Won Dharma Center

What Won Dharma Center does

Won Dharma Center (WDC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious organization operating as a meditation and retreat center on a 426-acre campus in Claverack, New York, and serving as the U.S. headquarters of Won Buddhism USA. It delivers residential multi-day meditation retreats, self-guided retreats, weekly community meditation and dharma services, yoga classes (including chair yoga), Won Buddhism introductory classes, and one-on-one meditation instruction. The center also maintains 7 miles of publicly accessible walking trails and serves plant-based meals sourced in part from on-site organic gardens.

Revenue is generated through a mix of pay-per-retreat fees (single rooms $580–$900 for multi-day programs; campers/commuters $235–$370), nightly self-retreat accommodation rates ($120–$210), suggested donations for community yoga and meditation services, monthly sustainer contributions, and one-time charitable donations. Pricing is structured as unit-based with sliding-scale options and a scholarship program covering 50–70% of retreat costs for those in financial need. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth, social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, SoundCloud, Flickr), an email newsletter, and direct website registration rather than paid acquisition.

The center is staffed by 13 employees including ordained Won Buddhist ministers (kyomunims), a resident teacher, a director, a facility manager, a group retreat coordinator, a head chef, and a lay minister. Operational capacity includes 60 overnight guests across Timeless Zen House and Placeless Zen House residences and a 100-seat meditation hall (Il Won Hall). Distribution is single-country/domestic, concentrated in the Northeast USA, with seasonality constraints (walking trails closed December–March). The organization carries no proprietary technology, no app, and no disclosed API/integration footprint; it competes on real estate, ordained teaching staff, spiritual content library, and an award-winning eco-friendly architectural setting.

Name

Won Dharma Center

Legal name

Won Dharma Center

Website

https://wondharmacenter.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Won Dharma Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit meditation and retreat center in Claverack, New York, operating as the U.S. headquarters of Won Buddhism USA. It serves individual practitioners through residential retreats, weekly dharma services, yoga classes, and meditation instruction, funded by retreat fees and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spiritual Wellness Retreats

NAICS

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

SIC

Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wellness Retreat Centers (Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness) (THAGAMAB), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Guided Meditation Instruction (1:1 & Group) (HSADAJAA)

Keywords

• Buddhist retreat programs
• Meditation instruction
• Won Buddhism teachings
• Spiritual wellness retreats
• Mindfulness yoga classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Claverack

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Retreat Registration Fees: Revenue from multi-day residential retreats with accommodation options including single rooms, double rooms, camping, and commuter packages. Fees range from $235-$900 depending on accommodation type and retreat duration.
2. Self-Retreat Accommodation Fees: Nightly accommodation fees for self-guided retreats with rates varying by room type (single, double, quad) and length of stay (2+ nights).
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, WDC receives donations from supporters. Monthly sustainer donations are encouraged. Donations are tax-deductible.
4. Yoga Class Fees: Revenue from community yoga programs including Tuesday Community Yoga ($10 suggested donation) and Friday Chair Yoga ($8 suggested donation).
5. Meditation Instruction: Individual meditation instruction available by appointment with suggested donation of $20.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Won Dharma Center operates a Buddhist meditation and retreat center on a 426-acre property in Claverack, New York, offering residential multi-day meditation retreats, self-guided retreats, weekly community meditation and dharma services, yoga classes, introductory Won Buddhism education, and individual meditation instruction. The center also provides public walking trails, plant-based mindful dining, and a scholarship program covering 50–70% of retreat costs for those facing financial hardship.

Product overview

Won Dharma Center offers a portfolio of spiritual retreat and wellness programs centered on Won Buddhism teachings. The core offerings include residential meditation retreat programs with various themes, weekly community meditation and dharma services, ongoing yoga classes, introductory Won Buddhism education, individual meditation instruction, and self-guided retreat options. The center also provides walking trails, mindful eating experiences with plant-based meals, and a scholarship program for financial assistance. All programs are designed to support mindfulness, spiritual growth, and well-being for practitioners of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retreat Programs Residential meditation retreats offered throughout the year at the Claverack, NY campus, including themed retreats such as Stillness in Action, Honey Grief Retreat, The Sky Within, Softening Into Stillness, Living from Our Center, Pause To Be Present Silent Meditation, and Restorative Yoga Teacher Training. Participants choose single rooms, double rooms, camping, or commuter packages.
• Community Meditation and Dharma Services Weekly ongoing meditation services including Sunday Dharma Service (10:00 am – 11:30 am), Wednesday Evening Meditation (7:00 – 8:20 PM), Tuesday Meditation & Discussion (9:00 – 10:00 AM), and Daily Morning Meditation (5:30 – 6:40 AM), open to the public without membership.
• Community Yoga Programs Ongoing yoga classes including Tuesday Community Yoga (6:00–7:00 PM, $10 suggested donation) and Friday Chair Yoga (10:00–11:15 AM, $8 suggested donation), offering therapeutic movement, vinyasa flow, restorative postures, and chair-based practice for all levels.
• Won Buddhism Introductory Class Interactive educational class exploring core teachings and philosophies of Won Buddhism, including Il Won Sang, meditation practice, and the relationship between Buddhism and Won Buddhism. Held on select Saturdays in 2026 with a $15 deposit to reserve a spot.
• Individual Meditation Instruction Personalized meditation instruction and guided meditation sessions for beginners, helping establish a daily meditation practice through one-on-one sessions with a minister; $20 suggested donation per session, available by appointment.
• Self Retreats Self-guided personal retreat program for guests staying two nights or more, allowing individuals to reflect, relax, and deepen their practice in a tranquil environment with access to daily meditation programs. Rates vary by room type (single $200–$210/night, double $140–$155/night, quad $120–$140/night).
• Walking Trails Seven miles of mindfulness walking trails on the 426-acre property, open to the public from April through November, designed for contemplative walking practice.
• Mindful Eating and Plant-Based Meals Spiritual dining experience featuring plant-based meals lovingly prepared, with many ingredients sourced from the center's organic gardens, eaten mindfully in silence with appreciation for the Fourfold Grace.
• Scholarship Program Financial aid program covering 50–70% of retreat costs for individuals facing financial hardship, enabling greater accessibility to retreat experiences.

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Shambhala Mountain Center: Shambhala Mountain Center is a contemplative retreat center in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado offering meditation retreats, dharma programs, and group facilities on a large rural campus — comparable to WDC's single-site rural retreat model with multi-day residential offerings and inclusive programming.
• Omega Institute for Holistic Studies: Omega is a holistic education retreat center in Rhinebeck, New York offering residential workshops on mindfulness, wellness, and spiritual practice — directly comparable to WDC's residential retreat programming on a similar Hudson Valley footprint and inclusive, fee-based model.
• Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health: Kripalu is a yoga, wellness, and retreat center in Stockbridge, Massachusetts offering residential retreats, yoga teacher training, and holistic programs — directly comparable to WDC's yoga programs, self-retreats, and meditation retreats with overlapping wellness audience.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Spirit Rock is a Buddhist insight meditation retreat center in Marin County, California offering residential retreats, daylong programs, and community meditation — directly comparable to WDC's residential retreat and weekly dharma service model, with overlapping inclusive, donation-supported philosophy.
• Barre Center for Buddhist Studies: BCBS is a Buddhist study and retreat center in Barre, Massachusetts offering residential retreats, online courses, and dharma teacher training — directly comparable to WDC's residential meditation retreats and Buddhist educational programming for a similar lay practitioner audience.
• Insight Meditation Society: IMS operates a residential retreat center in Barre, Massachusetts focused on Vipassana/insight meditation, offering multi-day silent retreats, teacher training, and online programming — directly comparable to WDC's residential retreat program on a similar Northeastern footprint.
• Deer Park Monastery: Deer Park is a Plum Village/Thich Nhat Hanh Buddhist monastery in Escondido, California offering residential retreats, mindfulness days, and community programs open to all backgrounds — directly comparable to WDC's residential retreats, inclusive community ethos, and donation-supported operations.

Emerging players

• Copper Beech Institute: Copper Beech Institute in West Hartford, Connecticut is a non-profit contemplative education center offering mindfulness retreats, teacher training, and programs — emerging peer with overlapping retreat/mindfulness curriculum and Northeast, non-profit, donation-supported structure.

Others

• Won Institute of Graduate Studies: Won Institute is the Won Buddhism-affiliated graduate school in Glenside, Pennsylvania offering degree programs in Won Buddhist Studies and mindfulness counseling — adjacent peer sharing WDC's Won Buddhist doctrine content and overlapping ministerial pipeline (Rev. Yoo previously taught there 2002–2011).

Regional players

• Soka University of America (SGI-USA network): Soka University is the higher-education arm of the Nichiren Buddhist SGI network in Aliso Viejo, California — adjacent peer in Buddhist institutional infrastructure, less directly comparable on retreats but reflects a similar pattern of a Buddhist tradition establishing U.S. headquarters and education/cultural facilities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheWondharmacenter
• Facebookfacebook.com/wondharmacenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/wondharmacenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/won-dharma-center

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Won Dharma Center