Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools

What Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools does

Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools (IGDVS) is a non-profit K-12 Buddhist educational institution located on the grounds of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California. Founded in 1976 by Venerable Master Hsuan Hua as part of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association, IGDVS operates two divisions: Instilling Goodness Elementary School (K-8, founded 1976) and Developing Virtue Secondary School (9-12, founded 1981 as the first Buddhist high school in the United States). The schools deliver a California state-aligned college-preparatory curriculum meeting UC A-G requirements, including AP coursework (Calculus AB/BC, Physics, Economics, English, Environmental Science, US/World History, Art History, Chinese) and dual-enrollment classes at Mendocino College, and were unified under a single K-12 WASC accreditation in May 2025. Boys and girls are educated in separate divisions with small class sizes averaging ten students at a 4:1 to 5:1 student/teacher ratio, drawing faculty from monastic and lay members of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association as well as international educators (17% of faculty hold doctoral degrees).

Beyond the core K-12 academic program, IGDVS runs a Residential Life Program for boarding students from other cities, states, and countries (Asia and Europe), with separate boys and girls dormitories, evening study halls, weekly community service, and structured Buddhist practice. The institution additionally operates a two-week residential Summer Camp (over 100 campers in 2026), a Field Trip Program for visiting school groups, and serves as the educational arm of the 488-acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas monastic community. There are no proprietary technology systems or AI/ML capabilities; learning relies on standard educational tools and platforms.

Revenue is generated through three primary recurring streams: day-student tuition at $2,475/semester, comprehensive boarding packages at $2,475 tuition plus $4,000 room/board plus $4,000 dorm activities/supervision per semester, and English Language Development (ELD) classes priced between $2,500 and $4,950 per semester for non-proficient English speakers. Supplementary revenue comes from non-refundable registration fees ($65), refundable deposits ($300 for day, $1,000 for boarding), a mandatory Donation-in-Lieu ($425/year or 25 volunteer hours), PTO membership ($35/year), and voluntary donations including the PTO Tuition Scholarship and Joyous Giving Scholarship. International students additionally pay a one-time $300 visa processing fee and medical insurance premiums. Customer acquisition is direct-to-consumer via campus tours, family interviews, applications, and the Duolingo English Test for international applicants, with no resellers or third-party distribution; marketing concentrates on the institutional website, email newsletter (420+ subscribers), and Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn channels.

Name

Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools

Legal name

Instilling Goodness Developing Virtue Schools

Website

https://igdvs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IGDVS is a non-profit K-12 Buddhist school in Ukiah, California, operating within the 488-acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and serving 135+ day and boarding students (including international enrollees) with a college-preparatory curriculum, separate-gender divisions, WASC accreditation, and integrated spiritual, residential, and summer camp programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private K-12 Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• K-12 private education
• Buddhist education services
• College preparatory curriculum
• Boarding school program
• Summer youth camp

Headquarters

HQ city

Ukiah

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Day Students: Semester-based tuition for local day students covering academic instruction
2. Tuition & Boarding - Residential Students: Comprehensive semester-based fees including tuition, room and board, and dorm activities and supervision fees for boarding students
3. ELD Classes: Additional tuition charges for English Language Development classes for non-proficient students: ELD1 $4,950, ELD2 $3,000, ELD3 $2,500 per semester
4. Registration and Deposits: Non-refundable registration fees ($65) and refundable deposits for new students
5. Donations and Scholarships: Voluntary donations, PTO Tuition Scholarship program, and Joyous Giving Scholarship for students with financial need
6. International Student Fees: Medical insurance premiums and one-time visa processing fee ($300) for international students

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools (IGDVS) operates a K-12 private Buddhist educational institution on the 488-acre City of Ten Thousand Buddhas monastery grounds in Ukiah, California, delivering separate-gender elementary (K-8) and college-preparatory secondary (9-12) curricula integrated with Buddhist character education, meditation, and community service. The school supplements core academics with a residential boarding program, English Language Development classes for international students, and seasonal summer camp offerings.

Product overview

Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools operates as a K-12 Buddhist educational institution with two main school divisions: Instilling Goodness Elementary School (K-8) and Developing Virtue Secondary School (9-12). The schools provide a full academic program meeting State of California requirements, with Developing Virtue Secondary School offering a college preparatory curriculum meeting UC A-G requirements. Beyond core academics, the institution offers supplementary programs including Summer Camp, Residential Life (boarding), and Field Trip Programs, all integrated with Buddhist teachings emphasizing core virtues, meditation, and community service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Instilling Goodness Elementary School
• Developing Virtue Secondary School

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% college acceptance rate over past four years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIGDVS K-12 has been fully accredited by WASC since May 2025. Developing Virtue Secondary School has held WASC accreditation since 2007 with reaccreditations in 2013, 2019, and 2025. WASC accreditation ensures the school provides high-quality learning opportunities and demonstrates continual self-improvement.
• Association of Northern California Chinese SchoolsminorOthersSchool holds membership in the Association of Northern California Chinese Schools, an organization supporting Chinese language and cultural education in the region.
• Mendocino CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudents have opportunity to take additional courses at Mendocino College and other institutions. The school offers 200-level transferable college courses as part of the curriculum, allowing students to earn college credit while in high school.
• Dharma Realm Buddhist AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe school operates as part of the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association's educational mission. Faculty include monastic and lay members of the Association. Students benefit from access to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas monastery facilities, monks, nuns, and volunteer community.
• Lands' EndminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool partners with Lands' End for school uniforms. IGDVS Preferred School Number: 900037102. All uniform tops and outerwear must have the IGDVS logo. Parents can order online or by phone referencing the school number.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• San Domenico School: Independent Catholic K-12 school in San Anselmo, California, blending rigorous college-prep academics with values-based education and residential life. Comparable in faith-based identity, K-12 span, Bay Area North location, and holistic education model.
• Eastside Preparatory School: Independent 6-12 college-prep school in East Palo Alto, California. Comparable small, mission-driven Bay Area private school with strong college placement outcomes and individualized instruction.
• Chinese American International School: Independent K-8 school in San Francisco with Mandarin immersion and similar Chinese cultural/heritage emphasis. Direct peer on the Chinese-language and international/diversity dimension of IGDVS's program.
• Pacific Buddhist Academy: Private college-preparatory Buddhist high school in Honolulu, Hawaii. The closest direct peer: small faith-based K-12 with Buddhist philosophy integration, college-prep mission, and similar international/diverse student body composition.
• Woodside Priory School: Benedictine Catholic boarding and day school (grades 6-12) in Portola Valley, California. Comparable small faith-based college-prep school with monastic community integration, boarding program, and rural campus setting.
• Cathedral School for Boys: Independent K-8 boys' school in San Francisco affiliated with Grace Cathedral. Comparable small faith-based, single-gender, individualized private school in the same Northern California market.
• Nueva School: Independent K-12 school in Hillsborough, California, focused on gifted learners with project-based, individualized learning. Comparable on the small class size, individualized instruction, and Bay Area private K-12 dimension.

Broad incumbents

• Harker School: Large, established K-12 private school in San Jose, California. Bay Area peer in the same private K-12 college-prep category with strong AP outcomes and STEM emphasis, but much larger scale and secular positioning; represents a broader incumbent rather than a direct competitor.
• Bellarmine College Preparatory: Jesuit Catholic all-boys college-prep high school in San Jose, California. Comparable faith-based, college-prep, single-gender model with strong university placement record; serves as broader faith-based incumbent in the same Bay Area private school market.

Others

• Dharma Realm Buddhist University: Affiliated higher-education institution on the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas campus in Ukiah. Adjacent peer within the same DRBA ecosystem offering undergraduate Buddhist studies; relevant as ecosystem participant and potential feeder/articulation partner for IGDVS graduates.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_brWLQpfnW4x351L8icZNg
• Facebookfacebook.com/Instilling-Goodness-Elementary-Developing-Virtue-Schools-1529737323989219
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/instilling-goodness-developing-virtue-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/igdvs

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 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 Instilling Goodness & Developing Virtue Schools