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Self Enquiry Life Fellowship

EIN 20-3478668 · Penn Valley, CA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong90 out of 100GovernanceGood85 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

PRESERVATION AND DISSEMINATION OF PRECIOUS STREAMS OF KNOWLEDGE, SPECIFICALLY A.THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE ANCIENT VEDIC ORDER WITH EMPHASIS ON THE ESOTERIC SCIENCES OF PRAYER, MEDITATION AND MONASTICISM.B.THE RESEARCH OF THE SACRED SANSKRIT SCRIPTURES, TEXTS AND MANUSCRIPTS.C.THE NONSECTARIAN TEACHINGS OF THE AUTHENTIC VEDIC TRADITION, INCLUDING THAT OF THE MYSTICAL HIMALAYAN YOGA LINEAGES.

Income
$1.4 million
Spending
$965,939
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
31.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 71%
Employees
8
Volunteers
200
Highest pay
$113,111, program director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 76% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 31.4 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 9% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 31% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 17% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 5 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    0 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $800,531 spent. THE NONPROFIT, SELF ENQUIRY LIFE FELLOWSHIP (SELF) MAINTAINED THE GUIDESTAR PLATINUM SEAL OF TRANSPARENCY IN 2024. ADDITIONALLY, FOR THE TWELFTH YEAR IN A ROW SELF WAS AWARDED THE HONOR OF BEING A "TOP-RATED" NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION BY GREAT NONPROFITS, THE RATINGS AND REVIEWS WEBSITE FOR US NONPROFITS. THIS AWARD WAS GRANTED DUE TO EXCEPTIONAL REVIEWS OF SELF'S PROGRAM SERVICES BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. THROUGH ITS PUBLIC FELLOWSHIPS, SELF DIRECTLY SERVES THE PUBLIC. MANY OF THESE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ROUTINELY RECEIVE SERVICES AND PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS DELIVERED BY SELF, SUCH AS SPIRITUAL SERVICES WITH DISCOURSES, PERSONAL SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE, SACERDOTAL BLESSINGS, GUIDED MEDITATIONS AND WISDOM TEACHINGS THROUGH REGULAR CONGREGATIONS AND REGULAR LIVESTREAM BROADCASTS. A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF ASPIRANTS PARTICIPATE IN SELF'S PUBLIC FELLOWSHIPS, WHICH INCLUDE INVITED LECTURES, THEMATIC DISCOURSES, WORKSHOPS ON MINDFULNESS AND BREATHING (PRANAYAMA), MEDITATION RETREATS, HEALING PRAYER SERVICES OR PEACE MASSES, INITIATIONS INTO HIMALAYAN MEDITATION, AND AUTHENTIC VEDIC FIRE CEREMONIES (HOMA). THESE EVENTS CONSTITUTE "SPECIAL" FELLOWSHIPS. TO THIS EFFECT, SELF HAS HOSTED 642 PUBLIC "SPECIAL" EVENTS OR FELLOWSHIPS THROUGH AND INCLUDING 2024 IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION AND WORLDWIDE. THIS NUMBER DOES NOT INCLUDE THE "REGULAR" FELLOWSHIP SERVICES WHICH ARE ALSO OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHERE THE NONPROFIT HAS ITS HEADQUARTERS, "REGULAR" FELLOWSHIPS AND MEDITATION SERVICES ARE LED BY HIS HOLINESS SWAMI VIDYADHISHANANDA. ABOUT HALF OF THE PUBLIC EVENTS WERE OFFERED FREE IN 2024, THUS ALLOWING LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES TO PARTICIPATE. IN ADDITION, THE ATTENDANCE HAS BEEN STEADY AT SELF'S REGULAR FREE FULL MOON EVENTS, MONTHLY LIVESTREAM BROADCASTS AND GROUP MEDITATION SERVICES. THE MONTHLY LIVESTREAM BROADCASTS OFFER A WORLDWIDE AUDIENCE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THE MEANING OF ANCIENT SANSKRIT VERSES AND APHORISMS OF SPIRITUAL PHILOSOPHY, HOW TO IMPLEMENT THE TEACHINGS IN DAILY LIFE AND LIVE BY THE VALUES OF THE SCRIPTURAL TENETS. IN 2024, REGULAR MONTHLY LIVESTREAM BROADCASTS AND OTHER SPECIAL ONLINE EVENTS WERE ATTENDED BY A LARGE GLOBAL AUDIENCE. DURING THESE LIVESTREAM BROADCASTS, OUR SPIRITUAL FOUNDER AND HEAD MONK, HIS HOLINESS SWAMI VIDYADHISHANANDA REVEALS SANSKRIT SCRIPTURAL WISDOM. DISSEMINATION OF SUCH WISDOM IS ATTAINABLE ONLY BY THE DISCOURSES FROM A GREAT SEER. THE WISDOM SHARED DURING THESE BROADCASTS SUPPORTED PARTICIPANTS IN MAINTAINING A REVERENTIAL ATTITUDE WITH FAITH IN GOD'S LOVE AND PROTECTION.OUR 2024 ANNUAL FAMILY-FRIENDLY GURU PURNIMA FULL MOON RETREAT WAS HELD IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND ENABLED DEVOTEES AND THEIR FAMILIES TO GATHER FROM AROUND THE WORLD ON THIS MOST AUSPICIOUS OCCASION TO HONOUR OUR BELOVED SPIRITUAL LINEAGES. AT THIS RETREAT, CHILDREN WERE TAUGHT SPIRITUAL VALUES AND ABOUT GRADUATING WITH VALUES. BESIDES THE LARGE IN-PERSON ATTENDANCE, DISCOURSE AND CEREMONIAL SESSIONS WERE BROADCAST LIVE TO FACILITATE WIDER PARTICIPATION FROM REMOTE AND INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS. OUR 2024 ANNUAL MEDITATION RETREAT WAS HELD ONLINE WITH OUR HEAD MONK GUIDING REVIEW SESSIONS 7 WEEKENDS IN A ROW WITH THE MEDITATORS WHO WERE DIVIDED INTO 4 GROUPS. THIS ONLINE MEDITATION RETREAT WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE MEDITATORS COULD USE A DAILY PLANNER OF PRACTICES THAT COULD BE INTEGRATED WITH THEIR OWN DAILY WORK ROUTINE. THIS ONLINE UNIVERSITY-LEVEL COURSEWORK WAS ATTENDED BY INITIATES OF FOUR PATHS OF THE HIMALAYAN SIDDHA MEDITATION. THIS MASSIVE PROJECT DIGITALLY CODIFIED THE ORAL TRANSMISSION OF LINEAGE-BASED HIGHER MEDITATION CURRICULUM BY HIS HOLINESS SWAMI VIDYADHISHANANDA. SUCH PROFOUND TEACHINGS LEARNT DIRECTLY FROM A REALIZED HIMALAYAN MEDITATION ADEPT ARE RARE AND IMMENSELY UPLIFTING AND A TESTAMENT TO THE POTENTIAL FOR TECHNOLOGY TO SERVE HUMANITY IN POSITIVE WAYS. SELF'S CONGREGATION HAS CONTINUED TO GROW IN SEVERAL CENTRES NATIONWIDE (PLUS CENTRES IN EUROPE). IN ADDITION TO GATHERING FOR THE ABOVE-MENTIONED 642 SPECIAL FELLOWSHIPS FOR THE PUBLIC, THESE CONGREGATIONS TYPICALLY GATHER, WHETHER ONLINE OR IN-PERSON, AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH FOR REGULAR FELLOWSHIPS AND FOR THE MONTHLY LIVESTREAM FELLOWSHIPS. THERE WERE 41 TOTAL IN-PERSON AND ONLINE FELLOWSHIPS HELD IN 2024 THAT DELIVERED PROGRAMS TO OVER 4000 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. IN ADDITION, REGULAR FELLOWSHIPS HAVE BEEN HELD CONSISTENTLY SINCE 2009 AT OUR MEDITATION CENTRE IN SANTA BARBARA WHICH HAS RELOCATED TO PENN VALLEY SINCE 14TH JUNE 2024. THE HEAD MONK OF SELF ENQUIRY LIFE FELLOWSHIP, HIS HOLINESS SWAMI VIDYADHISHANANDA, IS ROUTINELY INVITED BY ESTEEMED INSTITUTIONS FOR HIS PRESENCE AS AN EMISSARY OF PEACE AND RELIGIOUS HARMONY. SINCE THE INCEPTION OF SELF THROUGH 2024, 107 INSTITUTIONAL FELLOWSHIPS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY HIS HOLINESS AT INVITING INSTITUTIONS. HIS HOLINESS SWAMI VIDYADHISHANANDA IS TYPICALLY INVITED BY INSTITUTIONS TO DELIVER A DISCOURSE OR FOR A CEREMONIAL SERVICE AS A MESSENGER OF PEACE. THE TOTAL OF THESE TWO CATEGORIES OF SPECIAL FELLOWSHIPS THROUGH 2024 IS 642, WHICH IS AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN TWO SPECIAL EVENTS OR SPECIAL FELLOWSHIPS PER MONTH OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC SINCE THE ORGANIZATION'S INCORPORATION. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THE REGULAR FELLOWSHIPS AND LIVESTREAM FELLOWSHIPS HELD ON A MONTHLY OR WEEKLY BASIS. IN 2024, SELF CONTINUED TO ADD NEW CONTENT TO ITS TWO MAIN WEBSITES, EACH WITH EXTRAORDINARY RESOURCES OF AUTHENTIC WISDOM. THE WEBSITE AND MOBILE APP, HANSAVEDAS.ACADEMY, HAS ENABLED SELF TO SHARE GUIDED MEDITATIONS, MINDFULNESS CLASSES, AND DISCOURSES BASED ON ANCIENT VEDIC WISDOM FROM THE SANSKRIT HERITAGE. BY THE CLOSE OF 2024, 429 UNIQUE RECORDINGS TOTALING ABOUT 200 HOURS WERE AVAILABLE ONLINE. OUR MOBILE APP IN 2024 REACHED AN AVERAGE OF 321 SUBSCRIBERS IN 62 COUNTRIES. THIS CRITICAL MASS OF CURRICULUM SERVES AS THE SEED FROM WHICH TO GROW OUR LONG-TERM VISION FOR AN ONLINE UNIVERSITY OF SANSKRIT HERITAGE. BY THE CLOSE OF 2024, OUR GUID

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.