Clouds In Water Zen Ctr

What Clouds In Water Zen Ctr does

Clouds in Water Zen Center is a private nonprofit religious organization in the Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition, located at 445 Farrington Street in the Historic Rondo Neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota. Its core offerings are zazen meditation sessions, dharma talks, classes and study periods, multi-day sesshin retreats, one-to-one meetings with teachers, affinity groups (BIPOC Sitting Group, LGBTQIA2S+, 12-Step Mindfulness, Youth and Family), lifecycle ceremonies, and social justice programming tied to interfaith coalitions such as ISAIAH. Programs are delivered in-person at the temple and via Zoom, with the sangha drawing members from the Twin Cities metro area and across the United States. Leadership comprises Guiding Teacher Sosan Theresa Flynn (dharma transmission 2012), Executive Director Renkyo Heather Fehst, a teacher-ryo of ordained priests and lay dharma teachers, and a board of directors.

Operationally the center runs on a community-supported gift economy (dana) and is staffed by three part-time employees supplemented by teachers, priests, volunteers, and a board. There is no proprietary technology platform; supporting infrastructure consists of a Squarespace website, eTapestry (Blackbaud) for donation and membership processing, Google Calendar scheduling, Zoom for online programming, Bookshop.org retail, and an RSS.com Dharma Talks podcast. Revenue is sourced from voluntary dana donations across multiple membership tiers (Presence, Dana at a suggested 2%-5% of gross income, Volunteer, and Benefactor at $2,500+/year), class and retreat fees, and a designated BIPOC Scholarship Fund. The organization is a member of the Sōtō Zen network with affiliated monasteries Ryumonji and Hokyoji supporting intensive retreat offerings, and the stated daily operating cost exceeds $700 covering building mortgage, utilities, and operations. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on Dharma talks, blog content, newsletters, affinity groups, word of mouth, and interfaith/social justice network visibility rather than paid acquisition.

Name

Clouds In Water Zen Ctr

Legal name

Clouds in Water Zen Center

Website

https://cloudsinwater.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Clouds in Water Zen Center is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist community in St. Paul, MN, offering meditation, dharma talks, retreats, classes, and social justice programming to a diverse, mostly horizontal sangha of practitioners across the Twin Cities and nationally via Zoom, supported through a gift-economy membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious and Spiritual Services

NAICS

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

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA), Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB)

Keywords

• Zen Buddhist meditation
• Spiritual retreat center
• Religious community services
• Nonprofit religious organization
• Mindfulness practice programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Dana (Donations): Primary revenue stream through voluntary financial gifts from sangha members and supporters. The center operates as a gift economy where donors are encouraged to give at 2%–5% of gross annual income. No set fees are required.
2. Membership Fees: Annual membership contributions offered through dana (financial giving), presence, or volunteering. Benefactor membership requires $2,500+ annual gift. Many members give monthly or quarterly.
3. Class and Retreat Fees: Revenue from practice period classes, retreats, and sesshins. Free Practice Period Enrollment is provided to members; scholarship funds available for those unable to pay.
4. BIPOC Scholarship Fund: Dedicated fund supporting BIPOC community members' participation in programming. Donors can contribute to this fund separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Clouds in Water Zen Center is a nonprofit Sōtō Zen Buddhist community that provides regular meditation (zazen), classes, multi-day retreats (sesshin), dharma talks, one-to-one teacher meetings, and affinity groups for spiritual practice and social justice engagement. Programs are offered in-person at its St. Paul temple and online via Zoom, with membership and donations collected through eTapestry. The organization operates on a gift economy (dana) model and does not turn anyone away for lack of funds.

Product overview

Clouds in Water Zen Center is a vibrant Sōtō Zen Buddhist community offering a comprehensive portfolio of practice services. The core offerings center on meditation practice (zazen), structured retreat programs (sesshin), and educational classes during Fall and Spring practice periods. Supporting services include one-to-one teacher meetings, affinity groups (BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+, 12-Step), and social justice programming aligned with engaged Buddhism principles. The organization operates a membership program with multiple contribution tiers (presence, dana/financial, volunteer, benefactor) and manages a BIPOC Scholarship Fund. Additional offerings include dharma talks (available as podcast), a bookshop, blog content with member spotlights, ceremonial services, and resources such as chant books and Katagiri Roshi transcripts. All programming is available in-person at the St. Paul location or via Zoom, with no one turned away for lack of funds.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Meditation Practice (Zazen) Regular meditation sessions (zazen) offered in-person at the St. Paul temple and via Zoom throughout the week, welcoming all experience levels and all backgrounds.
• Sesshin and Retreats Extended meditation retreats including multi-day sesshin programs, half-day sits, cozy retreats, and Queer Dharma Retreats, held at Clouds in Water and partner Zen monasteries (Ryumonji and Hokyoji).
• Classes and Study Programs Structured Fall and Spring practice periods with classes on karma, precepts, and embodied social justice, plus workshops and study groups for Buddhist study.
• Dharma Talks Sunday dharma talks and recorded audio teachings available via podcast (RSS.com) covering Buddhist practice and Zen teachings.
• One-to-One Practice Meetings Individual meetings with teachers for personal guidance, practice support, and pastoral counseling, available to members.
• Affinity Groups Specialized practice groups including BIPOC Sitting Group, LGBTQIA2S+ community, 12-Step Mindfulness, Youth and Family, and Cisgender Allies Study Group.
• Membership Program Membership program with tiers including Presence Membership (free), Dana Membership (suggested 2%–5% of income), Volunteer Membership, and Benefactor Membership ($2,500+/year), all offering identical benefits including one-to-one teacher meetings, free practice period enrollment, and zendo access.
• BIPOC Scholarship Fund and Leadership Fund Financial support programs including the BIPOC Scholarship Fund and BIPOC Leadership Fund supporting diversity and inclusion initiatives for community members' participation.
• Social Justice Programming Engaged Buddhism initiatives including ISAIAH Interfaith Action, White-Bodied Antiracism work, Deep Listening for Social Change, Food Access, and Warming/Cooling Spaces.
• Ceremonies and Lifecycle Events Weddings, memorial services, baby namings, and ordination ceremonies conducted by teachers for sangha members and the broader community.
• Clouds Bookshop Online bookshop through Bookshop.org offering recommended Buddhist and Zen literature for practitioners and the broader public.

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ryumonji Zen MonasterycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRyumonji Zen Monastery is a key partner for intensive retreat (sesshin) offerings. Clouds in Water practitioners attend scheduled sesshins at Ryumonji, deepening the practice relationship between the two Sōtō Zen communities. The Ryumonji Sesshin is listed as one of Clouds' major annual retreat offerings.
• Hokyoji Zen Practice CommunitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHokyoji Zen Practice Community is an affiliated Sōtō Zen practice center where Clouds in Water members attend retreats and sesshins. Several Clouds teachers and practitioners have connections to Hokyoji, and the community is referenced in teacher bios and member spotlights as a site for intensive practice.
• ISAIAH (Interfaith Action)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISAIAH is an interfaith coalition in the Twin Cities focused on social justice advocacy. Clouds in Water participates in ISAIAH events and initiatives, including discussions on white Christian nationalism and civic engagement. The partnership extends Clouds' social justice mission through interfaith collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Established Insight Meditation (vipassana) retreat center — broader mindfulness incumbent offering comparable retreat-based programming to a similar practitioner audience.
• San Francisco Zen Center: The largest and most established Sōtō Zen center in the U.S., with multi-site residential practice and city-based affiliates — a broader incumbent in the same lineage serving overlapping practitioner segments.

Direct peers

• White Heron Sangha: Midwest Sōtō Zen-affiliated community providing meditation, classes, and retreats in a smaller-city setting — comparable geographic scale and operational footprint.
• Upaya Zen Center: Sōtō Zen center integrating contemplative practice with social action, social justice, and end-of-life care — comparable to Clouds in Water's engaged-Buddhist orientation and teacher-ryo governance model.
• Brooklyn Zen Center: Urban, progressive Sōtō Zen community offering meditation, classes, and social engagement programming with a similar gift-economy membership model — a close analog in mission and operating style to Clouds in Water.
• Spring Green Zendo: Wisconsin-based Sōtō Zen zendo offering sesshin, daily meditation, and teacher training — similar retreat-partnership approach and small-staff operating model.
• Open Source Zen: Bay Area Sōtō Zen community with a progressive, socially engaged orientation — closely aligned with Clouds in Water's inclusive, social-justice-oriented programming.
• Boundless Way Zen: Network of Zen communities emphasizing warm, inclusive practice and engaged Buddhism — directly aligned with Clouds in Water's progressive, accessible orientation.
• Mountain Cloud Zen Center: Sōtō Zen center offering meditation, retreats, and teacher training with a comparable community-supported model and reliance on affiliated retreat sites.

Regional players

• Atlanta Sōtō Zen Center: Regional Sōtō Zen community in the Southeast offering meditation, classes, and priest ordination — comparable programming mix to Clouds in Water in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clouds-in-water-zen-ctr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Clouds In Water Zen Ctr