Tibetan Nuns Project

What Tibetan Nuns Project does

Tibetan Nuns Project is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1987 under the auspices of the Tibetan Women's Association and the Department of Religion and Culture of H.H. the Dalai Lama. Its core mission is to support and educate Tibetan Buddhist nuns, and it currently serves more than 900 nuns across seven nunneries in northern India (Dolma Ling, Shugsep, Geden Choeling, Tilokpur, Sakya College for Nuns, Sherab Choeling, and Dorjee Zong), plus additional independent and retreat nuns. It operates through a US administrative and fundraising office in Seattle and a program office in Dharamsala, India, with a sister Indian entity (Buddhist Women's Educational Society) governing on-the-ground program work.

The organization delivers educational programs including a 17-year curriculum in Buddhist philosophy, debate, Tibetan language, English, and computer skills; the Geshema degree (a PhD-equivalent in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, opened to women in 2012 and first conferred in 2016, with 120 awarded by end of 2025); the annual Jang Gonchoe inter-nunnery debate; and a Tantric Studies program for Geshema graduates. It also operates a small income-generating handicraft program (prayer flags, malas, dolls, bags, incense, calendars) and offers prayer services (pujas) priced from $5 to $250.

The revenue model is a multi-stream nonprofit architecture: a recurring nun sponsorship program at a $360/year minimum (true cost ~$1,000/year, billed monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually with up to three sponsors per nun); direct donations to general or designated funds; securities and stock donations; a legacy/bequest giving program including a Long-Term Stability Fund; and product/service sales via an online store and Canadian tax-receiptable giving through the Charitable Impact Foundation. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer and community-led, combining a content-heavy website, email newsletters, organic social (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns, Amazon Smile, and earned media coverage. There is no proprietary technology platform; the operational backbone is a small Seattle administrative office and a lean program office in India, with delivery executed through the seven partner nunneries.

Name

Tibetan Nuns Project

Legal name

Tibetan Nuns Project

Website

https://tnp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tibetan Nuns Project is a Seattle-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1987 that supports and educates more than 900 Tibetan Buddhist nuns across seven nunneries in northern India through recurring sponsorship, direct donations, handicraft sales, and prayer services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Charitable & Religious Education Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (81311), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religious Orders & Monastic Communities (Monasteries, Convents) (BPAGAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Buddhist Monastic Universities & Dharma Colleges (EDAHAKAK), Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Nonprofit charitable services
• Nun sponsorship programs
• Buddhist religious education
• Handmade religious crafts
• Interfaith humanitarian aid

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nun Sponsorship Program: Core revenue stream; sponsors pay $360/year minimum to support a specific nun, providing food, shelter, education, clothing, and medical care. Some sponsors pay the full cost of approximately $1,000/year. Payment schedules include monthly ($30), quarterly ($90), semi-annual ($180), or annual ($360).
2. Direct Donations: One-time and recurring donations to general fund or specific projects (housing, teachers' salaries, education programs, elder care). donors can designate gifts to specific needs.
3. Handicraft Products: Online store selling nuns' handmade products including prayer flags, malas, prayer beads, bags, dolls, textiles, incense, greeting cards. Products range from $5-$64.
4. Securities Donations: Accepts appreciated securities and stocks as donations, providing tax benefits to donors while generating charitable contribution revenue.
5. Legacy/Planned Giving: Bequests and legacy gifts through wills, with dedicated legacy campaign and Legacies of Compassion booklet. Canadian donors can give through Charitable Impact Foundation.
6. Pujas (Prayers): Special prayer services performed by nuns for donors or their loved ones, ranging from $5-$250 depending on type.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Tibetan Nuns Project is a nonprofit organization that supports and educates Tibetan Buddhist nuns in India through individual sponsorship programs, direct donations, and operation of nunneries including Dolma Ling and Shugsep. It runs the Geshema Degree Program (PhD-equivalent in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy) and the Jang Gonchoe annual inter-nunnery debate. It also operates a direct-to-consumer online store selling nuns' handcrafted religious items (prayer flags, malas, dolls, bags, incense, etc.) and offers commissioned pujas (prayer services).

Product overview

The Tibetan Nuns Project is a nonprofit organization (not a traditional product company) that operates an online store selling handcrafted items made by Tibetan Buddhist nuns, alongside charitable giving programs. The product portfolio includes handcrafted goods such as prayer flags, malas (prayer beads), handmade dolls, bags, bracelets, dharma wheels, incense, prayer scarves, calendars, and greeting cards—all produced by nuns as part of income-generating programs. The organization also facilitates charitable programs including nun sponsorship ($1/day), direct donations, and memorial/tribute gifts. Core educational programs include the Geshema degree (equivalent to PhD in Tibetan Buddhism), the Jang Gonchoe annual debate competition, and support for seven nunneries in India.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Nun Sponsorship Program Sponsorship program providing food, shelter, education, clothing and medical care to Tibetan Buddhist nuns for a minimum of $1 per day ($360/year). Up to three sponsors can share the cost of supporting one nun, with monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, and annual payment options available.
• Geshema Degree Program The highest level of training in the Gelug tradition, equivalent to a PhD in Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, opened to women in 2012. The program includes philosophy, debate, Tibetan language, English, and computer skills, and is the first institution dedicated to higher Buddhist education for nuns. Supported by the Geshema Endowment funded by Pema Chodron Foundation, Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund, Frederick Family Foundation, and Donaldson Charitable Trust.
• Jang Gonchoe (Inter-Nunnery Debate) Annual month-long inter-nunnery debate competition providing intensive training in Tibetan Buddhist debate and scholarship for nuns across all seven supported nunneries.
• Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute Non-sectarian nunnery built and fully supported by TNP, dedicated to higher Buddhist education for nuns from all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Home to approximately 300 nuns.
• Shugsep Nunnery and Institute Nyingma tradition nunnery rebuilt and fully supported by TNP, tracing lineage to great female teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Home to about 100 nuns.
• Pujas (Prayer Services) Special prayers performed by the nuns for donors or loved ones who may need spiritual help; commissions offered at $5 to $250 depending on the type of prayer service.
• Prayer Flags Handmade prayer flags inscribed with auspicious symbols, invocations, prayers, and mantras that bring happiness, long life and prosperity; produced by Tibetan Buddhist nuns as part of the income-generating handicraft program.
• Malas (Prayer Beads) Wood and seed malas for prayer, meditation and chanting, blessed by Tibetan nuns; priced $12 to $60.
• Handmade Dolls Handmade dolls made from recycled nuns' robes, wearing mini mala and prayer beads; priced at $35.
• Nun and Monk Bags Eco-friendly cotton tote bags handmade by Tibetan Buddhist nuns in bright colors; priced $17 to $48.
• Katak (Prayer Scarf) Offering scarves (katak) used in Buddhist rituals, sold via the TNP online store.
• Door Hangings Cotton door hangings with the eternal knot symbol, handmade by Tibetan nuns and sold via the TNP online store.
• Freedom Bracelets Bracelets made from yarn, woven by a Tibetan nun, worn as expression of endurance and defiance against oppression.
• Dharma Wheel Charms Brightly-colored cord dharma wheels used for home and car decor, representing the wheel of transformation; sold via the TNP online store.
• Incense Tibetan Buddhist incense for meditation; priced $12 to $16.
• TNP Annual Calendar Annual Tibetan Nuns Project calendar using photos taken by the nuns; sold via the TNP online store.

Quantifiable outcome

• 120 Geshemas (PhD-equivalent) by end of 2025, with 47 graduating in November 2025 alone
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Amazon SmileminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAmazon Smile program donates 0.5% of eligible purchases to Tibetan Nuns Project when selected as charity.
• Charitable Impact Foundation (formerly CHIMP)majorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVancouver-based platform enabling Canadian donors to make tax-deductible donations and bequests to Tibetan Nuns Project. Accepts securities and life insurance gifts.
• Tibetan Women's AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding organization that established Tibetan Nuns Project under its auspices in the 1980s with encouragement from H.H. the Dalai Lama. Initial efforts focused on small projects within existing nunneries.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association: Large global Buddhist education and meditation organization operating retreat centers, universities, and community programs. Overlaps on Buddhist higher-education programming and monastic/nun training, though centered on Chan Buddhism rather than Tibetan traditions.
• Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT): Large international network of Buddhist centers, monasteries, and nunneries founded by Lama Thubten Yeshe. Overlapping mission of Mahayana Buddhist education, monastic support, and curriculum/program infrastructure; broader than TNP's Tibetan-nuns focus.

Direct peers

• Tibet House US: New York-based cultural center founded under H.H. Dalai Lama's auspices to preserve and transmit Tibetan culture and religion. Comparable mission of cultural preservation, religious education, and New York-registered nonprofit serving diaspora and Western Buddhist audiences.
• Rigpa: Global network of Buddhist study centers and meditation centers offering Buddhist education worldwide. Comparable Buddhist education programming with analogous online store, sponsorship/donation model, and curriculum-based learning paths.
• Sakyadhita International Association of Buddhist Women: International nonprofit founded in 1987 to promote Buddhist women's education and practice globally. Closely comparable to TNP's mission of advancing female Buddhist religious scholarship, monastic education, and cross-cultural community building.
• Tibetan Children's Education Fund: Nonprofit supporting Tibetan refugee children's education in India through sponsorship, dormitories, and schools. Highly analogous sponsorship-for-a-person model ($1/day framing similar to TNP's nun sponsorship) serving the same Indian nunnery/monastery ecosystem.
• The Tibet Fund: US-based 501(c)(3) supporting Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal through education, health, and cultural preservation. Same diaspora, same donor archetype, same model of US-registered nonprofit funding India-based programs for Tibetan communities.
• International Campaign for Tibet (ICT): Washington DC-based nonprofit advocating for Tibetan rights and supporting Tibetan refugee communities. Same donor base, same advocacy-plus-programming model, same focus on sustaining Tibetan religious and cultural practice in exile.

Regional players

• Tara Institute: Australian Buddhist education center offering Tibetan Buddhist study programs and supporting monastics. Comparable religious-education model with similar teaching/curriculum focus, though serving a Pacific geography.

Emerging players

• Sravasti Abbey: First Tibetan Buddhist monastery for Western nuns and monks in the United States. Directly comparable niche: training and supporting English-speaking Buddhist nuns, although smaller scale and primarily domestic rather than India-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/TibetanNuns
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFCzH0TT2nqMynB8TttMqBQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/TibetanNuns
• Instagraminstagram.com/tibetan_nuns_project/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tibetan-nuns-project

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tibetan Nuns Project