Japan NPO Center

The Japan NPO Center conducts a variety of activities as a national-level infrastructure organization for Japanese nonprofit organizations (NPOs), and it also conducts research on NPOs. 

JNPOCr has conducted its first organizational survey focused on theme-based networks and published the findings in November 2024 in the 2023 Report on the Actual Conditions of Theme-Based Network Organizations, which are defined as nonprofit organizations comprising multiple groups working on the same social issue (theme), operating on a wide scale, leveraging their networks to share knowledge, conduct joint training sessions, and engage in nationwide research and advocacy activities.

This study aims to understand the realities and activities of network organizations, which play a crucial role in Japanese civil society but often face low public recognition. Our goal is to promote greater support for these organizations, enabling corporations and foundations to provide more effective assistance across various fields and themes.

Below are the key findings from this survey.

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Key Survey Findings

About the Organizations

• Establishment: Among the 43 organizations that responded, 72.3% have been established for over 10 years.
• Legal Status: 46.5% are specified nonprofit corporations, followed by 18.6% which are unincorporated associations.

About Network Participation

• Number of Participating Organizations: Regarding the number of organizations participating in the network, “1-50 organizations” was the most common at 41.8%. Meanwhile, “over 100 organizations” accounted for 11.6%.
• Geographical Scope: 69.8% of participating organizations had a nationwide scope.

About Income

• Revenue: 27.9% of organizations had an income exceeding 50 million yen, the highest percentage. This was followed by 5.01 million to 10 million yen (18.6%) and 10.01 million to 30 million yen (18.6%).
• Revenue Sources: 90.7% of organizations received membership fees, and 86.0% conducted some form of independent business. Furthermore, 58.1% received corporate donations, while 76.7% received donations from the general public (individuals).

About Human Resources

• Full-time Staff: 32.6% of organizations had no full-time staff, the highest percentage. Additionally, nearly half of the organizations had one or fewer part-time staff.

About Activities

• Activities: The most common activities were “courses and training” (95.3%), followed by “events to promote inter-organizational exchange” (83.7%), “publishing newsletters and magazines” and “research” (both 72.1%), “policy advocacy” (67.1%), and “providing information and guidance on grants and training” (51.2%).

About Desired Knowledge and Skills for the Future

• Skills Development: The most desired skills were “fundraising” (60.4%), followed by “organizational management” (58.1%), “public relations” (53.5%), and “human resource development” (51.1%).

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Survey Overview

• Implementing Organization: Japan NPO Center (JNPOC)
• Survey Period: February 22 to March 8, 2024
• Survey Request Method:
  • Target organizations were selected from among member organizations and network organizations with which JNPOC has partnered, as well as from the JNPOC’s NPO database, NPO Hiroba and other databases related to public interest corporations.
  • A survey request was sent via email to 150 selected organizations.
• Survey Method: Web-based questionnaire
• Number of Responding Organizations: 43 organizations (response rate: 28.7%)
• Cooperation: Professor Yuko Suda (Faculty of Sociology, Toyo University), Students enrolled in Sociology I, Faculty of Sociology, Toyo University, 2024
• Download Report (PDF):  2023 Report on the Actual Conditions of Theme-Based Network Organizations (in Japanese only) (1,725KB)

Links:

• https://www.jnpoc.ne.jp/en/news/report-on-the-actual-conditions-of-theme-based-network-organizations-published/
• report page (Japanese)

Last year, the Japan NPO Center launched the NPTech Initiative to equip Japanese nonprofit staff with enhanced IT skills. NPTech, which stands for 'Non-Profit Technology,' aims to empower NPOs to leverage digital technology more effectively. The initiative offers online training seminars conducted by participating IT companies operating in Japan.

The inaugural year began with the participation of NTT Data Group, Dell Technologies, Intel, and TIS. This year, in 2024, ITOCHU Techno-Solutions Corporation (CTC) has joined as a new participating IT company. Additionally, the National Women’s Education Center (NWEC) has enrolled in the program to expand its training offerings to gender equality centers nationwide.

A key characteristic of this program is its collaborative approach, where NPOs and companies pool their strengths and expertise. The training sessions are led by instructors who are employees of the participating companies. For instance, in an IT terminology seminar, an NTT Data employee provides clear and understandable explanations to NPO staff who may be new to the field of technology.


The trainings focus on the intersection of each company's IT expertise and the specific IT needs of NPOs in their daily operations. Topics covered include fundamental computer skills, computer types and selection, data storage, security, and emerging IT trends. Last year, a total of 144 organizations participated. Notably, 80% of the NPOs found the seminar informative, and 78% indicated that they could apply the learned knowledge in their work, demonstrating a high level of satisfaction with the program.

Despite being competitors in their daily business, these IT companies find the most rewarding aspect of their CSR activities to be the opportunity to collaborate in a united effort to support NPOs.

The Japan NPO Center is dedicated to developing an IT platform that connects companies and NPOs, fostering collaboration and enhancing the IT capabilities of NPOs.

Links:

• NPTech Initiative 2024 (in Japanese)