What Shinnyo-en Foundation does

Shinnyo-en Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation established in 1994 as the secular philanthropic arm of Shinnyo-en USA, a lay Buddhist order founded in 1936 by Shinjo Ito. The foundation operates a dual structure comprising grant programs in four areas — Service, Youth Leadership Development, Social-Emotional Learning, and Interfaith Collaboration — alongside sponsored programs including the Annual Retreat (since 1999), the Infinite Paths to Peace (IPTP) Leadership Retreat Series, the National Service-Learning Conference, the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip, Putney School Summer Arts, the Shinnyo Fellowship Program (now Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship at Berkeley City College), and the Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii ceremony. Its core mission is to promote peace through service by nurturing future generations, primarily targeting Shinnyo-en temple youth and young adults (high school to mid-30s) as well as community-based organizations and educational institutions.

The foundation generates no commercial revenue; it is funded by members of Shinnyo-en around the world and redistributes capital through grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 per year (with discretionary bridge funds up to $3,000) to US-based tax-exempt organizations. Distribution follows a relationship-based grantmaking model in which less than 10% of funds are allocated to new grantees annually and unsolicited proposals are not accepted, with a defined geographic focus on five US metropolitan areas: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, and New York. The operational footprint is lean — a team of roughly five staff members, including a Vice President, Program Director, Grants Manager, Administration Director, and Administrative Assistant — supplemented by an extended network of temple communities and institutional partners such as the National Youth Leadership Council, Search Institute, ACET Inc, UC Berkeley Public Service Center, and Notre Dame San Jose High School.

Quantified impact includes engagement of over 270 youth across the 10-year IPTP retreat series, 210 participants contributing 630 service hours during the 2025 Day of Service, and a 30-year track record (1994–2026) of sustained programming. There is no disclosed AI/ML capability, no commercial product surface, no app, and no API; technology use is limited to standard nonprofit communications (website content, social media, email, Flickr photo documentation).

Name

Shinnyo-en Foundation

Legal name

Shinnyo-En Foundation

Website

https://sef.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Shinnyo-en Foundation is a nonprofit established in 1994 as the secular philanthropic arm of Shinnyo-en USA. It funds US community organizations through four grant programs and operates youth service and interfaith programs across five metro temple communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Foundation & Youth Development Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Youth leadership development
• Service-learning programs
• Interfaith collaboration
• Social-emotional learning

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco Bay Area

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grantmaking: Shinnyo-en Foundation is a secular, philanthropic arm of Shinnyo-en USA, funded by members around the world. The foundation provides financial and in-kind support to community-based organizations and educational institutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shinnyo-en Foundation is a secular philanthropic foundation that provides grants and operates direct programs focused on youth service-learning, leadership development, social-emotional learning, and interfaith collaboration. It distributes annual grants of $5,000-$50,000 to US-based community organizations and educational institutions, and delivers retreats, immersion trips, fellowships, and conferences to Shinnyo-en youth members and affiliates.

Product overview

Shinnyo-en Foundation is a secular philanthropic organization established in 1994 as the grantmaking arm of Shinnyo-en USA. The Foundation operates a dual structure consisting of grant programs and sponsored programs. Its grant programs focus on four areas: Service, Youth Leadership Development, Social-Emotional Learning, and Interfaith Collaboration. The Foundation's sponsored programs include the Annual Retreat, Infinite Paths to Peace Leadership Retreat Series, National Service-Learning Conference, New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip, Putney School Summer Arts, Shinnyo Fellowship Program (now Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship), and Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii. These programs are designed to promote peace through service by nurturing future generations, with particular focus on youth and young adults aged high school to mid-30s.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Infinite Paths to Peace: The peace initiative representing the idea that it is possible to inspire new reverberations of peace through service if individuals reflect on their values and passions and make a commitment to offer their unique contributions to the world.

Products and services

• Interfaith Collaboration Grants Funding program supporting dialogue and engagement among varied faith communities to promote inclusivity and service-driven change for communities.
• Service Grants (Service-Learning) Grantmaking supporting organizations committed to opening up opportunities for youth to become involved in their communities through meaningful acts of service.
• Social-Emotional Learning Grants Funding for programs developing self-awareness, self-regulation, and interpersonal skills vital for youth success through understanding and reflecting on emotional wellbeing.
• Youth Leadership Development Grants Grants supporting programs that provide opportunities for youth self-discovery, collaboration, and reflection to develop into community leaders.
• Annual Retreat An intimate intergenerational overnight gathering offered to affiliates and grantees to reflect on their spirit of service, be inspired, and rejuvenate. Operating since 1999.
• Infinite Paths to Peace (IPTP) Leadership Retreat Series An overnight retreat series supporting personal and spiritual growth of Shinnyo-en youth across temple communities, helping them develop leadership and strengthen connections. Completed three series over 10 years.
• National Service-Learning Conference Participation Sponsorship and participation in the large-scale conference organized by the National Youth Leadership Council for affiliates and Shinnyo-en youth to learn best practices, engage in leadership development, and professional networking.
• New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip A week-long immersive interfaith and service-learning trip to New Mexico for high school students from various faith backgrounds, including Shinnyo-en teens, organized in partnership with Notre Dame San Jose High School.
• Putney School Summer Arts Sponsorship Sponsorship of Shinnyo-en youth (ages 14-17) to attend the Putney School Summer Arts residential arts program in Vermont, exploring visual, performing, interdisciplinary, and literary art forms.
• Shinnyo Fellowship Program (Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship) A school-year long fellowship program for undergraduate and post-undergraduate fellows to engage in campus and community service, and peacebuilding endeavors. As of late 2025, reshaped into the Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship at Berkeley City College.
• Shinnyo Lantern Floating Hawaii Annual traditional Buddhist lantern floating ceremony held on Memorial Day at Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu, honoring loved ones who passed before us and promoting peace and harmony.

Quantifiable outcome

• 210 participants gave 630 hours of service during 2025 Day of Service
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Long-term sponsor of the National Service-Learning Conference organized by NYLC for over three decades. Foundation supports youth and selects grantees to participate for best practices exchange, leadership development, and professional networking. SEF has addressed keynote speeches, presented workshops, and sponsored participant attendance.
• ACET InccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Recent partnership for the IPTP Leadership Retreat Series, preparing comprehensive summary reports and stand-alone activity cards featuring select activities from the program.
• Search InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Early partnership for the Infinite Paths to Peace (IPTP) Leadership Retreat Series that began in planning in October 2015. Supported youth development across six Shinnyo-en USA and Hawaii Temple communities over a 10-year period.
• Notre Dame San Jose High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the New Mexico Interfaith Immersion Trip, a week-long immersive summer program for high school students from various faith backgrounds. Foundation sponsors four Shinnyo-en Youth teens and other teens participate.
• Putney SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Putney School Summer Arts since 1988. Foundation sponsors Shinnyo-en youth (ages 14-17) to attend the residential arts program in Vermont, exploring visual, performing, interdisciplinary, and literary art forms.
• Berkeley City CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew partnership in late 2025 for the Shinnyo Pathways Fellowship Program, appointing a single fellow at BCC. Supervised by Skyler Barton, counselor and instructor at BCC who has mentored previous Shinnyo Fellows from UC Berkeley.
• UC Berkeley Public Service CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for Shinnyo Fellowship Program placement site and advisor participation in annual retreats. Dr. Sandra Bass serves as Senior Associate Dean and Executive Director.
• Interfaith Youth AllianceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExecutive Director Jessica Spencer Moss contributed article on New Mexico Interfaith Immersion. Foundation supports interfaith teen programs.
• Warp CorpsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWoodstock-based nonprofit focused on homelessness, mental health, and youth outreach. Hosted volunteer event for IPTP Chicago retreat participants at Loyola University.
• Mary's Place SeattleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNon-profit organization dedicated to providing shelter and care for women and families. Hosted IPTP Seattle retreat participants for volunteer toy and clothing sorting.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Points of Light Foundation: National volunteer-service organization focused on civic engagement and youth service. Directly comparable as a similarly-missioned foundation operating service-learning and volunteer programs; Shinnyo-en Foundation attended the 2026 Points of Light Conference per its own website articles.
• Youth Service America: Nonprofit dedicated to developing young leaders through service-learning. Comparable mission in the youth service-learning space with overlapping focus on grants, leadership development, and SEL outcomes.
• National Youth Leadership Council: Organization advancing service-learning as a K-12 pedagogy; Shinnyo-en Foundation has been a 30+ year sponsor of its National Service-Learning Conference. Highly comparable mission and overlapping program portfolio.
• Generation On: Youth service and philanthropy nonprofit. Direct peer in the youth-led service and grantmaking space with similar programs targeting middle and high school students.

Emerging players

• DoSomething.org: Largest organization exclusively for young people and social change; comparable youth-civic-engagement focus though with digital-first delivery model rather than retreat-based programs.
• VolunteerMatch: Nonprofit connecting volunteers with opportunities; comparable mission in volunteer mobilization, though technology-enabled versus Shinnyo-en Foundation's direct program delivery.
• Interfaith Youth Core / IFYC: Nonprofit advancing interfaith cooperation on college campuses. Comparable niche focus on interfaith collaboration and youth leadership development, intersecting with Shinnyo-en Foundation's interfaith immersion and fellowship programs.

Broad incumbents

• Ford Foundation: Large global philanthropic foundation with overlapping civic-engagement and SEL portfolio. Much larger scale but operates broadly in the same philanthropic-services space where Shinnyo-en Foundation operates its grantmaking niche.
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Large national foundation funding SEL, youth development, and community health initiatives. Comparable as a broad grantmaking incumbent whose SEL investments overlap with Shinnyo-en Foundation's social-emotional learning grants.

Regional players

• Hawaii Community Foundation: Regional community foundation serving Hawaii with grantmaking and youth programs. Comparable as a smaller community-focused grantmaker in a geography adjacent to Shinnyo-en Foundation's network; Lantern Floating Hawaii partnership makes this especially relevant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shinnyoenfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shinnyo-en-foundation/about

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shinnyo-en Foundation