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Vipassana Community Foundation

EIN 26-3577879 · Onalaska, WA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood84 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

Support and grow the teaching and practice of Vipassana meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka globally. VCF's efforts aim to make Vipassana meditation courses more widely available to more people worldwide.

Income
$2.5 million
Spending
$2.2 million
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
4.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 95%
Employees
0
Volunteers
13

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

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 99% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    97% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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: 84 out of 100. Higher than 62% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 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.

  • 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 (2)
  1. $2.1 million spent. In 2024, VCF disbursed 83 grants totaling $2,057,830. Grants were distributed to these nine new countries: Cyprus, Ivory Coast, Japan, Kenya, Nepal, Poland, Taiwan, Tunisia and Vietnam; as well as 20 prior country recipients: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Guatemala, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Peru, Philippines, Spain, Sri Lanka, Uganda, U.S. and Venezuela.In 2024, VCF continued supporting center expansion worldwide with various grants to centers in North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Oceania. The section below provides highlights of some of our major programmatic grants internationally (listed in order of size of grants).Grants to Verein fr Vipassana Meditation in Austria (VMA) to support the ongoing construction of the Dhamma Mudita Meditation Center. To support the establishment of the first meditation center in Austria three grants totaling $788,695 were disbursed to VMA: $329,620 on July 2, 2024; $130,000 on November 6, 2024; $329,075 on December 17, 2024. These grants were awarded to support the development and construction progress of two accommodation buildings for meditators, a kitchen/dining building and costs related to interior facilities.Grant to Rocky Mountain Vipassana Association (RMVA) to support the development of the Dhamma Sela Meditation Center in Colorado. To finance the complete fire water delivery system of the center a $250,000 grant was awarded to RMVA on July 12, 2024. This project includes procuring cisterns, installing a solar-powered pump, laying piping to two cisterns, and placing a temporary hydrant. Grants to Sayaji U Ba Khin Vipassana Foundation in California to support the general operation of the Dhamma Mahavana Meditation Center. To ensure the center's continued development and service to students, two grants totaling $102,950 were disbursed: $12,950 on February 21, 2024 and $90,000 on December 11, 2024. The first grant was issued to cover travel expenses of meditation teachers, and the second grant to cover general operating costs.
  2. $46,792 spent. The organization established special funds, including endowments, for donors that wish to utilize earnings to further advance support and maintenance of Vipassana Meditation Centers and their affiliates.

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 January 2009.

    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.