READYFOR, the cause lane — Japan's first platform, ¥50B funded, home of donation crowdfunding
What READYFOR is
READYFOR is Japan's first crowdfunding service, launched in 2011. Born as social needs surged after the Great East Japan Earthquake, its defining strength is social-good and donation-type work — medical, welfare, NPOs, animal protection, temples and shrines, academia and sport.
READYFOR by the numbers
- Passed ¥50 billion in cumulative funding (as of end-July 2025), with an average pledge of ~¥19,000 and rising.
- Its all-time record is the National Museum of Nature and Science at ~¥916M (56,584 backers).
- The Japan Shogi Association raised ~¥940M across six straight rounds (28,919 backers).
Model and fees (orientation)
- Supports both reward and donation types. Some donation projects (e.g. certified NPOs) qualify for the tax deduction — verify eligibility on the project page and for your own situation.
- Both All-or-Nothing and All-in exist, with goal-required (All-or-Nothing) the mainstay.
- Fees: the Basic plan is 14% (9% service + 5% payment, excl. tax); Support/Consulting plans start at 14% plus an add-on fee quoted on request. These rates date from the 1 Apr 2024 revision (verified on the official pricing page, 18 Sep 2026). Backers pay a ¥220 (tax incl.) system fee per pledge.
Who it's for
- Creators: causes that spread on meaning and public good — medical, welfare, education, animals, regions, heritage, academia — with hands-on support.
- Backers: those who value use-of-funds and social impact over a product. For donation projects, update frequency is a trust signal.
Read social/donation campaigns in backing food & local-rescue; the full type picture in the six types; the 0%-fee alternative in a billion yen & platform fees.