Tai Chi Foundation

What Tai Chi Foundation does

The Tai Chi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1974 that teaches tai chi chuan and qigong through a global network of more than 30 affiliated schools and 310 certified teachers operating in 10 countries. Instruction is grounded in a lineage traceable to Cheng Man-Ch'ing and delivered through codified methodologies including the 8-Ways curriculum and a team-teaching format. The foundation also runs seasonal qigong tunings, multi-day retreats, a teacher certification program, and a multi-language website that serves individual wellness practitioners rather than enterprise customers.

The foundation's product surface combines in-person classes (delivered via affiliated schools), live online classes, an on-demand video library hosted on Teachable, and digital content series such as Roots & Branches, alongside branded merchandise. There is no proprietary software platform or technology stack described in the source material; the underlying "technology" is the curriculum, the team-teaching method, and the succession structure that includes eight Legacy Holders preserving lineage authority.

Revenue is generated through a diversified non-profit model: membership fees paid by affiliated schools, donations, course fees for classes and retreats, on-demand course purchases, and merchandise sales. There is no public revenue or donor-advised fund disclosure. Distribution is community-led — built through teacher credentialing, school affiliation, retreats, and digital channels — rather than performance marketing. UNESCO's 2021 inscription of tai chi as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity provides external validation of the category, but does not constitute a regulatory or commercial moat specific to the foundation.

Name

Tai Chi Foundation

Legal name

Tai Chi Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://taichifoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

The Tai Chi Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1974 that teaches tai chi chuan and qigong through 30+ affiliated schools and 310 certified teachers in 10 countries, supplemented by live online classes, on-demand courses, seasonal retreats, and a teacher certification program serving individual wellness practitioners worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wellness and Mind-Body Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Yoga, Pilates & Mind-Body Movement Education (EDAAAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yoga Teacher Training (YTT) & Pilates Instructor Training (HSADACAL), Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

Keywords

• Tai chi instruction
• Qigong practice
• Mind-body wellness
• Teacher certification
• Wellness education

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership providing access to member portal, live classes, class recordings, meditation videos, and various member benefits.
2. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions supporting the organization's mission to improve health and wellbeing through tai chi instruction.
3. Course Fees: Fees for live online courses and on-demand courses on Teachable platform.
4. Product Sales: Sales of instructional videos, books, and merchandise (shirts, accessories) through their printify storefront.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Tai Chi Foundation delivers tai chi chuan and qigong instruction to individuals through live online classes, on-demand courses via Teachable, seasonal qigong programs, and a global network of affiliated schools. It also runs a teacher certification pathway and offers branded merchandise and donations as supporting offerings.

Product overview

Tai Chi Foundation is a non-profit educational organization that offers tai chi chuan and qigong instruction through multiple delivery channels. The core offerings include live online courses via video platform, self-paced on-demand courses through Teachable, seasonal qigong tunings aligned with the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a comprehensive teacher certification program with apprentice workshops and international training weeks. The organization also provides in-person experiences through summer retreats at locations including Whidbey Island and Lakeville, Connecticut, a global network of 30 affiliated schools across 10 countries with 310+ teachers, and a membership community with access to recordings, meditation videos, and the member portal. The product portfolio includes the Roots & Branches 5-Element Qigong video series, free demonstration videos, the 8-Ways of Tai Chi Chuan curriculum with team-teaching methodology, training manuals for teachers, and branded merchandise through the TCF Store. The organization celebrates its 50th anniversary and maintains multi-language website support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Online Courses
• On-Demand Courses (Teachable)
• Seasonal Qigong Tunings
• Teacher Certification Program
• Tai Chi Summer Retreats
• Public Virtual Workshops
• Membership Community
• Roots & Branches 5-Element Qigong Video Series
• Free Demonstration Videos and Tai Chi Basics
• 8-Ways of Tai Chi Chuan Curriculum
• Local School Network (Affiliated Schools)
• TCF Store - T-Shirts and Accessories
• Time In the Art Monthly Programs
• Training Manuals

Quantifiable outcome

• 310 teachers trained and certified worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• YMCA: Large established non-profit offering tai chi, yoga, and group fitness classes at local branches worldwide. Overlaps with TCF's wellness instruction category but as part of a much broader fitness portfolio serving a more general membership base.

Emerging players

• Calm: Subscription meditation and wellness app with guided sessions, sleep content, and masterclasses. Overlaps with TCF's meditation video content and competes for the same health-conscious adult demographic seeking low-friction wellness engagement.
• Headspace: Digital wellness subscription platform offering guided meditation and mindfulness content. Competes for mind-body practice mindshare and consumer subscription dollars, particularly with TCF's meditation video and online class offerings.
• Do Yoga With Me: Online yoga and mindfulness instruction platform with subscription video classes. Comparable business model to TCF's Teachable-based on-demand offering, though focused on yoga rather than tai chi, and serving overlapping health-conscious adult demographics.

Others

• Gaia: Subscription streaming platform for yoga, meditation, and spiritual content. Adjacent competitor in the online wellness content market with broader category coverage than TCF, though without tai chi specialization or community school network.

Direct peers

• International Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan Association: Organization dedicated to preserving Yang family tai chi lineage through instructor certification and affiliated schools. Shares Cheng Man-Ch'ing heritage with TCF and competes in the same lineage-based tai chi instruction market.
• Tai Chi for Health Institute: Founded by Dr. Paul Lam, focuses on tai chi for health and arthritis through certified instructor training programs. Directly competes with TCF in tai chi teacher certification and online instruction, with a more medically-oriented positioning.
• Taoist Tai Chi Society of the USA: A non-profit educational organization teaching tai chi across affiliated branches in the US and internationally. Directly comparable to TCF in mission, structure, and product offering—membership-based tai chi instruction through local classes led by trained volunteer instructors.
• Universal Healing Tao System: Founded by Mantak Chia, teaches Taoist practices including tai chi and qigong through certified instructors globally. Directly comparable to TCF in qigong/tai chi curriculum, instructor training, and multi-country affiliated school network.

Regional players

• World Tai Chi & Qigong Day: Global awareness event organization promoting tai chi and qigong participation across 80+ countries. Adjacent peer that mobilizes TCF-style affiliate networks for annual events rather than operating ongoing instructional programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheTaiChiFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/TaiChiFoundationInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tai-chi-foundation-&-school-of-tai-chi-chuan
• Instagraminstagram.com/taichifoundation
• Xx.com/TaiChiFdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tai Chi Foundation