Zen Peacemakers International

What Zen Peacemakers International does

Zen Peacemakers International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1996 by Zen Master Bernie Glassman and Sandra Jishu Holmes, dedicated to integrating contemplative spiritual practice with social action. The organization operates on a globally distributed, community-led model centered on the Three Tenets framework — Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action — combined with the adapted Way of Council practice. Its core programs are Bearing Witness Retreats conducted at sites of historical trauma (Auschwitz-Birkenau since 1996, Rwanda, Native American Black Hills, Holy Land, and Street Retreats), each typically drawing 80–100 participants from an international community spanning 30+ countries through an affiliate network. Supporting programs include the two-year Zen Peacemaker Order training, free quarterly Core Trainings, the Ten taking-action topic areas, and a Haiku Challenge creative initiative.

The underlying 'technology' is a methodology rather than software: the Three Tenets practice framework, the Way of Council facilitation model, and the Bearing Witness Retreat structure together form a novel practice architecture that is difficult to replicate. The Hive platform serves as the community intranet for membership, event registration, and affiliate networking. Revenue is generated through a hybrid model: tax-deductible donations (the primary stream), per-participant retreat fees (Auschwitz $1,295–$1,395, Native American retreat $800 base plus $250 meals), and a pay-what-you-can community membership. Distribution is primarily through direct registration for retreats and an affiliate network that delivers localized programs under the Zen Peacemakers umbrella. The organization currently operates with approximately 20 staff led by Executive Director Geoff Shōun O'Keeffe (since 2020), following the death of founder Bernie Glassman in 2018 and a 2016 transition from founder-led to vision-based governance.

Name

Zen Peacemakers International

Legal name

Zen Peacemakers, Inc.

Website

https://zenpeacemakers.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Zen Peacemakers International is a 501(c)(3) non-profit running Bearing Witness Retreats at sites of historical trauma (Auschwitz, Rwanda, Black Hills) for a global community of spiritually-inclined social activists across 30+ countries, supported by donations, retreat fees, and an affiliate network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contemplative Social Action and Spiritual Retreat Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Meditation Retreats, Workshops & Immersive Programs (HSADAJAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Yoga & Meditation Experiences (Studio Classes, Guided Meditation, Mindfulness) (THAJAHAA), Meditation Apps, Digital Courses & Online Communities (HSADAJAH)

Keywords

• Contemplative social action
• Bearing witness retreats
• Interfaith spiritual practice
• Mindfulness training programs
• Meditation community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Boulder

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (EIN 13-3030252), Zen Peacemakers relies heavily on tax-deductible donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. Donations support the Taking Action initiative, retreat scholarships, and general operations.
2. Retreat Registration Fees: Revenue generated from bearing witness retreat fees. The Auschwitz retreat costs $1,395 (early bird $1,295), with additional fees for pre-retreat workshops ($200). These fees cover administrative costs, lodging, meals, transportation, honorariums, and contribute to scholarships.
3. Membership and Affiliate Fees: Community membership is offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Affiliates pay donation-based fees for platform access and network benefits including forums, event posting, and global membership visibility.
4. Mala Practice (Fundraising): A practice-based fundraising model where members raise support for their participation in retreats or projects by assembling mala (prayer beads). Each bead represents a donor, creating community involvement and financial support for programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Zen Peacemakers International is a 501(c)(3) interfaith nonprofit that delivers contemplative social action programs organized around the Three Tenets of Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action. Its core offerings are Bearing Witness Retreats held at sites of historical trauma (Auschwitz-Birkenau, Rwanda, Native American Black Hills, Holy Land, and street locations), the two-year Zen Peacemaker Order training, free Core Trainings in meditation and Council practice, and a global community platform (the Hive) and affiliate network that connect members worldwide.

Product overview

Zen Peacemakers International is a 501(c)(3) interfaith organization offering a portfolio of contemplative social action programs centered on the Three Tenets of Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action. The core offerings include Bearing Witness Retreats at sites of historical trauma (Auschwitz-Birkenau, Rwanda, Black Hills, Holy Land), Street Retreats/Plunges, and Core Trainings in meditation, Council practice, and peacemaking. Additional programs include the Zen Peacemaker Order two-year training, the Haiku Challenge creative initiative, and the Taking Action Initiative covering ten social impact topics. The community is supported through The Hive online platform, the Zen Peacemakers Journal (Substack publication), and a global affiliate network spanning multiple countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bearing Witness Retreats Multi-day spiritual retreat programs held at sites of historical trauma (Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, Rwanda, the Native American Black Hills, the Holy Land, and Racism in America in the U.S.) guided by the Three Tenets of Not-Knowing, Bearing Witness, and Taking Action; aimed at individuals seeking contemplative engagement with collective trauma and healing.
• Taking Action Initiative A doorway into practice organized around ten social impact topics including Social Entrepreneurs, Prison Outreach, Interfaith, Gender Equality, Environment, Palliative & End of Life Care, Housing & Food Security, Racial Equity, Global Citizen, and War & Conflict; designed for individuals and groups seeking to apply contemplative practice to specific social issues.
• Core Trainings Free quarterly introductory trainings covering Introduction to Meditation, Introduction to The Way of Council, The Three Tenets, and Introduction to Peacemaking; available to everyone online and in person as the foundational entry point into the Zen Peacemakers community.
• Street Retreats (Plunges) Immersive retreats where participants spend time on the streets begging for money, finding food and shelter, deepening interconnection and inspiring compassion through direct engagement with those experiencing homelessness or poverty; for practitioners and activists seeking embodied practice.
• Zen Peacemaker Order (ZPO) Training A two-year training program for individuals living a life of commitment aligned with Zen Peacemakers principles and the Three Tenets, including ordination pathways within the Zen Peacemaker lineage; for serious practitioners committing to socially engaged Buddhism.
• Community Membership Pay-what-you-can community membership providing access to Zen Peacemakers programs, services, and benefits; open to individuals who want to support and participate in the global community on a contribution basis.
• The Hive Community Platform Online community intranet and membership platform providing access to events, councils, affiliate networks, Core Trainings, and member resources; serves as the digital hub for community registration, donations, and ongoing engagement.
• Affiliate Network Program Program that connects independent affiliated organizations (NGOs, charities, training centers, regional groups, and theme-based organizations) under the Zen Peacemakers umbrella, providing platform access, forums, event posting, and global visibility in exchange for alignment with the Three Tenets.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62 people trained in mental health and PTSD from Ruhashya and Kinazi groups through MHDF partnership in Rwanda
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Mental Health Dignity Foundation (MHDF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2012Zen Peacemaker Order Suisse partnered with MHDF, led by Therese Uwitonze and Nsengiyumva Joseph, to implement Peace Circles for trauma recovery in Rwanda following the 1994 genocide. The partnership trained 62 people in PTSD treatment and developed economic empowerment projects (banana plantation, slaughterhouse). Financial support provided by Peacemaker Community Switzerland.
• Dialogue Center (CDIM)coreOthersThe Dialogue Center in Oświęcim, Poland serves as the primary lodging provider for Zen Peacemakers' annual Auschwitz-Birkenau Bearing Witness Retreat. The center provides dormitory accommodations and meals for retreat participants during the week-long program.
• Lakota Hosts and Community MemberscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZen Peacemakers partners with Lakota families and community members for the annual Native American Bearing Witness Retreat in the Black Hills. Hosts provide horses, tack, support vehicles, meals, experienced helpers, cultural teachings, and serve as guides for the immersive retreat experience focused on Lakota horse culture and relationship with the land.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Buddhist Peace Fellowship: A Buddhist-inspired social justice organization founded in 1978 that similarly merges contemplative practice with activism. Directly comparable as both groups operate at the intersection of Buddhism and social engagement, with comparable constituency of spiritually-inclined social activists.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: A leading Insight Meditation retreat center in California offering multi-day silent retreats and teacher trainings. Comparable as a meditation retreat organization with similar retreat-based revenue model and Zen/Buddhist practitioner audience.
• Insight Meditation Society: One of the oldest Buddhist meditation centers in the U.S., founded in 1975, offering residential retreats and teacher training. Comparable as a Buddhist retreat organization with a similar membership and retreat fee model.
• Upaya Zen Center: A Zen center and socially engaged Buddhist training center in Santa Fe founded by Roshi Joan Halifax. Comparable as a Zen training and retreat center with explicit social action programming and similar Zen practitioner audience.
• Peacemaker Community Switzerland / Peacemaker Trust: The European branch of the Zen Peacemaker lineage, based in Switzerland, that operates ZPO Suisse and runs the Rwanda MHDF partnership. Most direct peer as part of the same lineage network.

Broad incumbents

• Search for Common Ground: The world's largest dedicated peacebuilding NGO, operating in 35+ countries on conflict transformation. Comparable as a global peacebuilding organization with professional programs in trauma-affected regions, though operates at much larger scale with paid staff model.
• Peace Direct: An international NGO that supports local peacebuilders in conflict-affected countries. Comparable mission of grassroots peacebuilding but with broader geographic mandate and institutional funding model rather than spiritual practice framework.

Others

• Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum (via Dialogue Center CDIM): The state museum and its Dialogue Center serve as venue partners for Zen Peacemakers' flagship retreat. Not a direct peer but a critical operational partner and adjacent memorial/educational institution that hosts contemplative programs.
• Greyston Foundation / Greyston Bakery: The pioneering social enterprise founded by Bernie Glassman in 1982, providing open-hiring employment and supportive services. Not a direct peer but a sister organization in the Bernie Glassman ecosystem with aligned social enterprise and contemplative roots.

Emerging players

• Center for Contemplative Mind in Society: A nonprofit integrating contemplative practice into higher education and social justice work. Comparable as an organization that bridges contemplative practice with social engagement, with a more academic and institutional focus than Zen Peacemakers.

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/ZenPeacemakers
• Facebookfacebook.com/Zen-Peacemakers-38085906803

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 Zen Peacemakers International