What Civic Force does

Civic Force (公益社団法人Civic Force) is a Japanese public interest incorporated association founded in 2009 by Representative Director Kaori Negi, in response to her experience during the 2004 Niigata Chuetsu Earthquake. The organization operates as a disaster response coordination platform connecting corporations, NPOs, and government agencies to deliver rapid emergency relief and medium-to-long-term recovery support to communities affected by large-scale natural disasters — primarily earthquakes, typhoons, heavy rains, and wildfires — across Japan. It has been actively deployed in response to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake, 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake, 2025 Ofunato wildfire, and 2026 Kumamoto earthquake, among other events. Its primary beneficiaries are disaster-affected populations and local government bodies, with secondary stakeholder segments of corporate partners and field NPOs.

The organization's operational infrastructure includes the Good Links digital matching platform that connects relief supply donors with disaster-affected NPOs; the SEMA (Emergency Disaster Response Alliance) logistics mechanism operated with Yahoo! Japan for rapid supply mobilization; the Disaster Relief Hub partnership with Amazon Japan, which pre-positions approximately 15,000 relief items across ~50 varieties at Amazon fulfillment centers; and participation as a founding member of the ARROWS (空飛ぶ捜索医療団) helicopter-based search-and-medical rescue project established in December 2019. Civic Force also operates the NPO Partner Collaboration Program (NPOパートナー協働事業) for medium-to-long-term recovery, the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association Disaster Support Fund, and the For Women project for gender-sensitive disaster support. The Japan Professional Baseball Players Association partnership provides public communication channels for disaster preparedness awareness.

Civic Force is funded entirely through donations across five streams: designated donations (with 15% allocated to operating costs and disaster preparedness), general donations, corporate donations, Saga Prefecture hometown tax (ふるさと納税) donations, and legacy/bequest donations. As a Specified Public Interest Promotion Corporation (特定公益増進法人), donors receive tax deduction benefits. The organization maintains a network of approximately 600 corporations and field NPOs built since 2011, and operates from a Tokyo headquarters (Shibuya) and a Saga regional office established following the August 2021 merger with A-PAD Japan. International coordination extends across six Asia-Pacific countries (Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh) through the A-PAD network. Revenue and headcount figures are not publicly disclosed despite publication of annual business reports and financial statements from FY2009 through FY2025.

Name

Civic Force

Legal name

公益社団法人Civic Force

Website

https://civic-force.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Civic Force is a Japanese public interest incorporated association founded in 2009 that coordinates rapid disaster response and recovery support by connecting corporations, NPOs, and government agencies to deliver relief to communities affected by earthquakes, typhoons, and wildfires in Japan and across the Asia-Pacific region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disaster Response and Humanitarian Aid Services

NAICS

Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), 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

Disaster Recovery, Reconstruction & Resilience Programs (BPAGAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disaster Response & Search and Rescue (SAR) (BPADADAA), Disaster Response Coordination & Incident Command (EOC/ICS) (HLAJAGAB)

Keywords

• Disaster response coordination
• Emergency relief services
• Humanitarian aid platform
• Nonprofit disaster preparedness
• Relief supply logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Designated Donations: Donations designated for specific disaster relief projects. 15% of designated donations are allocated to organizational operating costs and disaster preparedness activities.
2. General Donations: Donations supporting Civic Force's general activities including disaster preparedness training, stockpile management, warehouse operations, and secretariat operations for future disaster response.
3. Corporate Donations: Corporate contributions received through dedicated corporate donation programs and partnerships.
4. Hometown Tax Donations (ふるさと納税): Donations received through Saga Prefecture's hometown tax donation system, enabling donors to receive tax benefits while contributing to disaster preparedness.
5. Legacy and Bequest Donations: Inheritance and estate donations received as part of legacy giving programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Civic Force coordinates rapid and effective disaster response by serving as a platform organization connecting corporations, NPOs, and government agencies as equal partners. It deploys emergency response teams, manages pre-positioned relief supply stockpiles through logistics partnerships, and operates digital matching platforms to deliver resources to disaster-affected communities in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. Its work spans immediate emergency response through medium-to-long-term recovery and reconstruction support.

Product overview

Civic Force operates as a platform organization for disaster response, coordinating across three pillars: creating emergency preparedness mechanisms, supporting disaster-affected areas, and expanding across Asia. The core platform serves as a coordinating secretariat connecting corporations, NPOs, and government agencies for rapid disaster response. Key operational programs include ARROWS (空飛ぶ捜索医療団), a helicopter-based emergency medical rescue project; Good Links, a digital matching platform connecting relief supply donors with disaster organizations; SEMA (緊急災害対応アライアンス), a logistics alliance for rapid supply delivery; NPO Partner Collaboration Program for mid- to long-term recovery; Disaster Relief Hub, a logistics warehouse partnership with Amazon; the Japan Pro Baseball Players Association Disaster Support Fund; and the For Women project for gender-sensitive disaster support. Civic Force also operates its own email newsletter distribution system and manages donation collection through multiple channels including GlobalGiving.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 空飛ぶ捜索医療団ARROWS: Emergency disaster project co-founded in December 2019, providing medical search and rescue services
• Good Links
• SEMA
• Disaster Relief Hub
• NPOパートナー協働事業
• 日本プロ野球選手会災害支援基金

Products and services

• Civic Force Platform (Emergency Response Team Coordination Platform / 緊急即応チーム 連携組織) A coordination platform that enables rapid, effective disaster response by fostering partnerships between corporations, NPOs, and government agencies for disaster-affected areas in Japan.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over ¥100 million in citizen donations received within 3 days of the Great East Japan Earthquake (March 2011)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Japan Professional Baseball Players Association (日本プロ野球選手会)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2021Civic Force and the Japan Professional Baseball Players Association established the 'Players Association Disaster Support Fund' (選手会ファンド) in 2021. The partnership leverages the players' communication influence for disaster preparedness awareness (e.g., 'Minna DE Bosai' events) and provides funding for disaster relief activities. Joint charity auctions and crowdfunding campaigns are conducted.
• Tokio Marine & Nichido (東京海上日動 佐賀支店)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 November 2021Cooperation agreement between Civic Force and Tokio Marine & Nichido's Saga branch for disaster preparedness and response activities in Saga Prefecture.
• Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management - Japan (A-PAD ジャパン)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Civic Force merged with A-PAD Japan in August 2021, combining the network strength and field experience of Civic Force with A-PAD Japan's international and local government connections. A-PAD operates platform organizations in 6 countries (Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh) for regional disaster management. Civic Force leads the Japan platform.
• ARROWS (空飛ぶ捜索医療団)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2019Civic Force co-founded the 'ARROWS' (Flying Search and Medical Corps) emergency disaster response project in December 2019. ARROWS provides helicopter-based search and rescue operations and medical support during disasters. Civic Force participates as a member of the ARROWS consortium, deploying emergency relief teams and medical personnel.
• SEMA (Emergency Disaster Response Alliance)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2017Civic Force participates in the SEMA (Emergency Disaster Response Alliance) established in August 2017, coordinating emergency relief supply logistics with Yahoo! Japan for rapid disaster response.
• Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2012Civic Force took a leading role in establishing the Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management (A-PAD) at the 5th Asian Disaster Management Ministers' Conference in Indonesia in October 2012. A-PAD is a regional international organization with platform organizations in 6 countries for cross-border disaster response coordination.
• Amazon Japan (アマゾンジャパン合同会社)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmazon Japan operates the Disaster Relief Hub program in partnership with Civic Force. Supplies are pre-positioned at Amazon fulfillment centers (starting with Amagasaki, Hyogo and Sagamihara, Kanagawa) and distributed through Amazon's logistics network during disasters. Civic Force participates in selecting relief supply items based on its disaster response experience, providing approximately 15,000 items across about 50 varieties. The partnership leverages Amazon's nationwide network of 25+ fulfillment centers and 50+ delivery stations.
• Yahoo! Japan (Yahoo!ネット募金 / SEMA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerYahoo! Japan operates the SEMA (Emergency Disaster Response Alliance) platform in partnership with Civic Force. SEMA enables rapid mobilization and distribution of emergency relief supplies pre-positioned at logistics hubs. Civic Force is a member of the SEMA alliance and utilizes Yahoo! Japan's donation collection platform for disaster-specific fundraising campaigns.
• GlobalGivingcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational donation platform used by Civic Force to collect donations for specific disaster response projects, particularly for international donors supporting Japanese disaster relief efforts.
• Teco Japan (株式会社Teco)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGeneral Incorporated Association Teco, based in Iwaki City Fukushima Prefecture, operates community spaces and events in the Heizaka district. Civic Force supports Teco's disaster relief activities through the NPO Partner Collaboration Program, providing supplies such as camp stoves and clothing following Typhoon No. 13 damage.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Japan Platform (JPF): Japan Platform is a humanitarian aid coordination platform established in 2000 that pools corporate donations, NGO field expertise, and government support to deliver rapid disaster response. It is the closest functional peer to Civic Force in Japan, sharing the multi-stakeholder platform model and emergency response focus.
• Peace Winds Japan: Peace Winds Japan is a Yokohama-based humanitarian NGO focused on disaster response, refugee support, and recovery across Asia Pacific. Comparable to Civic Force in its disaster-response orientation, mid-to-long-term recovery programming, and Asia-Pacific geographic reach.
• A-PAD (Asia Pacific Alliance for Disaster Management): A-PAD is the regional platform organization network that Civic Force itself leads in Japan. Its six member-country platforms (Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Bangladesh) are direct operational peers to Civic Force in coordinating cross-border disaster response across Asia Pacific.

Broad incumbents

• Japan Red Cross Society: Japan Red Cross Society is the largest humanitarian organization in Japan, operating across disaster response, medical services, and blood programs. It is a broader incumbent peer: it overlaps with Civic Force on disaster relief and logistics, but operates a far wider institutional mandate.
• Japan Committee for UNHCR: Japan Committee for UNHCR is the national fundraising and advocacy arm for UNHCR in Japan, supporting refugee and displaced persons programs. Comparable to Civic Force as a Japan-based humanitarian organization leveraging multi-stakeholder partnerships and tax-deductible donation channels.
• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF): MSF is a leading international medical humanitarian organization delivering emergency medical care in disaster and conflict zones. ARROWS, Civic Force's helicopter-based emergency medical rescue project, is directly comparable to MSF's medical emergency response teams.
• Mercy Corps: Mercy Corps is a global humanitarian organization that works in disaster response and recovery, with significant Asia Pacific programs. Comparable to Civic Force in its mid-to-long-term recovery focus and cross-border emergency response orientation.

Emerging players

• NetHope: NetHope is a consortium of leading international NGOs and technology companies that coordinates digital and data solutions for humanitarian response. Comparable to Civic Force's Good Links platform in applying digital matching technology to multi-stakeholder disaster coordination.
• Direct Relief: Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid organization that delivers medical supplies and emergency assistance globally, with strong logistics partnerships and pre-positioned supply networks. Comparable to Civic Force in its pre-positioned supply focus and corporate-partner-driven distribution model.
• Save the Children Japan: Save the Children Japan is the Japanese affiliate of a global child-rights organization active in disaster response and child-focused humanitarian programs. Comparable to Civic Force's For Women project in addressing vulnerable-population needs during disasters, particularly relevant in Japan earthquake/tsunami contexts.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/civicforce
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/civicforceorg
• Facebookfacebook.com/civicforce
• Instagraminstagram.com/civicforce

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Civic Force