Nalanda Institute

What Nalanda Institute does

Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science is a New York State–incorporated not-for-profit educational foundation founded in 2007 by Joe Loizzo, MD, PhD (Harvard-trained psychiatrist, Columbia-trained Buddhist scholar). It delivers a portfolio of contemplative education programs built around Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) — an evidence-based 8-week methodology integrating mindfulness, compassion, imagery, and breath-work, developed and field-tested at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College since 1998 and supported by peer-reviewed research. Core programs include the 3-year Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese), CBRT Teacher Training (a two-level certification feeding a Certified Teacher Network), and Boundless Leadership (a 6-month cohort program for managers and executives), supplemented by free daily Lunchtime Meditation, short courses, retreats, affinity groups, and customized corporate workshops. Programs are delivered entirely online via live Zoom and a dedicated student portal with recorded lectures and guided meditations, reaching 12,000+ people per year through a community of 40+ certified CBRT instructors across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America.

The institute operates as a mission-driven non-profit with a small core team (1–10 employees) headquartered at 300 Central Park West, New York. Monetization is diversified across five streams: tuition for paid programs (application-based for the multi-year CPP; priced individually for CBRT Teacher Training at $1,250/$600 and Boundless Leadership Introduction at $90/$60), a recurring monthly donation program ($10–$100/month plus tiered one-time donations up to $5,000), custom corporate/workshop engagements, suggested-donation Lunchtime Meditation, and scholarships (with full scholarships available for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ applicants). Go-to-market is community-led and organic: free meditation, journal/blog content, a newsletter, social media, affinity groups, and the Nautilus Award–winning Boundless Leadership book drive top-of-funnel awareness, while word-of-mouth, alumni referrals, and academic partnerships (Weill Cornell, Columbia, Tibet House US, Insight Meditation Society, Mindsight Institute) underpin credibility and pipeline. Advisory board figures include Daniel Goleman, Sharon Salzberg, Dan Siegel, Robert Thurman, and the Dalai Lama.

Name

Nalanda Institute

Legal name

Nalanda Institute for Contemplative Science

Website

https://nalandainstitute.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nalanda Institute is a New York-based not-for-profit founded in 2007 by Joe Loizzo, MD, PhD, delivering evidence-based contemplative education programs — including the 3-year Contemplative Psychotherapy Program, CBRT, and Boundless Leadership — to mental health professionals, caregivers, leaders, and the general public online and via a global network of certified instructors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemplative Education and Mindfulness Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Holistic & Integrative Wellness Education (Ayurveda, Traditional Practices) (EDAAAHAH)

Keywords

• Contemplative education programs
• Mindfulness meditation training
• Contemplative psychotherapy certification
• Compassion resilience training
• Leadership mindfulness programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Program Tuition: Tuition fees for core programs including Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (multi-year), CBRT (8-week course), CBRT Teacher Training (Level 1 and Level 2), and Boundless Leadership (6-month course). Tuition is paid upfront or in installments. Partial scholarships and full scholarships for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals are available.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The institute is a not-for-profit educational foundation (incorporated in New York State in 2007) that relies on donations. One-time and recurring monthly donation options are available. Donation tiers include Bodhisattva ($100), Yogi/Yogini ($250), Knowledge Holder ($500), Daka/Dakini ($1,000), and World Protector ($5,000). Checks can be mailed to the New York office.
3. CBRT Teacher Training Certification: Revenue from the two-level CBRT Teacher Training program. Level 1 costs $1,250, Level 2 costs $600, or both levels for $1,850. Graduates receive a one-year membership in the Certified Teacher Network ($100 admin fee after first year) with tools to teach CBRT independently.
4. Lunchtime Meditation Donations: Free daily Lunchtime Meditation sessions (Monday–Friday) with a suggested $10 donation per session. Teachers donate their time and receive donations from participants as their compensation.
5. Corporate and Organizational Programs: Customized Boundless Leadership and CBRT programs for organizations, delivered as 90-minute workshops, half-day sessions, full-day sessions, or multi-day retreats. Topics include Making Better Decisions, Peak Performance Under Pressure, Creating Boundless Teams. Revenue is negotiated per organization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Nalanda Institute is a not-for-profit educational foundation that delivers long- and short-form training programs integrating ancient contemplative science with modern psychology and neuroscience. Its sellable offerings include a 3-year Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (offered in English and Spanish/Portuguese), the 8-week Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT), the CBRT Teacher Training certification, the 6-month Boundless Leadership program, organizational programs, short courses, retreats, workshops, and affinity groups. Complementary free resources include daily Lunchtime Meditation sessions and a library of guided meditations.

Product overview

Nalanda Institute offers a portfolio of contemplative education programs centered around four core offerings: the Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (a 3-year deep-dive in mindfulness, compassion, and embodiment available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese), Compassion-Based Resilience Training (an 8-week evidence-based course), CBRT Teacher Training (a 5-8 month certification program), and Boundless Leadership (a 6-month leadership development course). These are supplemented by daily Lunchtime Meditation, short courses, retreats, workshops, and affinity groups. The institute also offers customized programs for organizations and free guided meditations. All offerings integrate contemplative wisdom with psychological insight, neuroscience, and social justice ethics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT): An 8-week evidence-based course combining mindfulness meditation, compassion meditation, imagery and breath-work for stress reduction and resilience building.
• CBRT Teacher Training
• Contemplative Psychotherapy Program
• Boundless Leadership
• Lunchtime Meditation

Products and services

• Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (English) A 3-year contemplative psychotherapy certification program, delivered primarily online with periodic in-person intensives, for mental-health professionals, graduate students, and serious practitioners seeking to integrate meditation-based methods with clinical psychotherapy.
• Contemplative Psychotherapy Program (Spanish/Portuguese) A bilingual (Spanish/Portuguese) 3-year version of the Contemplative Psychotherapy Program for mental-health professionals, graduate students, and practitioners in Latin America and other Spanish/Portuguese-speaking regions.
• Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT) An 8-week evidence-based skills program in compassion and resilience designed for adults seeking practical contemplative tools to manage stress, build well-being, and support others; available to individuals and adapted for organizations.
• CBRT Teacher Training A certification program that trains graduates of CBRT and other qualified practitioners to become licensed CBRT instructors, granting access to the Certified CBRT Instructor Network and supporting tuition revenue.
• Boundless Leadership A 6-month leadership development program for emerging and established leaders that integrates contemplative practice, neuroscience, and modern leadership skills to cultivate clarity, resilience, and ethical action.
• Boundless Leadership: Introduction Course A shorter, introductory version of the Boundless Leadership program that gives prospective participants a low-commitment entry point into the institute's contemplative leadership curriculum.
• Programs for Organizations Customized, contract-based contemplative training and well-being programs (based on CBRT and other institute curricula) delivered to corporate, nonprofit, and institutional clients for employee resilience, leadership, and culture initiatives.
• Short Courses Modular, short-format online courses covering focused contemplative topics and skills for the general public, clinicians, and program alumni seeking continuing education.
• Retreats Multi-day silent and themed contemplative retreats, delivered in-person and online, for deepening practice across the institute's curriculum tracks.
• Workshops Single-session or short-series experiential workshops on contemplative topics for alumni, individuals, and groups seeking targeted skill-building.
• Affinity Groups Identity-based peer practice and discussion circles (e.g., BIPOC, LGBTQ+) that create supportive community containers within the institute's broader training programs.
• Guided Meditations (Free Digital Library) A free, on-demand library of guided audio meditations available to the public as a low-friction entry point to the institute's contemplative offerings.
• Daily Lunchtime Meditation (Free) A free, recurring daily guided meditation session, offered live online and open to the general public, that serves as both community service and a top-of-funnel entry point.

Quantifiable outcome

• CBRT reduces biomarkers of stress, improves quality of life, lowers social-emotional and cultural role stress, enhances resilience and overall functioning, and markedly decreases post-traumatic symptoms including intrusive thinking and traumatic avoidance in women recovering from breast cancer (Weill Cornell Medicine and Albert Einstein College of Medicine)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 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

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core, key and minor.

• Weill Cornell MedicinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMary Charlson, MD, Chair of Epidemiology at Weill Cornell Medicine, serves on the Nalanda Institute Board of Directors. Joe Loizzo is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College. The CBRT program was developed at and continues to be researched at Weill Cornell. Joint research on CBRT with breast cancer survivors has been published in peer-reviewed journals.
• Columbia University (Center for Buddhist Studies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoe Loizzo taught at Columbia University's Center for Buddhist Studies and was Adjunct Assistant Professor there. The Center for Meditation and Healing was originally opened at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in 1998. The institute grew out of Loizzo's research at Columbia from 1996–2007.
• Tibet House USkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGanden Thurman is Executive Director of Tibet House US. Robert Thurman (former Je Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Studies at Columbia and President of Tibet House US) was on the Board of Advisors. Nalanda Institute holds retreats at Tibet House US. Tibet House and Nalanda share the mission of preserving Tibetan Buddhist wisdom.
• Insight Meditation SocietykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerSharon Salzberg, Co-founder of Insight Meditation Society, is on the Nalanda Institute Board of Advisors. IMS is one of the most influential Western mindfulness organizations, founded in 1975.
• Mindsight InstitutekeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDaniel J. Siegel, MD, Executive Director of the Mindsight Institute and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, is on the Nalanda Institute Board of Advisors. Siegel is a leading figure in interpersonal neurobiology and mindfulness.
• Shambhala PublicationskeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIvan Bercholz, Executive Vice President of Shambhala Publications, is listed as a partner. Shambhala Publications distributes the award-winning book 'Boundless Leadership' by Joe Loizzo and Elazar Aslan.
• Emory Contemplative ScienceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeshe Lobsang Negi is Director of Emory Contemplative Science, which is a partner organization. Emory has been a pioneer in integrating contemplative practices into academic settings.
• The Institute for Meditation and PsychotherapykeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristopher Germer, PhD (Program Director) and Paul Fulton, EdD (Certificate Program Director) are affiliated with The Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy. Paul Fulton is also on the Nalanda Institute Board of Advisors. The institute focuses on integrating mindfulness and compassion into psychotherapy practice.
• Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative WisdomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRick Hanson, PhD, Co-founder of the Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom, is a partner. Rick Hanson is a well-known author and teacher in the field of contemplative neuroscience and positive psychology.
• Center for Compassionate LeadershipkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaura Berland is Executive Director of the Center for Compassionate Leadership. The Center recognized 'Boundless Leadership' as one of the Top Five Compassionate Leadership Books of 2021.
• Wonderstruck PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerElizabeth Rovere, founder of Wonderstruck podcast, is a Board member of Nalanda Institute. Wonderstruck is a leading podcast exploring spirituality and contemplative practice.
• Advances in Meditation Research ConferenceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSonia Sequeira, PhD, from Memorial Sloan Kettering is Co-Organizer of the Advances in Meditation Research Conference, listed as a partner. This annual conference focuses on meditation research.
• Menla Mountain RetreatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichael Burbank is Director of Administration at Menla Mountain Retreat, listed as a partner. Nalanda Institute holds events and retreats at Menla Mountain Retreat, a Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in New York.
• San Francisco Zen CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRita Cummings, Vice-President of Operations at San Francisco Zen Center, is listed as a partner. San Francisco Zen Center is one of the major Zen practice centers in the West.
• Flow Institute / Mind Life EuropeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSander Tideman is Director of Flow Institute / Mind Life Europe and is on the Nalanda Institute Board of Advisors. The institute focuses on the intersection of contemplative science and leadership in European contexts.
• Jewel Heart InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCarole Corcoran and Nancy Jeffries are Co-Directors of Jewel Heart International, listed as a partner. Jewel Heart is a global organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Tibetan Buddhist teachings.
• Embodied PhilosophyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJacob Kyle is Founder and Director of Embodied Philosophy, listed as a partner. Embodied Philosophy creates content and programs at the intersection of contemplative practice and philosophy.
• Shantideva Meditation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesmond Hosford is Director of Shantideva Meditation Center, listed as a partner. Shantideva Meditation Center is a Buddhist practice center.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: A leading Vipassana/Insight meditation center offering residential retreats, teacher training, and online programs. Comparable to Nalanda in mission (training individuals and teachers in mindfulness/compassion), program format, and target audience of serious practitioners.
• Mindful Schools: Provides mindfulness training and curricula for educators, schools, and organizations. Comparable to Nalanda in delivering structured mindfulness and compassion training programs to professional audiences (educators, leaders, healthcare workers) via online cohort models.
• Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute: Originated at Google, SIYLI offers evidence-based mindfulness and emotional intelligence training for corporate leaders — directly comparable to Nalanda's Boundless Leadership program in target customer (business leaders), methodology, and enterprise B2B motion.
• Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy: Specializes in integrating mindfulness and compassion into psychotherapy practice — overlapping heavily with Nalanda's Contemplative Psychotherapy Program. Nalanda lists IMP's co-directors as partners/board advisors, evidencing deep programmatic overlap.
• Insight Meditation Society: One of the most influential Western mindfulness training organizations, founded in 1975, offering residential retreats and teacher training. Nalanda's Sharon Salzberg advisory board link and overlapping mindfulness/compassion curricula make it a direct peer in contemplative education.
• Center for Compassionate Leadership: Recognized Nalanda's "Boundless Leadership" as a Top Five Compassionate Leadership Book of 2021. Targets the same audience (corporate and nonprofit leaders), operates in the same space (compassion/mindfulness leadership training), and serves as a peer ecosystem participant.
• Emory Contemplative Science: Emory's academic program integrates contemplative practices into higher education and research. As a Nalanda partner organization, it represents a peer in academic-validated, evidence-based contemplative education with overlapping methodology and audience.
• University of Massachusetts Center for Mindfulness (MBSR): Originating organization of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), the gold-standard 8-week mindfulness program that CBRT is benchmarked against. Both programs are evidence-based, clinically rooted, and train participants in meditation for stress and resilience.
• Wellspring Institute for Neuroscience and Contemplative Wisdom: Founded by Rick Hanson (Nalanda partner), focuses on the intersection of neuroscience, contemplative practice, and positive psychology. Highly comparable mission and methodology to Nalanda's evidence-based contemplative training programs.

Broad incumbents

• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: A much larger, established holistic education provider offering hundreds of workshops, retreats, and certifications across wellness, mindfulness, leadership, and the arts. Comparable audience and program breadth but at a different scale, scope, and positioning than Nalanda's specialist focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NalandaInstitute
• Instagraminstagram.com/nalandainstitute
• Xx.com/nalanda_inst
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nalanda-institute

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Nalanda Institute