Tibet House

What Tibet House does

Tibet House US (legal name: Tibet House, U.S., Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 1987 at the direct request of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to preserve and present Tibetan civilization and culture. Headquartered in a Manhattan cultural center at 22 W 15th St, New York, the organization operates a permanent gallery of Tibetan art, hosts rotating exhibitions (e.g., TABO: Into The Light), delivers educational programs in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, meditation, yoga, and contemplative science, and runs the annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall (39th year in 2026). It also operates the Menla Retreat & Spa in the Catskill Mountains through an adjacent operating subsidiary, offering spiritual and wellness retreats.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual donations, recurring membership subscriptions, ticketed programs and events (e.g., Vajra Yoga at $25/session, empowerment ceremonies at $369–$500), gift shop merchandise sales via a Shopify e-commerce storefront (shop.thus.org), venue rental, and proceeds from the annual Carnegie Hall benefit concert. Distribution is omnichannel: the NYC cultural center (physical), Menla retreat (physical), online/hybrid programs via Zoom, and global online storefront. With 16 employees, the organization is small and relies on a board of directors, a broad community of Tibetan scholars, lamas, and Buddhist teachers, and high-profile cultural supporters including Robert De Niro, Debbie Harry, Elvis Costello, Laurie Anderson, Maya Hawke, Kate Pierson, and Allison Russell.

The technology stack is intentionally light and consumer-facing: Shopify for commerce, Eventbrite for ticketing, Zoom for online programming, and PayPal for payment processing on certain storefronts. The organization has no public API, no mobile app, no AI/ML capabilities, and no proprietary software beyond standard content and document archives (THUS Repatriation Collection, Old Tibet Photographic Archive). It maintains an active social media presence (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Vimeo, TikTok) and a regular email newsletter (DRUM) for community engagement.

Name

Tibet House

Legal name

Tibet House, U.S., Inc.

Website

https://tibethouse.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tibet House US is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit cultural institution founded in 1987 at the Dalai Lama's request, operating a NYC gallery, the Menla Catskill retreat, educational programs, and the annual Carnegie Hall benefit concert to preserve Tibetan civilization and culture.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural and Educational Services

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Museums (712110)

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage Institutions (Archives, Historic Houses, Monuments Foundations) (THAJADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Ayurveda & Traditional Medicine Retreats (THAGAMAF)

Keywords

• Tibetan cultural preservation
• Buddhist education programs
• Meditation and yoga classes
• Spiritual retreat services
• Cultural center operations

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Program: Recurring membership subscriptions offering benefits to supporters of Tibetan culture preservation. Members receive discounts and access to exclusive content.
2. Programs and Events: Revenue from ticketed educational programs, workshops, yoga classes, meditation sessions, retreats, and cultural events. Events range from Vajra Yoga ($25) to special empowerment ceremonies ($369-$500 donations).
3. Gift Shop: Sale of Tibetan and Buddhist-related merchandise including books, clothing, door chimes, meditation items, jewelry, malas, singing bowls, and gifts.
4. Annual Benefit Concert: Major annual fundraising event held at Carnegie Hall featuring renowned musicians and artists, generating donations and awareness.
5. Donations: Charitable contributions from individuals supporting the preservation of Tibetan civilization and culture.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tibet House US is a nonprofit cultural institution that preserves and presents Tibetan civilization and culture through a NYC gallery, the Menla Catskill retreat center, educational programs (yoga, meditation, Buddhist teachings), an annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall, gift shop merchandise, and membership subscriptions. The organization offers certification programs and study-abroad courses in partnership with academic and meditation institutions, alongside rotating exhibitions of Tibetan art and co-produced documentary content.

Product overview

Tibet House US is a Tibetan Art & Cultural Center in NYC founded in 1987 at the request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to preserve Tibetan civilization and culture. The organization operates as a cultural center offering multiple integrated products and services: the NYC Gallery showcasing Tibetan art and rotating exhibitions; Menla Resort & Spa, a spiritual wellness retreat center in the Catskill mountains; a comprehensive Programs & Events division featuring Vajra Yoga, Buddhist teachings, and meditation training; the annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall; an online Gift Shop selling Tibetan merchandise; and membership subscriptions. Educational offerings include the Dharma Moon Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training (certification program), the Emory Tibetan Mind/Body Sciences study abroad partnership, and The Animated History of Tibet documentary series (co-produced). The organization also hosts special exhibitions like the Mayumi Oda exhibition and publishes books and resources about Tibetan culture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Menla: Menla is a hidden oasis set in a secluded valley beside an enchanting stream in the heart of the Catskill mountains. Featuring spiritual and wellness retreats as well as exclusive getaways.

Products and services

• Tibet House US Gallery A gallery space in NYC showcasing Tibetan art, artifacts, and rotating exhibitions featuring Tibetan and Himalayan cultural heritage.
• Menla Retreat & Spa A spiritual and wellness retreat center located in the Catskill mountains, offering overnight stays, retreats, and exclusive getaways.
• Programs & Events Educational programs and events exploring Tibetan cultural heritage, religion, history, art, neuroscience, meditation, yoga, and Buddhist teachings through offerings by scholars, speakers, and teachers.
• Annual Benefit Concert at Carnegie Hall An annual fundraising concert held at Carnegie Hall, bringing together legendary performers, contemporary artists, and Tibetan musicians to celebrate Tibetan culture.
• Gift Shop An online store offering Tibetan and Buddhist-related merchandise including books, clothing, meditation items, incense, jewelry, malas, singing bowls, and gifts.
• Membership Program Recurring membership subscriptions that support Tibet House US operations and provide benefits to members.
• Dharma Moon Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training A structured meditation teacher training program led by David Nichtern, combining meditation practice, Buddhist psychology, and practical instruction on teaching mindfulness. Graduates receive certification from Dharma Moon and Tibet House US.
• Vajra Yoga Yoga instruction from Indo-Tibetan traditions, including yoga nidra practices aligned with lunar cycles, taught by certified instructors including Patty MacRae and John Campbell.
• Emory Tibetan Mind/Body Sciences Summer Study Abroad A summer study abroad program in India conducted with Emory University, exploring Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, psychology, religion, culture, contemplative studies, Tibetan medicine, meditation, and compassion-based ethics.
• The Animated History of Tibet A nine-episode fully-animated historical documentary series covering Tibetan history from earliest writing on the Tibetan Plateau through the 20th century, co-produced by Tibet House US.

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

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Armchair Academics (Dr. Alexander K. Smith)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 June 2026Co-production of The Animated History of Tibet, a nine-episode fully-animated historical documentary series covering Tibetan history from earliest writing on the Tibetan Plateau through the 20th century to present day. Dr. Smith holds PhD in Tibetan and Himalayan Studies from University of Paris (EPHE – PSL) and MA in Tibetan Studies from Oxford University.
• Emory University - Tibetan Mind/Body SciencescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Collaborative summer study abroad program in India (May 17-June 20, 2026) in conjunction with the Emory-Tibet Science Initiative. Students study Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, psychology, religion, culture, contemplative studies, Tibetan medicine, meditation, and compassion-based ethics. Program begins in Dharamsala (home of the 14th Dalai Lama) and moves to Drepung Loseling Monastery in Mundgod, South India, home to over 3,000 monks.
• His Holiness the 14th Dalai LamacoreOthersThe organization was founded at the direct request of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1987. He expressed his wish for a long-term cultural institution to ensure the survival of Tibetan civilization and culture. The Dalai Lama inaugurated the institution and THUS serves as his cultural center in the United States.
• Dharma MooncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint mindfulness meditation teacher training program offering certification. The training combines meditation practice, Buddhist psychology, and practical instruction on how to teach mindfulness. Led by Buddhist teacher, author, and Grammy-nominated musician David Nichtern. Graduates receive dual certification from Dharma Moon and Tibet House US.
• Shantideva CenterminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAffiliate partner for Buddhist retreat programs, co-hosting events such as 'There's No Karma We Can't Purify' retreat with Venerable Robina Courtin at Garrison Institute, NY.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Asia Society: Major NYC-based cultural institution with Asian art exhibitions, performances, and educational programming. Comparable as a broader incumbent in Asian cultural programming with gallery, lectures, and ticketed events, but with a much wider geographic remit than Tibet House.

Direct peers

• Esalen Institute: Long-running Big Sur retreat center combining contemplative practice, somatic/bodywork, and residential workshops. Comparable destination retreat operating model with workshops, certifications, and overnight stays.
• 1440 Multiversity: California retreat and learning destination combining wellness workshops, contemplative practice, and overnight accommodations. Comparable destination-retreat operating model with a broad paid-programming calendar.
• Insight Meditation Society: Pioneering residential vipassana/insight meditation center in Massachusetts offering multi-day retreats and teacher-training pipelines. Directly comparable retreat-and-Buddhist-education operating model.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Northern California retreat center offering residential meditation retreats, teacher training, and Buddhist study. Comparable as a retreat-and-teacher-training operating model analogous to Tibet House's Menla + Dharma Moon combination.
• Shambhala Mountain Center: Colorado mountain retreat center offering meditation retreats, contemplative programs, and teacher training. Comparable retreat venue operating model with multi-day paid programming.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Massachusetts yoga, wellness, and retreat destination with overnight accommodations, teacher trainings, and a broad schedule of paid programs. Comparable to Menla's retreat-plus-yoga positioning and revenue mix.
• Rubin Museum of Art: Until its 2024 closure of the physical museum, the Rubin was the leading Himalayan/Tibetan art museum in NYC. Directly comparable as a cultural-heritage institution focused on Tibetan and Himalayan civilization, with overlapping curatorial and educational mission.
• Drepung Loseling Monastery (Drepung Loseling Buddhist Center, Atlanta): Tibetan Buddhist monastery and cultural center affiliated with the Dalai Lama's tradition, hosting teachings, ritual events, and cultural programming. Directly comparable as a Tibetan cultural institution serving a US community.

Emerging players

• Barre Center for Buddhist Studies: Massachusetts-based institute offering study programs, retreats, and teacher-training pipelines grounded in Buddhist study. Comparable Buddhist-education operating layer, though tradition-specific rather than pan-Tibetan.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/tibethouseus
• YouTubeyoutube.com/tibethouseus
• Facebookfacebook.com/tibethouse.us
• Instagraminstagram.com/tibethouse.us
• TikToktiktok.com/@tibethouseus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tibet-house

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Tibet House