The "Epos x Minna no Ryugaku Shien Kikin" (Epos & Everyone's Study Abroad Support Fund) is a joint initiative launched by Gakushii, a study-abroad information service, and Epos Card, a major Japanese credit card brand. The fund aims to help students who want to study overseas but are held back by financial concerns, using donations collected through CONGRANT, a Japanese donation-based crowdfunding platform for nonprofits.
Funds raised will go toward supporting students aspiring to study abroad. Rather than backing individual students directly, the project channels donations into an ongoing fund, creating a lasting mechanism for continued support. This collaboration between a corporate brand and a student-service company—leveraging existing membership bases and brand recognition to attract donors—offers a notable example of companies engaging in fundraising as part of their CSR and branding strategies.
While specific details such as the fundraising goal, number of supporters, or campaign duration are not disclosed in the project description, the emotionally resonant theme of educational support, combined with the credibility lent by corporate partnership, appears to make this an approachable and trustworthy cause for donors.
Highlights
- A joint fund established by a company and a service provider builds credibility
- Education-related causes are easy for the public to empathize with, making fundraising smoother
- Structured as an ongoing fund rather than a one-off campaign, creating a lasting support mechanism
Why this campaign attracts support
Editorial analysis based on publicly available information. It is not a confirmed account of why backers chose to give.
This project benefits from a clear and relatable problem: students who want to study abroad but are discouraged by cost. Educational support is a theme with low psychological barriers to giving, since most people can easily see its social value. Furthermore, the involvement of Epos Card—a well-known brand with an established customer base—alongside Gakushii, a study-abroad specialist, adds a strong layer of trust. Donors are less likely to worry about legitimacy when a recognized corporate brand stands behind the initiative, compared to campaigns led by individuals or lesser-known groups. By adopting a "fund" structure rather than a single-project campaign, the initiative signals that it will continue supporting future students over time, not just one specific case—encouraging longer-term relationships with supporters. This model, where a company uses a crowdfunding platform as part of its CSR and branding efforts, offers a useful reference point for other businesses or organizations considering fundraising.
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A note from the editors
The joint establishment of a fund by a corporation and a service provider is a strong example of how partnerships can generate the kind of trust and reach that a single organization might struggle to achieve alone. Choosing an emotionally resonant theme like educational and study-abroad support, while also tapping into an existing brand's credibility, offers valuable lessons for companies and organizations exploring fundraising strategies. We'll update this article as more details—such as the funding goal and progress—become available.