Formerly known as IYF-Japan, the Japan Initiative for Youth Development (JIYD) was legally registered as a Japanese nonprofit, grantmaking institution in June 2002. JIYD's mission is to increase investment in positive child and youth development, and to encourage active youth participation. Specifically, its goals are to foster greater competence, confidence, character, caring, and connection among children and youth by ensuring that greater numbers of young people have access to: a caring adult, a safe place, a healthy start, the chance to serve others, and the opportunity to learn marketable skills for adulthood. Its primary activities include grantmaking and technical assistance to children and youth organizations, connecting them through joint-learning, and promotion of life skills education.