Toyota Foundation Approves Budget for ¥475 Million
in Grants for Fiscal 1993

On March 16, 1993, the sixty-sixth meeting of the Toyota Foundation's Board of Directors, chaired by Eiji Toyoda, honorary chairman of the board of the Toyota Motor Corporation, approved the Foundation's grant activity program for fiscal 1993 (April 1993 through March 1994), including ¥475 million in grants. The amount disbursed for grants in fiscal 1992 was ¥526.06 million; the cumulative amount disbursed through fiscal 1992 was ¥8,310.75 million.

The Toyota Foundation, a private, nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to the goals of realizing greater human fulfillment and contributing to the development of a human-oriented society through grant-making activities, was endowed in October 1974 by the Toyota Motor Corporation. The Foundation's endowment now stands at ¥11.4 billion.

The configuration of the grant activity program is basically the same in fiscal 1993 as in fiscal 1992; but because overseas grants are denominated in U.S. dollars, the yen equivalent budgeted for such grants is lower in fiscal 1993 than in fiscal 1992 because of the yen's recent appreciation against the dollar. Meanwhile, the budget for foundation-initiative grants has been increased to enable the Foundation to respond more swiftly and flexibly to social needs. The Foundation's activities are financed by its endowment income. Although this income began falling in fiscal 1992 (real endowment income was ¥790 million in fiscal 1991 and ¥720 million in 1992; endowment income for fiscal 1993 is estimated at ¥710 million), for the time being the Foundation plans to maintain the same level of grant-making activities as heretofore.

On April 1, 1993, the Foundation begins accepting applications for fiscal 1993 research grants and citizen-activity grants. Applications for research grants, which have been awarded annually since fiscal 1975, and for citizen-activity grants are publicly solicited. Applications for both research grants and citizen-activity grants are submitted directly to the Foundation by the applicants themselves.

Under the basic theme "In Search of a New Society," the Research Grant Program awards grants for research projects that try to identify and solve problems faced by contemporary society and that aim to foster a human-oriented society. Priority is given to projects that focus on two topics: coping with technologically advanced society and coping with multicultural society. This program awards grants mainly for research projects conducted by Japanese nationals, but non-Japanese who can complete the Japanese-language application form may also apply. The research projects conducted by non-Japanese must be related to Japan in some way.

Research grants fall into three categories. Category I (individual-incentive research) grants are designed to encourage individual research undertaken mainly by young researchers on their own initiative. The maximum individual grant amount is ¥2 million. Category II (trial and preliminary research) grants are awarded for projects conducted by teams undertaking trial or preliminary research aimed at developing long-term interdisciplinary, interoccupational, international research projects. The maximum individual grant amount is ¥4 million. Category III (comprehensive research) grants are awarded for comprehensive research projects of an interdisciplinary, interoccupational, international nature. The maximum individual grant amount is ¥20 million. The ¥190 million budgeted for research grants in fiscal 1993 will be apportioned among 50 to 60 projects.

Applications are accepted until May 31, 1993, after which they are screened by a selection committee headed by Soichi Iijima, president of the Foundation. The Board of Directors will approve fiscal 1993 research grants at its September 1993 meeting on the basis of the selection committee's recommendations. The grant period will be either one year or two years (for Category III grants only) beginning November 1, 1993. People in Japan wishing to receive application forms should write to the Foundation, specifying the Research Grant Program application form and enclosing ¥250 in stamps per form to cover mailing costs.

The Grant Program for Citizen Activities awards grants for citizen-activity projects under the theme "Projects Related to Citizen Activities in Search of a New Society" in order to promote the development of citizen-based initiatives in Japan. Priority is given to projects that facilitate activities by groups in Japan engaged in citizen activities and that promote exchange and cooperation among such groups. The ¥30 million budgeted for citizen-activity grants in fiscal 1993 will be apportioned among 20 to 25 projects.

Applications are accepted during two periods―between April 1 and June 18, 1993, and again between October 15 and December 15, 1993―after which they are screened by a selection committee headed by Akira Kurihara. The Board of Directors will approve fiscal 1993 citizen-activity grants at its September 1993 meeting (for applications submitted during the first period) and at its March 1994 meeting (for applications submitted during the second period) on the basis of the selection committee's recommendations. The grant period will be one year beginning November 1,1993 (for first-period grants), or March 31, 1994 (for second-period grants). People in Japan wishing to receive application forms should write to the Foundation, specifying the Grant Program for Citizen Activities application form and enclosing ¥250 in stamps per form to cover mailing costs.