In ACT, a donation of JPY 10 million or more will allow you to set up a “Special Fund” and specify your preferred name of fund, as well as the target project area and country/region of the grant projects.
ACT can realize your will to contribute to the society through fast and simple steps, instead of going through a process of setting up a foundation or a new and independent charitable trust.
Please feel free to contact the Secretariat for inquiries in English.
Steps on setting up a “Special Fund”
“Special Funds” can be created following the basic steps below.
However, the procedure is different in the case of setting up a “Special Fund” based on your own will and testament. Please contact the Secretariat to inquire in English.
Steps on setting up a fund
1. Consultation of Donor with Trustee
First, the Donor consults the Trustee (Trust Bank) regarding the preferred amount and name of the fund, as well the target country/region, and area to be supported the fund. After discussing the details, the Donor and the Trustee finalize the contract, which is related to the special donations, to be exchanged on setting up the Special Fund.
If the Donor wants to consider the details of the program/project area and/or country/region, the experienced the Secretariat is available for consultation.
2. Signing of contract setting up the Special Fund
The contract stating the fund name, target country/region, and other details is signed by all concerned parties (normally, the Donor, Trustee, and the Trust Executor/Administrator).
3. Deposit of Donation to ACT
The Donor deposits the final amount of donation (JPY 10 million or more for Special Funds) to the designated bank account of ACT. The contract takes effect upon deposit of the donation.
To receive tax deductions, please keep the receipt and related documents and declare the donation when filing an income-tax return (for individual donors)/accounting period (for companies).
After the fund is set up
After the fund is created, the ACT Secretariat calls for proposals of projects that correspond to the objectives of the established fund. After the Executive Advisory Committee selects and approves which projects to receive grants, ACT starts to support the projects.
The details of the accounting for each Special Fund as well as the progress and results of the grant projects are regularly reported in the Annual Report* and the ACT website.
*For more details on the projects, please contact the Secretariat.
Examples of Special Funds established by donors with their own property
“Special Funds” based on personal requests such as the following can be created within ACT:
“I want to make a social contribution while I am still alive.”
“I want to make use of my assets for the benefit of the society.”
“I want to abide by the wish of our departed loved one and make a contribution to society.”
Please contact the Secretariat for inquiries in English.
Donations to ACT are eligible for deductions on income or inheritance taxes.
The Takashi Ihara Memorial Fund
Dr. Yasutaka Ihara, one of Japan’s leading mathematicians and Professor Emeritus of The University of Tokyo, established the fund in November 2008 to utilize his inheritance from his late father Mr. Takashi Ihara for the society in general.
The Asian People’s Partnership Support Fund
The fund was established in August 2009 to support the mutual growth and development through the sharing of experiences, ideas and knowledge between the peoples of Japan and other countries in Asia where Japan caused great damage during World War II.
Examples of Special Funds established by groups
A “Special Fund” from a joint donation of friends, relatives and groups made up of multiple individuals can also be created within ACT.
Joint donations to ACT by multiple individuals are also eligible for deductions on income or inheritance taxes.
The Umemoto Memorial Fund for Dental Service in Asia
The Umemoto Memorial Fund was established in June 1983 by the Steering Committee of the Charity Concert for the Leprosy Service Fund in memory of Professor Yoshio Umemoto, who provided dental care for Hansen’s disease (Leprosy) patients both abroad and within Japan, to support Hansen’s disease patients and to contribute to the development of public welfare in Asia.
The Yasuda Sugo Konno Kitane Memorial Fund for Education
In November 1994, former nurses Ms. Yoko Yasuda, Ms. Take Konno, and Ms. Fumie Kitane established this fund for the purpose of promoting education for children in Asia. (Finished in FY2012)
Examples of Special Funds established by companies
“Special Funds” that bear the company name and/or with target country and project area relevant to the company’s interests can be created within ACT. The company donor will receive regular reports on the details and progress of the project, and can also request the Secretariat to arrange a field visit on their behalf.
Special Funds based on joint donations of two or more companies can also be established.
Donations to ACT by companies are eligible for deductions on corporate tax.
The Daiwa Securities Group Tsunami Reconstruction Fund
In response to the unprecedented damage in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in December 2004, the fund was created in March 2005 by the Daiwa Securities Group, a Japanese private company, to assist tsunami victims in rebuilding their lives for ten years until 2014.
An additional donation of JPY 10 million to the fund was made every year for ten years, a new donation system that was widely covered by the media. The activity report from the ACT Secretariat can also be found on the Daiwa Securities Group official website. (Finished in FY2014)
The Sony Asia Fund
Sony Corporation established the fund in March 1999 for the promotion of education and local culture as well as the development of youth in Asia. (Finished in FY2002)
The Sumatra Japan-Indonesia Friendship Fund
This fund was established by a group of Japanese companies in June 1980 to support education (initially provided scholarships for high school and university students), and to promote Japanese culture among the locals in North Sumatra, Indonesia.