San Francisco Zen Center

What San Francisco Zen Center does

San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit religious organization founded in 1962 by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, operating continuously for more than 60 years as one of the most established Zen practice centers in the United States. The core operation consists of three physical practice centers in the greater San Francisco Bay Area — City Center (an urban temple at 300 Page Street, San Francisco), Green Gulch Farm (an organic farm and practice center in Marin County), and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (a remote monastery and retreat center in the Ventana Wilderness, Carmel Valley) — plus a digital layer spanning SFZC Online, an Online Zendo for live-streamed meditation, the SFZC Dharma App, a 3,000+ recording Dharma Talk Archive, and the Suzuki Roshi Archive.

The organization serves individual Zen practitioners, residential and monastic trainees, and approximately 75 affiliated Dharma centers and sanghas coordinated through its Branching Streams network across North America and internationally. Offerings include daily meditation, classes, workshops, multi-week practice periods, sesshin retreats, Dharma talks, priest ordination and lay entrustment (Jukai) pathways, and overnight accommodations (notably Tassajara's seasonal guest period and Green Gulch Farm visits). Distribution is multi-modal: three in-person practice centers, global online programs, podcast distribution on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and RSS, social channels on Facebook/Instagram/LinkedIn/YouTube, an email newsletter (Sangha News), and the SFZC bookstore.

The business model is a nonprofit revenue mix dominated by tax-deductible donations and annual memberships, with secondary revenue from registration fees for classes/retreats, overnight accommodation fees (particularly at Tassajara), and one-time retail sales of Dharma books and merchandise through the SFZC online store (WooCommerce/Storefront, processed via Authorize.net/Stripe). Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the main website; donations are pay-as-you-go, purchases and program fees are non-deductible. The disclosed digital technology stack is intentionally lean: Google Analytics, Authorize.net/Stripe payment processing, and WooCommerce e-commerce — there is no proprietary AI, ML, or platform technology.

Name

San Francisco Zen Center

Legal name

San Francisco Zen Center

Website

https://sfzc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

San Francisco Zen Center is a 501(c)(3) Zen Buddhist nonprofit founded in 1962, operating three Bay Area practice centers — City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara — and online programs serving individual practitioners, monastic trainees, and approximately 75 affiliated sanghas through donations, memberships, retreats, and bookstore sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Practice Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB), Buddhist Monastic Universities & Dharma Colleges (EDAHAKAK), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

Keywords

• Zen Buddhist practice
• Meditation instruction
• Spiritual retreats
• Religious education
• Dharma teachings

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions to support the organization's mission as a 501(c)(3) religious organization. Donations are the primary revenue source for this nonprofit.
2. Membership Program: Annual membership program providing ongoing support and engagement with the Zen Center community.
3. Bookstore and Online Store: Sales of Zen-related books, Dharma materials, and merchandise through the SFZC store.
4. Classes, Retreats, and Programs: Revenue from registration fees for classes, workshops, practice periods, and retreats at City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara.
5. Overnight Accommodations: Fees for overnight stays at practice centers, particularly Tassajara's guest season and Green Gulch Farm.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

San Francisco Zen Center is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit religious organization offering Zen Buddhist practice, study, and community programs at three Bay Area temples (City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center) and through the SFZC Online platform. The organization sells daily meditation instruction, classes, workshops, retreats and sesshin, Dharma talks, priest ordination, overnight accommodations, and books/merchandise via its online store, funded primarily through donations, memberships, and program registration fees.

Product overview

San Francisco Zen Center is a not-for-profit religious organization offering a multi-location Zen practice network. The core offering consists of three physical practice centers (City Center in San Francisco, Green Gulch Farm in Marin County, and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in the Ventana Wilderness) providing daily meditation, retreats, classes, and Dharma teachings. SFZC extends its reach through digital platforms including the SFZC Dharma App for mobile access to over 3,000 recorded teachings, SFZC Online for live virtual meditation sessions and on-demand courses, and the Suzuki Roshi Archive. Additional offerings include an online store, membership program, conference center rentals, and the Branching Streams affiliate network connecting Zen sanghas in the Suzuki Roshi lineage worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Branching Streams: A network of affiliate Dharma centers and Sanghas in the Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

Products and services

• SFZC Dharma App Cloud-based mobile application providing access to SFZC's online archive of more than 3,000 Dharma talk recordings, plus services, ceremonies, and events; includes search functionality, curated playlists, and Chromecast support. Targeted at Zen practitioners engaging with SFZC teachings on mobile devices.
• SFZC Online Online programs offering virtual meditation practice sessions, Dharma talks, live online courses, on-demand courses, and livestream media accessible anywhere in the world. Targeted at remote practitioners and those unable to attend in person.
• Online Zendo Live online meditation practice sessions with SFZC teachers, available at scheduled times for remote participants. Targeted at individual practitioners seeking guided group meditation online.
• City Center Urban Zen temple located at 300 Page Street in the heart of San Francisco, offering daily meditation, classes, workshops, retreats, and Dharma teachings to individual practitioners and visitors.
• Green Gulch Farm Organic farm and Zen practice center located in a coastal valley in Marin County, offering meditation practice, agricultural work, residential practice, and conference facilities.
• Tassajara Zen Mountain Center Remote monastery and retreat center at 39171 Tassajara Road in the Ventana Wilderness (Carmel Valley), offering residential practice, monastic training, and seasonal guest retreats from approximately April through September.
• SFZC Online Store E-commerce bookstore and retail store offering Dharma books, Buddhist publications, and Zen-related merchandise to the general public and SFZC community.
• Membership Program Annual membership program providing ongoing engagement and financial support for San Francisco Zen Center, with associated membership benefits for community members.
• Branching Streams Affiliate Network Network of approximately 75 affiliated Dharma centers and sanghas in the Suzuki Roshi lineage worldwide, providing shared resources, teacher development, conferences/gatherings, and coordination for affiliated sanghas.
• Conference Center Facilities Conference and event facilities available for rental at City Center (San Francisco) and Green Gulch Farm (Marin County), offered to outside groups and organizations.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Branching Streams Affiliate NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of approximately 75 Zen centers and sanghas in the Suzuki Roshi lineage worldwide, coordinated through SFZC. Affiliates include centers across North America, Europe, and beyond. The network provides mutual support, shared teacher development, collaborative gatherings (conferences/Gatherings), and resources for affiliated sanghas.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SFZenCenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/zencenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/san-francisco-zen-center
• Instagraminstagram.com/sanfranciscozencenter
• Xx.com/sfzc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 San Francisco Zen Center