Eligibility and Guidelines

Q: Is a sub-chapter eligible to apply?

A: Yes! Sub-chapters can apply for this grant.

Q: I am not a chapter officer. Can I apply on behalf of my chapter?

A: All grant agreements must be signed by official chapter representatives and funding handled by chapter officers. However, if you have an idea for your chapter, we encourage you to talk to your chapter president and treasurer. If they agree to support your idea, you may apply. The chapter president and treasurer will need to be involved in the periodic check-ins with USJETAA/Sasakawa USA. The grant agreement must be signed by the chapter president.

Q: How much money can I ask for?

A: We do not have a specific limit to the grant and applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. However, we recommend you use the sample budget as a rough guideline for your maximum budget. First round applicants will likely receive more funding, as the second round applicants will be awarded out of remaining funds. We recommend applying during the first round as there is no guarantee of funding during the rolling application period.

Q: I previously received a grant through this program. Can my chapter apply again?

A: Yes, but priority will given to any chapters who have not previously received this grant. Please make a case as to why this would be different or necessary.

Q: Can I collaborate with another organization for the event I hold?

A: Yes, in the past many successful events have been collaborations between JETAA chapters and other organizations, such as Japan-America societies. However, the event must be a partnership between your chapter and the other organization. The chapter needs to have ownership over the event, not just be providing money for someone else’s event. If you plan to collaborate with another organization, please include that information in your application.

Q: I really want to apply, but my application will be late. What should I do?

A: To be considered, you must submit an application by the deadline. We will contact you if we need more information or need you to develop your idea further for your application to be competitive. If you’re in this situation, please contact Bahia at director@usjetaa.org to discuss your application.

Q: Does it have to be an event or can it be a project?

A: No, it doesn't have to be an event. We will also consider research project, creation of publications, and other ideas.

Planning

Q: I have a vague idea for my chapter, but I am not sure if it’s good enough. Should I still apply?

A: Yes! We recommend reaching out to USJETAA during the application process to discuss your idea. We will help you develop the idea enough to make your application competitive and fit within the grant guidelines. Please contact Bahia at director@usjetaa.org or 202-653-9800 to discuss.

Q: My chapter has never done a big event. Is this grant right for us?

A: Yes! Your event does not need to be “big” or “grand” to be a successful event. We will work with you to make sure the event is achievable in the scope of your chapter.

Q: How many people do we need involved in planning to put on a successful event?

A: We recommend having 2-3 dedicated people working on the planning and organization of your event (depending on the size). USJETAA will provide additional support. If you’re not sure you have the right amount of support, please contact Bahia at director@usjetaa.org to discuss the needs of your specific idea.

Q: Are there types of events or projects that you prefer?

A: We don’t have a specific format for events or projects that we prefer. Any idea needs to fit within the guidelines of the grant and focus on U.S.-Japan relations, but can take any format. You can consider presentations, seminars, workshops, dinners, research papers, and more. Please take a look at our template repository for ideas. 

Program/Project Content

Q: We want to do a career development event. Will that be approved?

A: It depends. All events need to focus on U.S.-Japan relations. If your career development event has a portion of the event specifically dedicated to JETs in U.S.-Japan relations or how JETs can contribute to U.S.-Japan relations outside of their careers, for example, then your event will be eligible for consideration.

Q: Can I do an event about Japanese culture and art?

A: It depends. All events need to focus on U.S.-Japan relations. Your Japanese culture/art event will need to include a critical component and address the broader significance of the culture/art on the two countries.

Q: Can I use this grant for a social event?

A: No, but your event may have a social component. For example, a networking session after the program, a lunch break, etc.

Q: What happens if my expenses are different from the plan?

A: The final allocation of your funds may differ from the allocation in your budget plan, and that is OK as long as the funds are still being used for planned purposes. You have the flexibility to adjust the amount dedicated to each budget category to a certain extent. You may also request additional funds from USJETAA, but there is no guarantee that we can provide more funding. However, you may seek funding from other sources as well. Any unused funds need to be returned to USJETAA. We will work with you to make sure your budget is reasonable and can advise you about appropriate reallocation. If you have any questions about the possibility of reallocation, please consult USJETAA.

Q: Does my event need to be related to the JET Program?

A: No, your event just needs to focus on U.S.-Japan relations, though you can address the JET Program if you want. We also encourage you to invite JET alumni speakers for your event.

Q: Can you help me find speakers or collaborators for my event/project? What if I need suggestions for topics?

A: Yes, we can help with this! Both USJETAA and Sasakawa USA have connections with speakers in many different locations. We can help you find potential speakers and introduce you to them. We can also help you brainstorm ideas. If you need suggestions for your topic or speakers, please contact Bahia at director@usjetaa.org or 202-653-9800 to discuss.

Q: Can we bring an international speaker?

A: We do not have a specific rule against it, but we do not recommend flying in an international speaker due to the limited funding we can provide, unless the speaker plans to be in the United States around the time of your event and only need to fly domestically to your event. While you may not have the funds to fly in an overseas speaker physically, you may consider having a speaker from overseas to participate virtually in your event.