The Australia-Japan Foundation (AJF) grant has recently opened for applications across the country, with a key focus on sport for the 2025 round.
The AJF is a part of the International Relations Grant Program, designed to foster better relations with and a greater understanding of foreign nations via people-to-people links across borders.
In particular the AJF aims to:
- Increase awareness and comprehension in Japan of shared interests with Australia.
- Increase awareness and comprehension in Australia of Japan’s importance to Australia as an economic and strategic ally.
- Increase awareness in Japan of Australia’s expertise and excellence.
As a grant designed for to connect Australian and Japanese people across a wide array of backgrounds, the AJF has highlighted a number of key priorities for 2025. These include:
- Sport
- Society and culture
- Economic diplomacy and geopolitics
- Education and Australian studies
- Scientific development and innovation
- Communication
- Advocacy
The AJF also endorses the recognition of three values in candidates’ application.
- Gender equality
- Recognition and inclusion of First Nations people
- Recognition and inclusion of diversity
Previous grant recipients under the sporting category include:
- Japan Wheelchair Rugby Foundation
- Australian Blind Football
- Adelaide Giants Baseball Pty Ltd
- Judo Federation of Australia Limited
- AFL Japan
- Sport Inclusion Australia
- Queensland Rugby Union Limited
Grant Details
Across the 2025-26 period, a total of $780,000 AUD is being offered by the AJF.
Grants are divided into two categories – single year projects and multi-year projects. Projects must begin within the 2025-26 financial year and be completed by the designated end date in the grant agreement.
Grant applications for a period of one year range from a minimum of $10,000 to a maximum of $50,000.
In special circumstances, a one-year grant of $80,000 or multi-year grants of $50,000 a year for three years may be accepted.
However, the AJF stipulates that projects should not be solely funded by a grant and candidates with other backers will boost the application. Furthermore, successful grant recipients may be offered less money than they applied for.
Grant Eligibility
Potential applicants must:
- Have an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN) or Indigenous Corporation Number (ICN)
- Be an Australian consortium with a lead organisation
- Be an Australian registered charity or not-for-profit organisation
- Be an Australian local government body
- Be an Australian State or Territory government body
- Be a corporate commonwealth entity
- Be an Australian statutory authority
- Be an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia
- Be a Japanese citizen or organisation
Applications that involve those under the age of 18 must also provide the project’s child protection guidelines which meet the DFAT Child Protection Policy.
Applicants will not be eligible for the grant if:
- They are, or are partnered with, an organisation which is not part of the National Redress Scheme.
- They are a previous applicant which has not provided an acceptable acquittal of a previous DFAT grant.
Applications for the grant close on May 6 2025 at 14:00 AEST.
For more information on the grants, click here.
To apply for the grants, click here.
