Dhammadharini
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THIS CORPORATION IS A RELIGIOUS CORPORATION AND IS NOT ORGANIZED FOR THE PRIVATE GAIN OF ANY PERSON. IT IS ORGANIZED UNDER THE NONPROFIT RELIGIOUS CORPORATION LAW EXCLUSIVELY FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES. THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF THIS CORPORATION IS TO FOSTER AND PROMOTE THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE WAY OF THE DHAMMA IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PALI CANON AND TO SUPPORT THE UNDERSTANDING AND TEACHING OF THIS WISDOM BY ESTABLISHING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF THE VINAYA, A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY OF FULLY ORDAINED BUDDHIST MONASTIC WOMEN (BHIKKHUNIS) WHO HAVE UNDERTAKEN THE RULES OF TRAINING.
- Income
- $337,989
- Spending
- $281,830
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- -3.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 92
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
0 of 35Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 17% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 21% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 59 out of 100. Higher than 47% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 255 of 5 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 (3)
- $173,037 spent. RESIDENTIAL MONASTIC COMMUNITY, FOREST HERMITAGE, AND TOWN MONASTERY - DHAMMADHARINI OPERATES A SINGLE RESIDENTIAL BUDDHIST MONASTIC COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FOREST HERMITAGE AND A MONASTERY LOCATED IN TOWN. THE COMMUNITY SUPPORTS FULL-TIME MONASTIC PRACTICE AND TRAINING BY PROVIDING HOUSING, FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, TRANSPORTATION, AND OTHER BASIC REQUISITES FOR RESIDENT MONASTICS, AS WELL AS THE MAINTENANCE, IMPROVEMENT, AND OPERATION OF FACILITIES USED FOR RELIGIOUS PRACTICE, STUDY, AND COMMUNAL LIFE. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES INCLUDE STEWARDSHIP OF RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE, AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE AND ORGANIZATIONAL FUNCTIONS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN THE RESIDENTIAL MONASTIC COMMUNITY. MONASTICS LIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VINAYA AND ENGAGE IN SUSTAINED RELIGIOUS TRAINING AND CONTEMPLATION. DURING THE YEAR, THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY INCLUDED AN AVERAGE OF APPROXIMATELY SIX RESIDENT MONASTICS, INCLUDING FULLY ORDAINED MONASTICS, NOVICES AND ASPIRANTS. IN ADDITION, THE RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY PERIODICALLY HOSTS VISITING BHIKKHUNIS AND LAY STEWARDS WHO LIVE AND PRACTICE WITH THE COMMUNITY FOR VARYING LENGTHS OF TIME. THIS RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM FORMS THE FOUNDATION FOR DHAMMADHARINI'S RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES.
- $60,655 spent. WORLDWIDE RELIGIOUS RELATIONSHIPS, CEREMONIES, AND MONASTIC OUTREACH - DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORTS WORLDWIDE RELIGIOUS RELATIONSHIPS AND MONASTIC OUTREACH WITHIN THE INTERNATIONAL BHIKKHUNI SANGHA. ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE PARTICIPATION IN AND HOSTING OF RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES AND COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS, BOTH IN PERSON AND ONLINE; SUPPORT FOR BHIKKHUNIS AND MONASTIC COMMUNITIES INTERNATIONALLY; HOSTING VISITING MONASTICS; AND PARTICIPATION IN PILGRIMAGES, CONFERENCES, AND OTHER RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS. DURING THE YEAR, THIS WORK INCLUDED ACTIVITIES RELATED TO INITIATIVES SUCH AS THE CAMBODIAN BHIKKHUNI SANGHA INITIATIVE, THE INDIAN BHIKKHUNI SUPPORT PROJECT (INCLUDING PATIMOKKHA PRINTING AND THE FOOTSTEPS OF MAHAPAJAPATI PILGRIMAGE TO NEPAL AND INDIA), AND DHAMMACARI ESPANOL, INCLUDING RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THERAVADA CUBA. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ALSO INCLUDED HOSTING VISITS FROM INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS OF OUR BHIKKHUNIS' COMMUNITY, PARTICIPATTION SAKYADHITA INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN MALAYSIA, AND COMMEMORATIVE RELIGIOUS EVENTS MARKING THE ORGANIZATION'S TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY. THESE EFFORTS FOSTER CONNECTION, CONTINUITY OF LINEAGE, AND MUTUAL SUPPORT AMONG BUDDHIST MONASTICS ACROSS DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. PROGRAM EXPENSES PRIMARILY RELATE TO TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EVENT-RELATED COSTS, AND DIRECT SUPPORT OF RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES.
- $2,804 spent. DHAMMA, VINAYA, AND BHIKKHUNI SANGHA HISTORY - DHAMMADHARINI ENGAGES IN THE STUDY, TEACHING, PRESERVATION, AND DISSEMINATION OF THE DHAMMA, THE VINAYA, AND THE HISTORY OF THE BHIKKHUNI SANGHA. THIS PROGRAM INCLUDES REGULAR ONLINE AND IN-PERSON DHAMMA TEACHING ACTIVITIES, RELIGIOUS STUDY, RETREATS, AND LIMITED PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF RELIGIOUS MATERIALS, AND WORK RELATED TO PRESERVING AND SHARING HISTORICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE BHIKKHUNI LINEAGE. PROGRAM ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR INCLUDED WEEKLY ONLINE DHAMMA TEACHINGS, SPECIAL ONLINE PROGRAMS HONORING BHIKKHUNI HISTORY, REFUGES AND PRECEPTS CEREMONIES, AND A DAYLONG RETREAT. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, DHAMMADHARINI SUPPORTS CONTINUITY OF BUDDHIST TEACHINGS, MONASTIC DISCIPLINE, AND AWARENESS OF BHIKKHUNI HISTORY. PROGRAM EXPENSES ARE MODEST AND RELATE PRIMARILY TO EDUCATIONAL AND TEACHING-RELATED MATERIALS.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
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.
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 October 13, 2026.
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.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Worth knowing.
The IRS does not require this organization to file annual returns.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since August 2008.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
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 October 21, 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.