service)supportingGTM or Marketing Partnerお宝エイド program receives donated valuables, coins, gift certificates, and mobile phones, with approximately 10% added to donation value for JEN.
• WORLD FESTIVAL Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced documentary film and 2026 calendar about Pakistan activities. Yuki Kondo (Founder & CEO) directed documentary about Pakistan floods and JEN's agricultural support. Calendar features JEN project areas with QR codes linking to video content.
• 味の素ファンデーション (Ajinomoto Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJEN was selected for grant to implement nutrition improvement and food-related programs in Pakistan Sindh Province.
• ジャパン・プラットフォーム (Japan Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPF activity report featured JEN's returnee support activities in Afghanistan. JPF is a major humanitarian aid coordination body in Japan.
• コングラント (Congrant)supportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrowdfunding platform for JEN projects including Afghanistan livelihood support campaigns.
• READYFORsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrowdfunding platform for JEN Afghanistan emergency assistance and livelihood support projects.
• ケイズハウス (K's House)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerK's House NPO Grant Program - JEN shared experiences as past participant of grant program supporting humanitarian activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CARE Japan: Japanese office of CARE International, providing humanitarian and development assistance with an emphasis on women and vulnerable populations. Comparable to JEN via women's empowerment and disaster recovery programming, but operating globally with much larger donor infrastructure.
• Save the Children Japan: Japanese arm of the global INGO focused on children's welfare, education, and disaster response. Overlaps meaningfully with JEN's education/child support programs and emergency appeal infrastructure, but at substantially greater scale and brand recognition.
• Plan International Japan: Japanese arm of Plan International focused on children's rights, gender equality, and humanitarian response. Comparable to JEN's education and child support focus, with overlapping institutional donor base and similar Japan-fundraising model.
• MSF Japan (Médecins Sans Frontières): Japanese branch of the global medical humanitarian organization delivering emergency care in conflict zones. Overlaps with JEN's emergency response focus and active field presence in conflict-affected countries, but specializes in medical humanitarian intervention.
• World Vision Japan: Japanese arm of World Vision International, delivering child sponsorship and humanitarian programming worldwide. Comparable to JEN via development programming and disaster response, but with much broader funding base, recurring sponsorship model, and household brand presence in Japan.

Emerging players

• Habitat for Humanity Japan: NGO focused on housing and community reconstruction after natural disasters, with active programming in Asia-Pacific. Comparable to JEN's WASH-related community infrastructure work in disaster-affected regions, though narrower in mission focus on shelter/housing reconstruction.
• ADRA Japan: Japanese humanitarian and development organization providing disaster response, refugee support, and community development. Comparable to JEN's emergency relief and long-term recovery focus, similar in scale and Japan-based INGO posture.

Direct peers

• AMDA (Association of Medical Doctors of Asia): Japanese humanitarian NGO providing medical and emergency relief in disaster and conflict-affected regions worldwide. Comparable to JEN's multi-country emergency response model and Japanese-based INGO structure, with somewhat greater medical specialization.
• AAR Japan: Japanese humanitarian NGO focused on disability inclusion, refugee support, and disaster response across Asia and Africa. Comparable to JEN as a similarly-sized Japan-headquartered INGO operating on the same emergency-to-recovery model.
• Peace Winds Japan: Japan-based international humanitarian NGO providing emergency relief and recovery in conflict and disaster zones across Asia and the Middle East. Directly comparable to JEN in mission, geographic focus, and target beneficiary populations affected by conflict and natural disasters.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/NGO_JEN
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCgEGGOdtxOaRlsbWXkvVtKA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Japan.Emergency.Ngo
• Instagraminstagram.com/ngo_jen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jen-japan-emergency-ngos-

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about JEN