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United Buddhist Foundation

EIN 47-1420906 · Westminster, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak46 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

1. Our website is continually updated with modern technology and provides tools to support Buddhist study and research. All of our sutra translations are freely accessible to anyone with an internet connection. 2. The Buddhist books for which we serve as authors, translators, or compilers are published as free electronic editions. 3. Our publications may also be printed by other Buddhist organizations for free distribution, without any restrictions. For this reason, we must support our full-time religious translator and writer, who is dedicated entirely to this work. Through these efforts, we aim to share the Buddha's teachings widely and contribute to peace in the world-beginning with each individual, not only through governments. 4. We also reprint valuable Buddhist works originally published 50 to 80 years ago, making them available again to students and scholars of Buddhism.

Income
$91,793
Spending
$94,488
Reserves
0.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Highest pay
$18,000, secretary - translator

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 46 out of 100. Higher than 19% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.

Source: Form 990EZ 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 (1)
  1. (1) Publishing 32 books in the year 2023, free distribution and also available for POD global system. (2) Online Buddhist community increasing up to more than 9500 members who attended at https://unitedbuddhist.org/ with about 3200 viewer daily (3) Translating 2 Buddhist sutras with about 1,500 pages from ancient Chinese into Vietnamese. (4) Reproduced 14 very old Buddhist books (50 - 80 years ago) and made it available (reprinting version) to everyone who need to study.

Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2025, 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 October 13, 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? 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.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since May 2015.

    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 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.