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American Friends of International House of Japan
Dobbs Ferry, NY · EIN 133410012 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q11 · International Affairs · Small ($100K-$1M) · afihj.org
revenue
$128K
expenses
$76K
net assets
$245K
employees
1
volunteers
12
program ratio
51%
mission · from form 990

Promote international good will and understanding by encouraging and fostering active relationships among scholars, educators, scientists, business people and other persons from Japan, the United States, and other nations, as well as educational and other institutions.

profile · synthesized from sources

The American Friends of the International House of Japan (AFIHJ) promotes international goodwill and understanding by fostering relationships among scholars, educators, business leaders, and policymakers from Japan, the United States, and other nations. It supports transpacific dialogue through leadership initiatives, educational programming, and strategic partnerships. The organization collaborates with the International House of Japan and other institutions to advance U.S.-Japan cooperation on global issues.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $12K
    Developing a platform for Opportunities that can enhance US-Japan understanding and also support the role of the international House of Japan in the US and Japan Relationship
named programs · 3 · from sources

What they call their work

JapanHands Online Hub
A digital platform developed with NAJAS to connect U.S.-Japan organizations through a shared calendar, speaker database, and collaboration tools to strengthen transpacific engagement.
Next Generation Fellowship Program
Supported promising young American leaders in the U.S.-Japan relationship with three years of membership at the International House of Japan and participation in its Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Program.
Senior Fellows Program
A leadership initiative that brings together experienced philanthropy leaders to contribute thought leadership and shape the North America–Japan Philanthropy Alliance through virtual engagement and public commentary.
activities · 5 groups

What they do

  • U.S.-Japan Cultural and Educational Exchange 3 activities
    • Co-convening private gatherings on refugee education and talent pathways
      Co-convenes invitation-only and private gatherings to discuss refugee education, talent pathways to Japan, and the role of philanthropy in supporting these efforts.
    • Operating a digital platform and event calendar for U.S.-Japan engagement
      Launched and maintains JapanHands.org, a digital platform that connects leaders, organizations, and the public engaged in U.S.-Japan affairs, including a comprehensive calendar of hundreds of Japan-related events across North America and beyond.
    • Supporting leadership development and fellowship programs
      Provides multi-year support for young American leaders through the Next Generation Fellows Program, covers initiation and membership costs for participation in the Asia-Pacific Young Leaders Program, and launched a Senior Fellows program under the North America–Japan Philanthropy Alliance.
  • Cultural Exchange and Mutual Understanding Programs 1 activity
    • Advancing U.S.-Japan mutual understanding through intellectual and cultural exchange
      Develops platforms to enhance U.S.-Japan understanding, fosters deep mutual respect between the peoples of the United States and Japan, and operates programs in international relations, social systems, civilization studies, and art and design to advance intellectual dialogue and cultural exchange.
  • University-Specific Endowment and Program Funding 1 activity
    • Funding programs at the International House of Japan
      Provides financial support for the development of Next Generation Fellowship Programs, community-building initiatives among International House of Japan members in North America, program enhancements, strategic partnerships, and publications through I-House Press, including historical and scholarly works on Japanese studies.
  • Leadership & Policy Dialogue Forums 1 activity
    • Organizing high-level dialogues and public discussions on U.S.-Japan relations
      Hosts in-person and high-level dialogues such as "Strategic Frontiers: Japan-U.S. Leadership in a Fragmenting World" during UNGA Week 2025 and a tea diplomacy discussion at Grace Farms in 2026, fostering intellectual exchange on bilateral leadership and diplomacy.
  • Conflict and Geopolitical Research Analysis 1 activity
    • Producing research publications and policy insights on U.S.-Japan relations
      Produces and publishes research outputs including virtual roundtables on the Global Philanthropy Environment Index, video readouts on G7 summit implications, Insights Reports on global trust and cross-border leadership, and historical brochures on key figures and initiatives.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$128K
Contributions & grants$128K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$76K
Program expenses51%
Admin / overhead28%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$50K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$245K
Cash$245K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$245K
Liquid reserves38.8 mo
3 years on record · 2022–2024 · YoY revenue -37.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 12
  • Ariel Jeong — Trustee
  • C LAWRENCE GREENWOOD JR — Trustee
  • DR DAVID P JANES — Executive Director and Treasure
  • DR KENT E CALDER — PRESIDENT
  • DR ROBERT HELLYER — Trustee
  • DR SUSAN J PHARR — Trustee
  • DR TIMOTHY B BROWN — Trustee
  • Laurence Bates — Trustee
  • MR SAMUEL KIDDER — Trustee
  • MR SATORU MURASE — Trustee
  • MS CHRISTINE PILCAVAGE — Secretary
  • MS SHANTI SHOJI — Trustee
relationships · 28

Who they work with

  • Asia Society Partner — Robert B. Oxnan, President of the Asia Society, was a founder of AFIHJ.
  • Asia Society Partner — Strategic partner organization linked through shared leadership and vision with John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
  • Grace Farms Partner — Collaborated with Grace Farms to host a discussion on tea diplomacy on October 17, 2026.
  • India International Centre Partner — Strategic partner organization linked through shared leadership and vision with John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Co-convened a gathering on refugee education and talent pathways to Japan.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Co-developed and co-presented a UNGA week dialogue and other programs in collaboration with the International House of Japan.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Collaborates with the International House of Japan to administer the Next Generation Fellows Program and co-develop the North America–Japan Philanthropy Alliance.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Collaborates with the International House of Japan to advance dialogue and cooperation between Japan, the United States, and the international community.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Primary affiliated organization supported by AFIHJ, serving as a hub for American intellectuals in Japan.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Primary institutional partner; AFIHJ supports its programs, raises its profile in North America, and expands its membership.
  • International House of Japan Partner — Supports the role of the International House of Japan in U.S.-Japan relations
  • Japan ICU Foundation Partner — Co-convened an invitation-only gathering on refugee education and talent pathways to Japan.
  • Japan ICU Foundation Partner — Collaborated on convening a gathering focused on refugee education and talent pathways to Japan.
  • Japan Society Partner — Co-led a UNGA week special dialogue on Japan-U.S. leadership with Japan Society.
  • Japan Society Partner — John Wheeler, Vice President of the Japan Society, was a founder of AFIHJ.
  • Japan Society Partner — Provided support for the "Strategic Frontiers" event co-organized by Japan Society and the International House of Japan.
  • Japan Society Partner — Strategic partner organization linked through shared leadership and vision with John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
  • National Association of Japan-America Societies Partner — Partnered with NAJAS to launch JapanHands.org, a digital platform to strengthen U.S.-Japan collaboration.
  • New York Council of Nonprofits Network — Member organization
  • Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation Partner — Strategic partner organization linked through shared leadership and vision with John D. Rockefeller 3rd.
  • Rockefeller Foundation Partner — Provided founding support for the International House of Japan in 1952.
  • School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University Partner — George Packard, Dean of SAIS at Johns Hopkins University, was a founder of AFIHJ.
  • The International House of Japan, Inc. Partner — Primary partner organization; AFIHJ supports its programs and fellowships through fundraising and grantmaking.
  • U.S.-Japan Foundation Partner — Richard Petree, President of the U.S.-Japan Foundation, was a founder of AFIHJ.
  • United States-Japan Foundation Funder — Provided seed funding for the JapanHands.org platform, which AFIHJ helped launch in partnership with NAJAS.
  • United States-Japan Foundation Partner — Co-convened a gathering on refugee education and talent pathways to Japan.
  • United States-Japan Foundation Partner — Co-convened an invitation-only gathering on refugee education and talent pathways to Japan.
  • United States-Japan Foundation Partner — Partners with the United States-Japan Foundation in launching the Senior Fellows program under the North America–Japan Philanthropy Alliance.
strategies · 4

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Cohort-Based Leadership Development for Bilateral Relations
    methodology: cohort-based_thought_leadership
    By investing in early-career and experienced leaders through cohort-based fellowships, we strengthen U.S.-Japan relationships and generate thought leadership, because sustained peer exchange within a trusted network produces deeper collaboration and strategic alignment across borders.
  • Connective Infrastructure for International Engagement
    methodology: connective_infrastructure
    By creating digital and institutional platforms that connect professionals and resources across the U.S. and Japan, we amplify engagement and reduce duplication, because accessible, shared infrastructure enables more coordinated and scalable bilateral action.
  • Cross-Cultural Practice as Diplomacy
    methodology: tea_diplomacy
    By using shared cultural practices like tea diplomacy, we build cross-cultural understanding and address humanitarian issues, because embodied cultural exchange fosters trust and mutual respect more effectively than formal dialogue alone.
  • Systems-to-Action Framework for Integrated Change
    methodology: systems-to-action framework
    By structuring programs across systems analysis, lived experience, and philanthropic action, we move from policy design to real-world impact, because integrating intellectual, human, and financial resources creates actionable pathways for change.