Jewel Heart Corp

What Jewel Heart Corp does

Jewel Heart is a 501(c)(3) Tibetan Buddhist learning center headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded by Gelek Rimpoche in the 1980s (EIN 38-2743803). The organization operates 12 chapters across the United States, Canada, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, serving practitioners ranging from introductory Buddhism students to advanced Vajrayana initiates. Teaching leadership has transitioned to Demo Rinpoche following Gelek Rimpoche, with the visiting-teacher program bringing in additional lamas such as Tokden Rinpoche for advanced initiations.

Jewel Heart's product surface spans in-person chapter programming, online courses, multi-day retreats, meditation and practice resources (including White Tara practice), chaplaincy services, a podcast, and a retail store. The technological centerpiece is the Digital Dharma platform, which hosts more than 1,500 audio and video programs and sits atop a Gelek Rimpoche archive of over 10,000 hours of digitized teachings — an unusually large content library for an organization of this size. Operational technology is built entirely on standard consumer SaaS (Zoom, Constant Contact, MailChimp, PayPal, Google Analytics), with no proprietary infrastructure.

The business model is a nonprofit revenue stack built on membership fees (~$480/year or $40/month), course fees ($15-$250 per course), retreat fees, donations, and store sales. Go-to-market is community-driven via the sangha (practitioner community) and word-of-mouth, supplemented by partnerships with institutions such as Tibet House (NYC) and the Garrison Institute. The core team is small (1-10 employees), with the annual operating budget reported at approximately $1M as of 2010 and roughly 300 members at that time; no updated financial disclosures are available in the input.

Name

Jewel Heart Corp

Legal name

Jewel Heart Corp

Website

https://jewelheart.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Jewel Heart is a 501(c)(3) Tibetan Buddhist learning center operating 12 chapters across the US, Canada, Malaysia, and the Netherlands, offering teachings, online courses, retreats, and a digitized library of over 10,000 hours of teachings to practitioners of all levels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Ann Arbor

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual and monthly membership subscriptions providing access to member resources, reduced fees for retreats and teachings, and Digital Dharma subscription benefits
2. Course Fees: Individual course registrations ranging from $15 to $250 per course, offering teachings by Gelek Rimpoche, Demo Rinpoche, and guest teachers
3. Donations: Tax-deductible charitable contributions (EIN: 38-2743803) including one-time and recurring donations, tribute donations, and campaign fundraising
4. Retreat Fees: Fees for in-person and online retreats including summer, winter, and special retreats with teachers

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Jewel Heart is a Tibetan Buddhist learning center that delivers authentic Gelek Rimpoche lineage teachings through in-person chapter programs, online courses, retreats, chaplaincy services, and a Digital Dharma streaming platform. The organization offers structured curriculum from beginner Lam Rim instruction to advanced Vajrayana practice, supported by an archive of over 10,000 hours of digitized teachings accessible via webcasts, podcasts, and a mobile app.

Product overview

Jewel Heart is a Tibetan Buddhist learning center offering a comprehensive suite of spiritual education products and services. The core offerings include Digital Dharma (a subscription service with over 1500 audio/video teachings), Jewel Heart Courses (paid online courses), Meditation Resources (guided meditations across four practice types), White Tara Practice (healing meditation program), Vajrayana Program (advanced tantric practice), Retreat Programs (in-person and online), and the Jewel Heart Podcast. Additional offerings include a mobile app, chaplaincy services, and an e-commerce store. Member Resources and Membership programs provide exclusive access to materials and discounts. The Gelek Rimpoche Archive preserves over 10,000 hours of digitized teachings. All offerings are designed to support practitioners at various levels of interest, from beginners to advanced Vajrayana practitioners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Digital Dharma Subscription-based streaming platform providing on-demand access to over 1,500 audio and video Buddhist teachings, live webcasts, and rebroadcasts. Designed for members and practitioners seeking structured Dharma content across beginner to advanced levels.
• Jewel Heart Courses Paid online courses covering Buddhist philosophy, meditation practices, and spiritual teachings offered by Demo Rinpoche, Geshe Yeshe Thabkhe, and guest teachers. Priced individually from $15 to $250 depending on length and instructor.
• Meditation Resources Online resources providing guided meditations across four practice types — Concentration, Mindfulness, Analytical, and Visualization — including audio recordings and suggested readings for practitioners.
• White Tara Practice Healing and longevity meditation practice program featuring guided meditations, audio recordings, downloadable prayers, and a four-session course taught by multiple instructors.
• Vajrayana Program Advanced Vajrayana Buddhist practice program requiring full initiation from a qualified teacher, offering resources for Heruka, Vajrayogini, Yamantaka, and other deity practices for advanced tantric students.
• Retreat Programs In-person and online retreat programs including summer, winter, and special retreats held primarily in Ann Arbor and partner venues such as Garrison Institute, featuring teachings and initiations from Demo Rinpoche and visiting teachers.
• Jewel Heart Podcast Audio podcast available on Apple Podcasts and other platforms featuring Buddhist teachings and Dharma discussions.
• Chaplaincy Program Spiritual chaplaincy services providing Buddhist guidance and support for individuals and communities in need of pastoral care.
• Jewel Heart Membership Annual membership program offering reduced fees for retreats and teachings, free Digital Dharma subscription, chaplaincy resources, and community access, priced at $480/year or $40/month.
• Jewel Heart Store E-commerce platform selling Buddhist books, meditation supplies, and Dharma-related merchandise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Structured curriculum from beginner to advanced Vajrayana practice
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tibet House NYCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJewel Heart partners with Tibet House New York to host public talks, initiations, and meditation events. Demo Rinpoche regularly conducts programs at the Tibet House NYC venue, providing access to urban practitioners and hosting special events like AI vs. Buddhist Intelligence talks.
• Garrison InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual retreat venue for Jewel Heart's Buddhist Teachers Council and special retreats including Memorial Weekend Retreats with White Tara Longevity Empowerment. The non-profit retreat center provides facilities for multi-day intensive programs.
• Nyagre Khamtsen MonasterycoreOthersJewel Heart expresses gratitude to Nyagre Khamtsen Monastery in India. The monastery offers prayers for Gelek Rimpoche's health and long life under guidance of Tokden Rinpoche, Abbot of Loseling Monastery. Jewel Heart sponsors services and supports the monastery community.
• Tibet FundminorOthersJewel Heart and Gelek Rimpoche maintain relationships with Tibet Fund, attending annual galas. Gelek Rimpoche received recognition from Tibet Fund for service to the Tibetan people at the 6th Annual Tibet Fund Gala in 2015.
• Sandalwood Forest Center (Than Hsiang Temple)minorOthersBuddhist center in Malaysia headed by Ven. Wei Wu (formerly Brother Neoh Kah Tong), a former student of Gelek Rimpoche. The center houses a Buddhist university and retirement facilities. Gelek Rimpoche named the center and teaches there during visits.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shambhala International: Global network of Buddhist meditation and study centers founded by Chögyam Trungpa. Comparable to Jewel Heart in operating chapters, offering courses and retreats, providing digital content libraries, and serving members seeking authentic Tibetan Buddhist practice.
• Kunzang Palyul Choling: Tibetan Buddhist retreat center and teachings organization in the Nyingma tradition offering residential retreats, online courses, and community programs. Comparable to Jewel Heart in preserving authentic Tibetan lineage teachings and serving Western practitioners.
• Tibet House New York: Cultural and educational institution preserving Tibetan civilization, hosting public talks, initiations, and meditation events. Direct partner of Jewel Heart, comparable in programming and Tibetan Buddhist community focus.
• Dharma Drum Mountain: International Buddhist education organization offering meditation retreats, online courses, and chapter locations globally. Comparable in hybrid digital-physical delivery model, multi-geographic footprint, and structured beginner-to-advanced curriculum.
• FPMT (Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition): Largest international network of Gelug school Tibetan Buddhist centers, sharing the same Gelug lineage tradition as Jewel Heart. Operates study programs, retreats, and residential centers globally with comparable membership, course, and donation revenue streams.
• Insight Meditation Society: Nonprofit Buddhist retreat and learning center offering residential retreats, online courses, and teacher training. Highly comparable in mission, course pricing, donation model, and target audience of Western Buddhist seekers.
• Spirit Rock Meditation Center: Nonprofit Buddhist meditation center offering residential retreats, online courses, and community programs. Comparable to Jewel Heart in offering structured Buddhist curriculum from beginner to advanced levels with multi-tier membership and donation funding.
• Barre Center for Buddhist Studies: Buddhist study and retreat center offering residential programs, online courses, and access to teachers in the Insight Meditation tradition. Comparable to Jewel Heart in course pricing, retreat offerings, and educational mission.

Emerging players

• Tricycle Foundation (Tricycle: The Buddhist Review): Nonprofit Buddhist educational media organization offering online courses, meditation content, and a Buddhist magazine. Comparable to Jewel Heart's Digital Dharma platform but broader and more secular, representing potential competition for online Buddhist audience.
• New York Insight Meditation Center: Urban Buddhist center offering courses, retreats, and community programs in the Insight tradition. Comparable to Jewel Heart's chapter model but with a more secular Theravada orientation and broader accessibility.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/jewelheart
• Facebookfacebook.com/jewelheart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jewel-heart-corp.
• Instagraminstagram.com/jewelheart

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Jewel Heart Corp