khyentse foundation

What khyentse foundation does

Khyentse Foundation is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 91-2167303), registered in Washington state and headquartered in Seattle, that operates as a global, nonsectarian Buddhist grant-making and education body. Founded in 2001 by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, it funds institutions, scholars, translators, monastics, and individual practitioners through open application grants and scholarships, four annual award programs (Academic Excellence in Buddhist Studies, Prize for Outstanding Translation, Outstanding PhD Dissertation in Buddhist Studies, and The Khyentse Fellowship, which carries a US$30,000 prize), and direct project funding to supported initiatives such as the Khyentse Vision Project, the Kumarajiva Project / DJK Chinese Translation (DJKCT), the Goodman Lecture Series, and KF India. Its seven core activity areas are Academia, Education for Children, Monastics, Practitioner Support, Teacher Training, Text Preservation, and Translation.

The foundation's core "products" are program- and content-oriented rather than technology-based: an annual Tara calendar offered in 28 languages, the online Tara Altar (sadhanas, chants, and teachings), and the Goodman Lecture Series archive. There is no proprietary technology platform; the technology stack is limited to standard third-party donation processing (Donorbox with Stripe and PayPal), Google Analytics 4, Cloudflare security, and social media channel management. Reach is delivered through a multilingual website (English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Portuguese), active profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Vimeo, YouTube, and LinkedIn, and the Khyentse Network of local representatives in 15 regions, with donors from more than 50 countries and grantees spanning Asia, Europe, North America, and beyond. A wholly owned regional subsidiary, Khyentse Foundation India (incorporated 2011), localizes programs in the historic heartland of Buddhism in partnership with Light of Buddhadharma Foundation India (LBDFI) and Siddhartha's Intent India.

The revenue model is donations and charitable contributions only. The foundation does not sell products or services; funding flows from individual patrons and planned/legacy gifts processed via Donorbox, and disbursements are made to grant and scholarship recipients, awardees, and partner institutions. The organization is staffed primarily by volunteers under a Board of Directors with a small paid executive function (currently led by Executive Director Lynn Hoberg), and governance and strategic direction are anchored by the founder.

Name

khyentse foundation

Legal name

Khyentse Foundation

Website

https://khyentsefoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Khyentse Foundation is a US 501(c)(3) nonsectarian Buddhist nonprofit founded in 2001 that funds Buddhist institutions, scholars, translators, and practitioners worldwide through grants, scholarships, and four annual award programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Buddhist Religious Nonprofit Foundation

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)

Keywords

• Buddhist foundation grants
• Religious nonprofit funding
• Buddhist scholarship programs
• Dharma education support
• Tibetan translation prizes

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Khyentse Foundation is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 91-2167303) that funds its activities through donations from patrons. The foundation's registered address is PO Box 28939, Seattle, WA 98118, USA. Donations are processed through Donorbox with payment partners Stripe and PayPal. The foundation also accepts planned gifts and legacy donations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Khyentse Foundation is a nonsectarian Buddhist 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports the study and practice of Buddhist teachings worldwide. It does this by awarding grants and scholarships to individuals and institutions, administering prizes for scholarly and translation work, and producing educational programming such as the Goodman Lecture Series and the online Tara Altar resource.

Product overview

Khyentse Foundation is a global nonsectarian Buddhist organization founded in 2001 by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. The foundation offers a portfolio of funding programs, educational resources, and spiritual support services centered on preserving and promoting Buddha's wisdom. Its core offerings include grants and scholarships for Buddhist institutions and individuals, four types of awards for academic excellence and translation, the Goodman Lecture Series featuring Buddhist Studies scholars, and an online Tara Altar for spiritual practice. The foundation also supports regional initiatives such as KF India and translation projects including the Khyentse Vision Project and Kumarajiva Project (Chinese translation). All programs operate through seven core activity areas: Academia, Education for Children, Monastics, Practitioner Support, Teacher Training, Text Preservation, and Translation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grants and Scholarships Program
• Goodman Lecture Series
• Tara Altar (Online)
• Khyentse Fellowship Award
• KF Award for Outstanding PhD Dissertation
• KF Prize for Outstanding Translation
• KF India Program
• The Kumarajiva Project
• Khyentse Vision Project A foundation initiative supporting the development, preservation, and dissemination of Buddhist philosophical and practice materials.
• DJK Chinese Translation (DJKCT) A translation initiative named after Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, supporting the translation of Buddhist texts into Chinese.

Quantifiable outcome

• Global reach across 15 regions with representatives, donors from 50+ countries
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Siddhartha's Intent IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Siddhartha's Intent India announced the international competition for the Mahabodhi Temple Light Art Design Competition in 2022, the final step in the 'Lighting the Mahabodhi' project initiated by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche in 2019.
• Siddhartha's IntentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSiddhartha's Intent is described as Khyentse Foundation's 'sister organization.' The two organizations collaborate on events including Tara puja practices for KF's 25th anniversary year. Siddhartha's Intent Instructors Group responds to practice and dharma-related questions. Rinpoche is the guiding figure for both organizations.
• Light of Buddhadharma Foundation India (LBDFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLBDFI is a partner in India working to revitalize the Buddhadharma in India. Wangmo Dixey of LBDFI collaborates on projects alongside Khyentse Foundation India, contributing to the 2,500-year-old legacy of Buddhism in India.
• 84000: Translating the Words of the BuddhacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner84000 is a major translation initiative supported by Khyentse Foundation. Dr. Catherine Dalton, involved with 84000, has delivered a Goodman Lecture (October 2024) on study and translation as Buddhist practice. Erik Pema Kunsang has done editorial work for 84000.
• Rangjung Yeshe InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRangjung Yeshe Institute in Kathmandu, Nepal is referenced as an academic collaborator; Dr. Catherine Dalton has academic affiliations with both 84000 and Rangjung Yeshe Institute. The institute serves as an advisory institution for KF-related translation and study programs.
• Choki Traditional Art School (Bhutan)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEstablished in 1999 in Bhutan; provides free full-time education in Bhutan's traditional Thirteen Arts and Crafts for underprivileged youth. Supported through KF grants as part of the foundation's tradition and legacy and education for children initiatives.
• Padmakara Translation GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPadmakara Translation Group, based in Dordogne, France, is a distinguished translation group whose founders Wulstan Fletcher and John Canti received the 2016 Khyentse Fellowship. The group is known for clear and accurate literary translations of seminal Tibetan Buddhist texts into English, French, German, and Spanish.
• Partner Universities and Academic InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKhyentse Foundation partners with universities and academic institutions across Asia, Europe, and North America for the Goodman Lecture Series, academic awards, and research support. Partner institutions include University of Michigan, Stanford, Emory, UW-Madison, Peking University, National Taiwan University, SOAS, Yale, Columbia, UC Berkeley, University of Lausanne, and 30+ others.
• Chagdud Gonpa Brasil (Uruguay and Chile)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChagdud Gonpa Brasil, led by spiritual director Chagdud Khadro, is the recipient of the 2024 Khyentse Fellowship. Khadro is also a Khyentse Foundation advisor, representing a sustained partnership relationship.
• Fragile Palm Leaves FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Professor Peter Skilling, the Fragile Palm Leaves Foundation is a nonsectarian organization that supports the preservation and study of Buddhist literature of Southeast Asia. Skilling has been a KF advisor since 2007 and has initiated several KF projects including the KF Outstanding Translation Award and KF Dissertation Award.
• Than Hsiang Temple/Foundation (Malaysia) and International Buddhist College (Thailand)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenerable Wei Wu of Than Hsiang Temple/Foundation and International Buddhist College received the 2020 Khyentse Fellowship. These institutions represent KF's support for Buddhist education and practice in Southeast Asia.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha: A nonprofit dedicated to translating the words of the Buddha from Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur into English and other languages. Directly comparable as a Buddhist text translation nonprofit that Khyentse Foundation explicitly supports through grants, lectures, and editorial collaboration via Erik Pema Kunsang.
• Tsadra Foundation: A U.S.-based nonprofit that supports the development of Tibetan Buddhist contemplative traditions through translation, education, and scholar-practitioner exchange. Closely comparable to KF in mission, funding sources, and grantmaking approach toward Buddhist scholarship and practice.
• Siddhartha's Intent: Described in the source as KF's 'sister organization,' sharing the same founder/guiding teacher and collaborating on practitioner events, pujas, and dharma teaching. Comparable as a global nonsectarian Buddhist organization distributing education and practice resources.
• Light of Buddhadharma Foundation India (LBDFI): An India-based nonprofit working to revitalize the Buddhadharma in India through monastic training and temple projects. Direct peer in geography-specific Buddhist heritage revitalization, and an explicit KF India partner (Wangmo Dixey collaboration).
• Padmakara Translation Group: A distinguished French-based translation group producing literary translations of Tibetan Buddhist texts into English, French, German, and Spanish. Founders Wulstan Fletcher and John Canti received the 2016 Khyentse Fellowship; comparable as a grantee/translation peer within KF's ecosystem.
• Fragile Palm Leaves Foundation: Founded by Professor Peter Skilling (a KF advisor since 2007), this nonprofit preserves and studies Buddhist literature of Southeast Asia. Direct peer in text preservation and Buddhist scholarship, and an explicit partner of Khyentse Foundation.

Emerging players

• Rigpa: An international network of Buddhist study and practice centers offering dharma education, retreats, and online learning. Comparable as a nonsectarian-leaning Buddhist education organization with global centers, though focused more on practitioner programs than grantmaking.
• Choki Traditional Art School: A Bhutan-based nonprofit established in 1999 that provides free education in traditional Thirteen Arts and Crafts for underprivileged youth. Comparable as a small-scale Buddhist-heritage education nonprofit receiving KF grant support; similar recipient-side profile to many KF grantees.

Regional players

• Dharma Drum Mountain: A major Chinese Buddhism organization headquartered in Taiwan with global dharma centers and educational programming. Comparable as a Buddhist foundation supporting education, translation, and practice, primarily serving East Asian Buddhist communities rather than Western/Tibetan-focused audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT): A larger global Buddhist organization supporting study, practice, and teacher training across Mahayana traditions. Comparable as a broader incumbent Buddhist education and monastery support foundation, though school-aligned (Gelug) rather than nonsectarian.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KhyentseFoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/khyentsefoundation/timeline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/khyentse-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/khyentsefoundation
• Xx.com/khyentsefound

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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