Cultivating Regional Disaster Response Capabilities in Peacetime: Call for Applications Opens for the 'Local Disaster Fund' Creation Support Grant Program
The National Network of Community Foundations has launched a grant program using dormant deposits to support the creation of Local Disaster Funds. The program offers up to 25 million yen per organization to enhance peacetime disaster preparedness and resilience.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 02:31
- 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 18:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 19:46 (145h 44m after Collected)
The National Network of Community Foundations (Location: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; President: Jun Takahashi) announces the opening of applications for the 'Community Disaster Prevention and Resilience Building Grant Program in Collaboration with Local Industries and Community Businesses' starting Friday, April 10, 2026. Operating as a fund distribution body under the Dormant Bank Accounts Utilization Act, this project aims to provide financial support of up to 25 million yen per organization over approximately three years. The goal is to enhance local disaster response capabilities during peacetime and contribute to sustainable community development through the establishment and operation of local disaster funds.
[Application Page] https://www.cf-japan.org/newspress/1945/
■ Overview of the Grant Program
The National Network of Community Foundations will utilize dormant deposits to provide grants for the 'establishment and operation of Disaster Funds (Local Funds)' led by citizens. Through this, grantees are expected to create and operate a permanent, citizen-led 'Disaster Fund' that connects diverse stakeholders within and outside the region during the grant period, thereby nurturing a locally driven financial circulation system. Additionally, the program aims to establish a foundation for cooperation during peacetime so that resources possessed by local businesses—such as facilities, supplies, technology, and human resources—can be utilized for disaster prevention, mitigation, and recovery, ultimately building a support system that functions effectively during emergencies.
For this project, the National Network of Community Foundations will collaborate with the certified NPO ETIC. to provide hands-on support. Selected organizations will receive up to 25 million yen over three years, as well as a combination of financial support and project formulation expertise from the National Network of Community Foundations, and human resource matching, corporate collaboration, and coordination expertise from the NPO ETIC.
*What are Dormant Deposits? Based on the 'Act on Utilization of Funds Related to Dormant Deposits to Promote Private Public Interest Activities,' a system was launched in FY2019 to utilize deposits that have had no transactions for over 10 years since January 1, 2009, to solve social issues and promote private public interest activities.
[Project Name] 'Community Disaster Prevention and Resilience Building Grant Program in Collaboration with Local Industries and Community Businesses' ~ A program to support initiatives that enhance local disaster response capabilities from peacetime through community funds ~
〇 Purpose of the Grant:
In recent years, with the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, there is a growing need to approach local disaster response not only as emergency assistance immediately following a disaster but also as peacetime preparation and the creation of a mutual support system with recovery and reconstruction in mind. This project aims to nurture permanent disaster funds (local funds) and multi-agency networks in the region as a 'subsystem' that complements the 'main system' (such as the tripartite cooperation of government, councils of social welfare, and NPOs, as well as intermediary disaster support organizations) to address detailed local conditions and needs that fall through the cracks of existing systems.
〇 Grant Amount per Project: Up to 25 million yen (Total over 3 years)
〇 Expected Number of Selections: About 5 organizations
〇 Grant Period: July 1, 2026 - February 28, 2029
〇 Target Region: Nationwide (The corporate location and the area of activity must be the same)
* The area of activity is generally limited to the prefectural level.
〇 Eligible Organizations:
Organizations conducting private public interest activities (regardless of the presence or type of corporate status)
* Applications from joint ventures (consortiums) of multiple organizations are also possible.
〇 Target Projects:
Projects that address all three pillars for 'enhancing local disaster response capabilities from peacetime' within the area of activity:
(1) Establishment of a disaster fund
(2) Construction of a multi-agency network
(3) Support during disasters (emergency, recovery, and reconstruction support)
〇 Application Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026, by noon
■ Briefing Sessions
We will hold briefing sessions online and in multiple regions for those considering applying.
[Online Briefing Sessions]
■ Dates: *Both sessions will have the same content. Recorded videos will be published after the event.
[1st Session] Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 13:00 - 16:00
[2nd Session] Friday, April 24, 2026, 13:00 - 16:00
[Part 1] Project Briefing (13:00 - 14:45)
Opening of Part 1 and Explanation of Purpose
Orientation: 'Background and Purpose of the Call - What are the Tripartite Collaboration (Main System) and Subsystem?'
Case Study 1: 'Disaster Recovery through a Disaster Fund Project'
[Speaker] NPO ETIC. Challenge Community Project
[Application Page] https://www.cf-japan.org/newspress/1945/
■ Overview of the Grant Program
The National Network of Community Foundations will utilize dormant deposits to provide grants for the 'establishment and operation of Disaster Funds (Local Funds)' led by citizens. Through this, grantees are expected to create and operate a permanent, citizen-led 'Disaster Fund' that connects diverse stakeholders within and outside the region during the grant period, thereby nurturing a locally driven financial circulation system. Additionally, the program aims to establish a foundation for cooperation during peacetime so that resources possessed by local businesses—such as facilities, supplies, technology, and human resources—can be utilized for disaster prevention, mitigation, and recovery, ultimately building a support system that functions effectively during emergencies.
For this project, the National Network of Community Foundations will collaborate with the certified NPO ETIC. to provide hands-on support. Selected organizations will receive up to 25 million yen over three years, as well as a combination of financial support and project formulation expertise from the National Network of Community Foundations, and human resource matching, corporate collaboration, and coordination expertise from the NPO ETIC.
*What are Dormant Deposits? Based on the 'Act on Utilization of Funds Related to Dormant Deposits to Promote Private Public Interest Activities,' a system was launched in FY2019 to utilize deposits that have had no transactions for over 10 years since January 1, 2009, to solve social issues and promote private public interest activities.
[Project Name] 'Community Disaster Prevention and Resilience Building Grant Program in Collaboration with Local Industries and Community Businesses' ~ A program to support initiatives that enhance local disaster response capabilities from peacetime through community funds ~
〇 Purpose of the Grant:
In recent years, with the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, there is a growing need to approach local disaster response not only as emergency assistance immediately following a disaster but also as peacetime preparation and the creation of a mutual support system with recovery and reconstruction in mind. This project aims to nurture permanent disaster funds (local funds) and multi-agency networks in the region as a 'subsystem' that complements the 'main system' (such as the tripartite cooperation of government, councils of social welfare, and NPOs, as well as intermediary disaster support organizations) to address detailed local conditions and needs that fall through the cracks of existing systems.
〇 Grant Amount per Project: Up to 25 million yen (Total over 3 years)
〇 Expected Number of Selections: About 5 organizations
〇 Grant Period: July 1, 2026 - February 28, 2029
〇 Target Region: Nationwide (The corporate location and the area of activity must be the same)
* The area of activity is generally limited to the prefectural level.
〇 Eligible Organizations:
Organizations conducting private public interest activities (regardless of the presence or type of corporate status)
* Applications from joint ventures (consortiums) of multiple organizations are also possible.
〇 Target Projects:
Projects that address all three pillars for 'enhancing local disaster response capabilities from peacetime' within the area of activity:
(1) Establishment of a disaster fund
(2) Construction of a multi-agency network
(3) Support during disasters (emergency, recovery, and reconstruction support)
〇 Application Deadline: Friday, May 29, 2026, by noon
■ Briefing Sessions
We will hold briefing sessions online and in multiple regions for those considering applying.
[Online Briefing Sessions]
■ Dates: *Both sessions will have the same content. Recorded videos will be published after the event.
[1st Session] Wednesday, April 15, 2026, 13:00 - 16:00
[2nd Session] Friday, April 24, 2026, 13:00 - 16:00
[Part 1] Project Briefing (13:00 - 14:45)
Opening of Part 1 and Explanation of Purpose
Orientation: 'Background and Purpose of the Call - What are the Tripartite Collaboration (Main System) and Subsystem?'
Case Study 1: 'Disaster Recovery through a Disaster Fund Project'
[Speaker] NPO ETIC. Challenge Community Project