Application Period is Now Closed.
(Note: The application period for our "Fiscal Year 2021-22 Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses" will open in late January, 2021 for the 2021-2022 school year.)
 

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COVID-19 Relief Grant – Salary Assistance for Japanese Language Courses

Application Period:  September 30, 2020

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Program Description

The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles (hereafter “JFLA”) supports non-profit educational institutions or school districts in the U.S. that are facing temporary financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The grant covers a part of the Japanese language instructor’s salary and fringe benefits up to $10,000 on a cost-sharing basis. The grant period is a maximum of one year for the 2020-21 Academic Year and must start no later than March, 2021.

 

The grant support is given on the condition that the applying institutions will continue to offer the Japanese language program on a long-term basis after the grant support ends. It is required that applicants submit a commitment letter from the stakeholders (e.g., Dean, Department Chair, Superintendent, Principal, etc.) at the time of submitting the application regarding the continuation of Japanese program after the JFLA grant support ends and BEYOND. The stronger the commitment is, the better chance you have of receiving the grant.

 

Given the current unpredictable COVID-19 situation (it is difficult to tell how quickly the economy will recover), we understand that it might be difficult to make a long-term commitment at the time of application. However, we would like all applicants to at least show a strong desire and intent, especially on the part of the stakeholders, to try to maintain as many Japanese language courses/sections as possible with their limited budget on a long-term basis beyond our one-year grant support. 

 

We understand that sustained student enrollment is important, but we would like the administrative office to explore options to maintain the Japanese language program on a long-term basis, instead of phasing it out entirely. Such options might include, for example, adjusting the number of the courses/sections or combining the multiple levels, etc., depending on their limited budget year by year.

 

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Eligible Applicants

 

1. Applicants must be non-profit institutions/organizations in the U.S. involved in Japanese-language education. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

 

2. Applicants must submit a commitment letter regarding the continuation of their Japanese language program on a long-term basis after the JFLA grant support ends and beyond.

 

3. In order to prioritize with our limited resources, institutions who received the Japan Foundation’s grant support (Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses) for two consecutive years in 2018-19 and 2019-20 will NOT be eligible to apply for this relief grant.

Likewise, institutions who are currently receiving the Japan Foundation grant support in 2020-21 (either via 2020 Salary Assistance Grant for Japanese Language Courses or 2020 Teaching Material Purchase Grant) will NOT be eligible to apply for this relief grant. 

 

4. In principle, JFLA does not provide grants for:
(1) The U.S. government, including their administrative organs such as ministries and their embassies; excluding academic, cultural, or research institutes such as universities and museums.

(2) Institutions/organizations to which the Japanese government currently makes a financial contribution.
(3) Institutions/organizations whose laws restrict them from receiving aid from foreign organizations affiliated with governments.
(4) Institutions/organizations which serve commercial, political, or religious purposes. 
 

5. Applicants must have a bank account in the name of the institution/organization which is capable of accepting grants from JFLA, or should be able to open such accounts by the time the grants are sent. Receipt of grants or benefits from JFLA must not violate any laws and ordinances, etc.

 

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Conditions of Grant

1. The grant support is given on the condition that the applicant will continue to offer the Japanese program after the grant support is over and beyond. Each applicant must submit a detailed plan on how they will maintain the Japanese program beyond the grant period.
    
2. The grant only covers the Japanese language instructor(s)’ salary and fringe benefits. Any other overhead costs (for example, costs related to housing, commuting, administrative labor, etc.) are NOT covered by this grant.
    
3. The grant can be used for either full-time or part-time instructors, NOT for teaching assistants (TA).  If the applicant has already decided on the instructor(s) by the time of application, the instructor(s)’ information (bio, resume, or curriculum vitae) should be attached to the application form.
    
4. Applicants can request up to $10,000. The grant amount will be determined in accordance with JFLA’s assessment scale, and it may be less than the amount requested.
    
5. The grant can be used for several instructors at the same school/institution, but the grant amount will NOT exceed more than $10,000 per institution/school.
    
6. In the event that a school district applies for this grant on behalf of several schools in the same district,
   
   - The school district may request more than $10,000 for multiple schools at once. For example, one school district may request up to $20,000 in total for two schools (up to $10,000 per school).
   
   - However this “up to $10,000 per school” applies only when the school district has more than one teacher at multiple schools in the same district. In other words, in the event that there is only one teacher in a district and he/she teaches at multiple schools in the same district, then they can only request up to $10,000.
    
7. The grant is provided on a cost-sharing basis between the applicant and JFLA, meaning that the applicant is expected to have detailed plans on how they will supplement the JF grant with their own or other funds if they are approved for the grant.
    
8. The grant support is for one year. Applicants need to start using the grant in or before March, 2021 if they receive the grant. In other words, the “Start Date” of the grant period has to be in or before March, 2021.
    

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Screening Criteria

 

Applications will be selected based on the following criteria.

JFLA will consider whether or not our one-year grant support can be beneficial to Japanese programs not only while they are receiving the grant support, but also BEYOND the grant period. The stronger the commitment is, the better chance you have of receiving the grant.

 

1) Continuation of the Japanese program after the grant support is over and beyond

2) Necessity of the grant support (level of financial need)

3) Content of the commitment letters (or support letters) regarding the continuation of the Japanese program

4) Specific benefits to Japanese-language education in the region from the success of the proposed Japanese-language program

5) Specific advocacy plan for increasing the student enrollment

6) Potential to raise funds from sources other than JFLA’s grant support, including its own funds

7) Role of the applying institutions in the region

8) Potential to raise funds from sources other than JFLA’s grant support, including its own funds

9) Number of students and teaching hours,

10) Feasibility of the plan (program to be implemented, framework, schedule, etc.)

11) Grant history (Applicants who have never received JF grant support in the past will take priority.)

 

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Application Procedure

 

Application Period:

July 1 through September 30, 2020

 

1. Before applying, please be sure to inform JFLA of your intention to apply for the grant. (Email: language@jflalc.org) If you do not contact us in advance, your application may be rejected. 
    
2. You may submit the following required materials to JFLA anytime during the application period listed above.
   
   (1) Application Form
   (2) At least one Commitment Letter from stakeholders regarding the continuation of Japanese program
   (3) Instructor’s Information (Resume, Bio, or CV) only if you have already decided on the instructor
   
   “In light of the current COVID-19 situation (i.e., should your campus remain closed over summer 2020), we are accepting *electronic signatures* as an email attachment in lieu of wet-ink signatures for the time being.
   
   However, please remember that we still would like you to *mail* us the physical copy of the form with original wet-ink signatures later *whenever you are ready to do so*. (There is no rush at all.)”

 

     Email Address:  language@jflalc.org
 

     Mailing Address:          
      The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles

      Japanese Language Grant Dept.

      5700 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #100, Los Angeles, CA 90036

 

 

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Application Form and Instructions

Please click below for downloarding Applicatoin Form and Instructions.

 

• Application Form
   
• Instructions

 

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Post Application Procedures

 

 

 

 

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Contact Info.

 

Please feel free to contact The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles if you have any questions.

 

  The Japan Foundation, Los Angeles
  Mamiko Nakai, Program Officer
  5700 Wilshire Blvd. Suite #100, Los Angeles, CA 90036

  Email: language@jflalc.org