#Japan #Tokyo #Social Impact #youth education #NPO Campus

NPO Campus 2025: Bridging the Future of Youth and NPOs

The NPO Support Center, located in Minato, Tokyo, is thrilled to announce the launch of the "NPO Campus 2025" program, commencing in September 2025. This innovative initiative aims to connect over 500 young individuals interested in social contributions with leading professionals in the nonprofit sector. The course is designed to facilitate a two-way learning experience, offering both in-person and online formats for attendees.

NPO Campus 2025 is fundamentally about fostering a new generation of changemakers. Recognizing the importance of a healthy transfer of leadership within the social sector, the NPO Support Center is taking steps to create diverse opportunities for youth engagement. The commitment to nurturing the next wave of contributors to social causes aligns with the necessity for revitalizing the sector through youth involvement.

Program Overview

The course will run from September 2025 to August 2026, with classes scheduled on the second Saturday of every month at 14:00. Participants can expect to gain insights from esteemed guest speakers actively working in the nonprofit field. These experts will offer valuable lessons about organizational management, enterprise strategies, and career development.

Target Audience

• - Students: College students, graduate students, junior college students, vocational school students, technical college students, high school students.
• - Young Professionals: Individuals under 29 years of age, with options available for those 30 and older to attend online.

Course Content

• - Interactive dialogue sessions with guest speakers discussing the realities of NPO management.
• - Opportunities for participants to discuss and explore their approaches to social contribution.

Participation Options

• - On-site Attendance: Classes will be held at the NPO Support Center office in Minato, Tokyo.
• - Online Attendance: Live streaming and on-demand options will be available.

Registration Deadline

To participate, please register before August 31, 2025.

NPO Campus Journey and Achievements

The NPO Support Center launched the NPO Campus initiative in 2021 to address the ongoing need for skilled young individuals in the social sector. As a mid-support organization assisting other nonprofits, the Center recognized the urgency of developing future leaders who can navigate the complexities of social service collaborations with businesses and local governments.

Over the years, more than 500 students have joined the NPO Campus program, including numerous high school and university students from both domestic and international backgrounds. In addition, over 50 dynamic guest speakers have contributed to the curriculum with their varied expertise.

Examples of Past Lecture Topics

• - Understanding the Differences Between NPOs and NGOs
• - Innovative Partnerships Between Businesses and NPOs
• - The Role of Fundraising in NPO Sustainability

As part of its commitment to education, the NPO Support Center has also instructed high school students on NPO management through various educational programs.

Current Challenges in the NPO Sector

With nearly three decades since the enactment of the NPO Law in Japan, the social sector faces challenges as it matures, including advancing organizational age. Recent data collected by the NPO Support Center indicates that while over 400 NPOs anticipate a leadership change, approximately half of their heads remain unprepared for succession. This gap in preparing successors poses a risk not only to NPO sustainability but also to the ongoing commitment to diverse community initiatives.

The NPO Support Center itself navigated a leadership transition in 2019, previously undertaken by a second-generation leader, thereby underscoring the importance of focusing on generational succession. The NPO Campus serves as an engagement platform, inviting young people to participate in tackling societal challenges within the social sector.

Highlights of NPO Campus 2025

One prominent feature of the program is the course titled "NPO Management and Strategic Planning," presented from the outset of NPO Campus in 2021. This course delves into various aspects of NPO management by inviting guest speakers to share not only visions and missions but also funding models and stakeholder relationships. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation of both the complexities and rewarding aspects of managing an NPO.

Diverse perspectives from guest speakers—comprising university professors, consultants, and corporate leaders—will enrich participants' understanding of the social sector.

Notable Guest Speakers (In Order of Appearance)

• - Aya Kawasaki, Part-Time Lecturer, Kanto Gakuin University
• - Toruhwan Go, CEO, NPO CR Factory
• - Kensuke Nakahara, CEO, Teach For Japan
• - Hiroki Matsubara, Executive Director, Hiroshima NPO Center
• - Masaki Ito, CEO, Social Enlightenment, Inc.
• - Sayaka Tanaka, Chairperson, NPO Waffle
• - Ai Ogawa, Secretary-General, Japan Fundraising Association
• - Mio Kamiyama, CEO, Olagataku Dream Plaza
• - Ryo Kato, Director, Pasona JOB HUB Social Innovation Division
• - Shotaro Uehara, Co-Representative, WORK for GOOD / NPO Greens
• - Eri Mizutani, CEO, Kaze to Tsubasa, Inc.
• - Kousei Sekiguchi, Director, NPO Seien

Participants can choose their course based on personal interests and location, with the formal student option exclusively available through the "NPO Career Program." Young individuals with a passion for social contributions will have the chance to present their thoughts to potential NPO/NGO leaders, cultivating opportunities for future careers.

Available Courses

• - A. In-Person Attendance (NPO Support Center Office in Minato, Tokyo)

- Regular Participants: 20,000 JPY (tax included) - Limited to 6 members, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Auditors: 10,000 JPY (tax included) - Limited to 8 members, on a first-come, first-served basis.

• - B. Online Attendance (live streaming and on-demand viewing)

- Online Auditors: Free - No limit on numbers.
- General Participants: Free (video viewing period is 2 weeks) - No limit on numbers.

Note: Participants over 30 years of age will need to enroll in the "General Participant" course.

Upcoming Orientation Event

Mark your calendars for the orientation event on August 21, 2025, from 18:30 to 19:30! This free event aims to guide those interested in social contributions and NPO participation. Representatives from the NPO Support Center and graduates from the NPO Campus will share insights and experiences.

• - Date: August 21, 2025
• - Cost: Free
• - Speakers: Yuichi Matsumoto, CEO of NPO Support Center, and NPO Campus graduates.
• - Registration URL: Orientation Event

Venue Limitations

• - On-site participation: Up to 10 attendees at the NPO Support Center office in Minato, Tokyo.
• - Online participation: Unlimited via YouTube Live.

The event will cover various topics, including the nature of involvement in NPOs and social contributions, an introduction to NPO Campus, and interviews with past graduates.

Organization Overview

• - Name: NPO Support Center
• - Location: 4th Floor, Nishiyama Building, 4-7-1 Shiba, Minato, Tokyo
• - Established: 1993
• - Chairperson: Yuichi Matsumoto
• - Website: NPO Support Center
• - Phone: 03-6453-7498
• - Business Activities: Providing support for NPO groups and human resource development, consulting on collaborations with businesses and CSR, organizing Japan's largest NPO support exhibition, and training and consulting for collaborative municipal activities.