What Yogananda Seva does

Yogananda Seva is a California-registered nonprofit religious organization founded in 2019 and headquartered at 2954 Macon Road, Encinitas, California. It operates a virtual community serving devotees of Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF) and Yogoda Satsanga Society (YSS), the Kriya Yoga lineages established by Paramahansa Yogananda. Its core offerings are community and study programs including the Lay Disciple Intentional Communities Forum, an Elder Forum, the Young Adult Sangha, and (currently paused) the Devotee Travel Connection. Historically it also operated the SRF Online Meditation Center, an International Help Desk, and translation services — programs transferred to the SRF Voluntary League in 2021 — and pipeline projects such as Introspective Writing and a Spanish-language Fellowship are in development.

The technical footprint is modest: a primary website (yoganandaseva.org), integrations with community platforms including Mighty Networks, and mobile applications supporting devotional community engagement. There is no evidence of proprietary algorithms, machine-learning systems, or custom technology development beyond standard community and content tooling. Operations are largely volunteer-driven, with a reported headcount of 51–100 that is overwhelmingly composed of unpaid community participants rather than employees; the organization currently lists a single paid staff position — a Volunteer Services Manager — with a salary band of $65,560–$82,160.

The business model is donation-based. Revenue is generated from donor contributions to the nonprofit and supplemented by funding flows from the broader SRF organization. There is no pricing model, no membership fees, no enterprise customers, and no equity ownership; governance is by a board rather than shareholders, and there is no venture or private equity backing. As a 501(c)-style religious nonprofit, Yogananda Seva's economic objective is mission continuity rather than profit maximization, and its scale — single paid staff role, virtual-only delivery, global reach across 80+ countries via volunteers — reflects a lean, sponsor-supported operating model.

Name

Yogananda Seva

Legal name

Yogananda Seva, Inc.

Website

https://yoganandaseva.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Yogananda Seva is a 2019-founded Encinitas, California-based nonprofit religious organization that operates a virtual community for Self-Realization Fellowship and Yogoda Satsanga Society devotees worldwide, running lay community forums, study groups, and elder/young-adult programs funded by donations and volunteer support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

Keywords

• Religious community services
• Spiritual fellowship programs
• Volunteer coordination
• Meditation center programs
• Translation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Encinitas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Yogananda Seva accepts donations specifically earmarked for programs not managed by SRF. Some programs are funded by Self-Realization Fellowship directly.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Yogananda Seva is a virtual community of Paramahansa Yogananda's devotees that develops and operates volunteer-driven spiritual service programs for the global SRF/YSS family. Its core offerings include the Lay Disciple Intentional Communities Forum, Elder Forum, Young Adult Sangha, and the Devotee Travel Connection concept, delivered via website, mobile app, and Zoom-based virtual events.

Product overview

Yogananda Seva is a virtual community platform offering multiple spiritual service programs for the Self-Realization Fellowship/Yogoda Satsanga Society (SRF/YSS) global family. The organization operates four core programs: the Lay Disciple Intentional Communities Forum (resource center for developing spiritual living communities), Elder Forum (spiritual fellowship for devotees 50+), Devotee Travel Connection (peer-to-peer accommodations network for devotees, currently paused), and Young Adult Sangha (activities for young adult members). The organization was formed in 2019 and previously operated additional programs (SRF Online Meditation Center, International Help Desk, Translation/Subtitling) that were transferred to the SRF Voluntary League of Disciples upon its launch in 2021.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lay Disciple Intentional Communities Forum A resource center, incubator for ideas, networking environment, and place of dialogue for SRF/YSS devotees interested in developing intentional living communities grounded in the aims and ideals of Self-Realization Fellowship. Provides workshops and discussion forums covering topics such as community governance, spiritual life, and vision statements.
• Elder Forum An online forum for devotees 50 years of age and older that complements sadhana through activities based in spiritual attunement, fellowship, and service. Hosts regular Readings and Reflections meetings where participants share divine fellowship and SRF writings. Programs in development include Introspective Writing and Spanish Fellowship and Reflections.
• Young Adult Sangha A program that coordinates a variety of activities for SRF and YSS members in their post-teen years through their twenties and thirties, providing spiritual fellowship and community connection for young adult devotees.
• Devotee Travel Connection (paused) A peer-to-peer online accommodations platform concept exploring connecting devotees worldwide through a network of host-guest accommodations permeated with spiritual values. Program development has been paused. Previously sought volunteers to help shape the direction through surveys and focus groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• Attended by thousands of devotees from 80+ countries attending dozens of weekly group meditations and study sessions
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Self-Realization Fellowship (SRF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYogananda Seva operates with the guidance and blessing of SRF/YSS President Brother Chidananda. SRF provides funding for programs including the Online Meditation Center, Help Desk, and translation services. Many Yogananda Seva volunteer programs were later integrated into the SRF/YSS Voluntary League of Disciples launched in 2021. Yogananda Seva is legally separate from SRF but affiliated through shared membership and mission.
• Yogoda Satsanga Society of India (YSS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerYogananda Seva serves the worldwide family of SRF/YSS members including YSS members in India. The organization operates under the direction of Brother Chidananda who serves as president of both SRF and YSS.
• SRF/YSS Voluntary League of DisciplesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMany of Yogananda Seva's original volunteer programs including the Online Meditation Center, international Help Desk, and translation services were placed under the management of this new lay disciple league when it launched in 2021. Yogananda Seva continues to coordinate programs not directly managed by SRF/YSS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/770094090354828
• Xx.com/yoganandaseva
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/yoganandaseva

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Yogananda Seva