#Japan #Tokyo #Women's Leadership #JWLI #Fish Family Foundation

Empowering Women Leaders: A New Fund by Fish Family Foundation

On August 5, 2026, the Fish Family Foundation unveiled a groundbreaking initiative aimed at supporting female leadership and gender equality in Japan. In collaboration with two prominent international philanthropic organizations, they have established the JWLI Women's Fund, amounting to approximately 200 million yen. This new funding program will support nonprofit organizations led by women and those working to promote gender equality, marking a significant step forward in the journey toward equitable leadership in Japan.

A Legacy of Support for Women Leaders

The Fish Family Foundation, established in 1999 by Akiko and Toko Fish along with Larry Fish, has dedicated over two decades to nurturing female leaders across Japan. Since the inception of the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative (JWLI) in 2003, the foundation has supported around 250 women leaders committed to addressing social issues. These leaders, who have participated in leadership training and recognition programs, are now spearheading societal transformations in various sectors, including nonprofits, government, business, and education.

Despite these efforts, many nonprofits actively working on social issues face significant challenges in securing flexible and sustained funding, as well as opportunities to strengthen their organizational foundations. The JWLI Women's Fund has been established to address these challenges by providing not only funding but also opportunities for collaboration among selected organizations and creating a supportive ecosystem for their growth.

To formally manage its operations in Japan, the Fish Family Foundation has launched the “General Incorporated Association JWLI Ecosystem” and opened an office in Otemachi, Tokyo, embarking on a new phase of its mission.

About the JWLI Women's Fund

The JWLI Women's Fund is a collaborative grant initiative that aims to invest not only in individual women leaders but also in the organizations they lead and the entire ecosystem that supports social change. This grant program was established through an equal partnership between the Fish Family Foundation and two overseas foundations, driven by a shared belief that investing in women leaders accelerates societal transformation. Moving forward, the foundation aims to expand collaborations with like-minded organizations and partners to support more women leaders and amplify their impact across Japan.

First Grant Cycle Details

In this initial round, the fund plans to select up to 14 nonprofit organizations led by women or those committed to promoting gender equality within Japan. Selected organizations will receive:

• - Up to 2.5 million yen annually (totaling 5 million yen over two years), within a flexible grant to meet their specific needs.
• - Opportunities for organizational capacity building, leadership development, learning, and network formation.

Eligible areas of focus for the grants include:

• - Economic independence and expanding opportunities
• - Enhancing safety, health, and wellbeing
• - Fostering civic engagement and a society where diverse voices are heard

Applications are open from August 5, 2026, until September 13, 2026. For details on application guidelines and procedures, you can visit JWLI Women's Fund.

Announcing the New CEO of JWLI

As part of the fund's launch, Noriko Namiki has been appointed as the CEO of JWLI from July 2026. Namiki brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as the CEO of YWCA Oʻahu, the largest and most established women’s support organization in Hawaii, where she served for approximately 13 years. With a broad background in nonprofit management, capacity building, fundraising, advocacy, and community collaboration, Namiki is set to leverage her expertise to maximize the potential of women leaders and accelerate sustainable social change.

"For over 20 years, the Fish Family Foundation has believed that those closest to the social issues possess the power to create lasting change. The JWLI Women's Fund extends this philosophy. We aim not just to provide grants but to cultivate a community of philanthropy where we learn together, invest together, and support social change together," said Noriko Namiki, JWLI CEO.

About the Fish Family Foundation

Founded in Boston in 1999, the Fish Family Foundation focuses on supporting marginalized youths in the Boston area and the development of female leaders in Japan.

About the Japanese Women's Leadership Initiative (JWLI)

Established in 2003 in Boston by Akiko and Toko Fish, JWLI operates under the Fish Family Foundation, promoting women-led social change and providing leadership training and awards to women leaders addressing societal challenges in Japan. With around 250 program graduates, these women are now leading impactful changes throughout the nation.
For more information, visit JWLI.

Noriko Namiki's Profile

Namiki became the CEO of JWLI in July 2026. Before this, she served for about 13 years as CEO at YWCA Oʻahu in Hawaii. With extensive experience in nonprofit management, fundraising, organizational capacity building, and community collaboration, she is now leading JWLI into a new phase, focusing on nurturing women leaders as well as supporting the organizations and ecosystems they lead.