Blue Cliff Zen Center
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF STRESS EXPERIENCED IN THE COMMUNITY BY OFFERING ZEN MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FOSTERING WELL-BEING, KINDNESS, AND INSIGHT. WE ARE COMMITTED TO HELPING DEVELOP A MORE WAKENED COMMUNITY AND WORLD. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO HELP US CONTINUE OFFERING THESE IMPORTANT PROGRAMS.
- Income
- $100,224
- Spending
- $103,486
- Reserves
- 4.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 79%
- Highest pay
- $38,000, executive di
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 69 out of 100. Higher than 48% of charities in its peer group (religion, under $250k).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 4.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 12% of what it owns.
Living within its means
8 of 15Spending exceeded income by 3% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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, 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)
- $87,963 spent. WE OFFER SIX ZEN MEDITATION SESSIONS EACH WEEK, AS WELL AS ZEN YOGA RETREATS,MINDFULNESS COURSES, AND TEACHER TRAININGS. WE ALSO DO INTENSIVE ZEN RETREATS, COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS, AND ZEN CEREMONIES. OUR LINEAGE IS THE BLUE CLIFF ZEN CENTER BRANCH OF THE RINZAI ZEN TRADITION OF ZEN MASTER SHINZAN MIYAMAE AND THE SOTO ZEN TRADITIONS OF JULIAN DAIZAN SKINNER. 2024 ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: WEEKLY MORNING (MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY, FRIDAY) AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON ZEN MEDITATION COMMUNITY GATHERINGS. NEW YEARS FIRE CEREMONY - FEBRUARY 3 DAY BREAKTHROUGH TO ZEN RETREATS - JANUARY, MAY, AND SEPTEMBER ONLINE BREAKTHROUGH TO ZEN RETREAT - MARCH SEASONAL ZEN YOGA RETREATS: WINTER NOURISHING YOUR ROOTS RETREAT - JANUARY SPRING MELTING THE ICE RETREAT - APRIL FALL LETTING GO INTO THE UNIVERSE RETREAT - NOT THIS YEAR THE BUDDHA'S BIRTHDAY CEREMONY - APRIL MEDITATION/MINDFULNESS 6-WEEK COURSES FOR HEALTH/WELL-BEING, GROUNDING/INSIGHT, KINDNESS/COMPASSION - JANUARY THROUGH MARCH, APRIL THROUGH MAY, AND OCTOBER THROUGH NOVEMBER. SEASONAL ZEN MEDITATION DAYS - MAY AND OCTOBER JAPAN ZEN ADVENTURE TRIP (ZEN RETREAT AND SIGHTSEEING IN JAPAN) - JUNE ZEN PRECEPTS CEREMONY - JULY SUMMER ZEN RETREAT (SESSHIN): JULY YARD SALE FUNDRAISER - AUGUST MEDITATION AND MINDFULNESS TEACHER TRAINING - AUGUST ROHATSU ALL-NIGHT ZEN RETREAT - DECEMBER
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, 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? 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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since December 2016.
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.