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Abhaya Fellowship

EIN 47-1542811 · El Cerrito, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong100 out of 100GovernanceFair58 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO FACILITATE THE PRACTICE OF THE DHARMA OR THE PATH OF AWAKENING IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION, PARTICULARLY WITHIN THE DUDJOM TERSAR LINEAGE OF THE NYINGMA SCHOOL OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM

Income
$1.3 million
Spending
$119,569
Spent on programs
88%
Reserves
73.4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 96%
Employees
0
Highest pay
$28,700, spiritual ad

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: 100 out of 100. Higher than 88% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 73.4 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 91% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1474% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    88% 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

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 30% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    18 of 25

    3 of 4 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no 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

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • 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. $104,686 spent. THE ABHAYA FELLOWSHIP IS A BUDDHIST COMMUNITY FOUNDED BY CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK IN 2014. THE MAIN GOAL OF THE FELLOWSHIP IS TO PRACTICE THE DHARMA OR THE PATH OF AWAKENING IN THE BUDDHIST TRADITION, PARTICULARLY, THE NYINGMA LINEAGE OF DUDJOM TERSAR. IT FUNCTIONS AS AN UMBRELLA FOR ACTIVITIES LIKE MEDITATIONS RETREATS, TEACHINGS AND AS A CENTER FOR SATELLITE SANGHAS OR PRACTICE COMMUNITIES. (CONTINUES BELOW)
  2. CURRENTLY, THE MAIN TEACHER IS CHAKUNG JIGME WANGDRAK. HE IS A LINEAGE HOLDER AS WELL AS THE DESCENDENT OF DUDJOM LINGPA. HIS ACTIVITIES ARE DEDICATED TO MAINTAIN THIS FELLOWSHIP SO THE PRECIOUS TRADITION OF THE DUDJOM TERSAR WILL BE KEPT ALIVE AND SHARE TO MANY PEOPLE IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THEIR SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since September 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.