Sister Cities International Announces U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant to Strengthen Cross-Border Partnerships
Washington, D.C. – Sister Cities International (SCI), in partnership with the United States-Japan Foundation, announces the launch of the “U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant” designed to empower U.S. and Japanese sister city partnerships to tackle global challenges together.
The year 2025 marks the 170th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Japan and 80 years since the end of World War II. Building on this legacy, the U.S.-Japan Global Impact Grant will support innovative projects that use city-to-city connections as “living laboratories” to address shared issues such as depopulation, aging societies, immigration, clean energy, zero-waste communities, climate change, and nonprofit capacity building, among others.
“This grant represents the power of citizen diplomacy in action,” said Carlo Capua, chair of the SCI Board of Directors. “By supporting local communities in Japan and the U.S., we can spark solutions with global significance.”
All 431 SCI member cities will be eligible to apply for grants of up to $25,000 to execute projects with their Japanese partners. Nonprofit status is required directly or through a fiscal sponsor.
“We are excited to partner with Sister Cities, as these city-to-city connections can be powerful platforms to unite communities across the Pacific for the greater good,” said Jacob M. Schlesinger, President & CEO of the United States-Japan Foundation.
Applications will open in early November, with grant winners announced in January 2026. U.S. and Japanese partner cities should create an action plan with measurable results which can be replicated in other cities, with an impact report presented at the conclusion of the program.
“I can’t think of a better way to launch our America250 celebration than strengthening bridges with one of our strongest allies,” said Dr. Ricki Garrett, SCI President & CEO.
Applications open on November 1, 2025 at www.SisterCities.org.
About Sister Cities International
Founded in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sister Cities International is the world’s oldest and largest volunteer network dedicated to citizen diplomacy. With more than 400 U.S. member communities and 1,800 partnerships in over 140 countries, SCI promotes peace and mutual understanding through cultural, educational, and economic exchanges. For more information, visit www.SisterCities.org.
About the United States-Japan Foundation
The United States-Japan Foundation is an independent philanthropic organization working to strengthen bilateral ties and address shared challenges. Since its founding in 1980, USJF has given out more than $100 million in grants and oversees the US-Japan Leadership Program with a network of 500 fellows from the two countries. For more information, visit https://us-jf.org/en/.