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Chronicles of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche

EIN 81-3741086 · Portland, ME

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak49 out of 100GovernanceNot ratedThe short tax form does not cover thisImpact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO CELEBRATE THE VIDYADHARA'A LIFE; TO EXPAND THE GENERAL KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RINPOCHE; TO TRACE LIS LEGACY AND INFLUENCES INTO THE CURRENT ERA; AND TO FOSTER A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AMOUNG PEOPLE WHO SHARE A COMMON INTEREST IN HIS LIFE AND WORK. THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CHRONICLES OF CHOGYAM TRUNGPA RENPOCHE, A REGISTERED SOCIETY IN THE PROVINCE OF NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA ("CHRONICLES CANADA"). THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE APPLICANT, WHICH HAS THE SAME NAME ("CHRONICLES USA"), IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ACTIVITIES OF THE CHRONICLES CANADA AND A MEANS FOR TRUNGPA REINPOCHE'S STUDENTS AND FOLLOWERS IN THE UNITED STATES TO ASSIST IN THIS PROJECT. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF CHRONICLES USA IS NOT CONTROLLED BY CHRONICLES CANADA, AND WILL EXERCISE INDEPENDENT JUDGEMENT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FUNDS.

Income
$85,031
Spending
$90,971
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%

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: 49 out of 100. Higher than 18% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 7% 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 (3)
  1. FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT - THE CHRONICLES SITE: PUBLISHES ARTICLES, INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS (TAKEN FROM OUR ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY), SELECTED AUDIO AND VIDEO LECTURES BY TRUNGPA RINPOCHE AND OTHERS, AND RELEVANT NEWS. THIS ACTIVITY HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE IT BEGAN IN 2002. THE CHRONICLES IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
  2. SECOND ACCOMPLISHMENT - OCEAN ONLINE COMMUNITY: PROVIDES CLASSES ON THE BUDDHIST TEACHINGS AND GROUP MEDICATION SESSIONS. THE OCEAN WAS LAUNCHED IN 2014 ABD SERVICES MEMBERS ONLY. MEMBERSHIP IS FREE OF CHARGE. THE OCEAN CURRENTLY HAS 1,300 ACTIVE MEMBERS.
  3. THIRD ACCOMPLISHMENT - ORAL HISTORY: THE ORIGINAL MOTIVATION FOR THE CHRONICLES WAS TO RECORD AND PRESERVE FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS FROM PEOPLE WHO KNEW TRUNGPA REINPOCHE. MUCH OF THE CONTENT IN THE CHRONICLES IS FROM THE ORAL HISTORY LIBRARY. HOWEVER, MOST OF THE LIBRARY ITSELF HAS NOT BEEN PUBLISHED, PRIMARILY BECAUSE THESE INTEVIEWS WERE NOT CONDUCTED FOR A PUBLIC AUDIENCE. THEY ARE, IN MANY CASES, DEEPLY PERSONAL. THEIR VALUE IS CONDUCTING ACADEMIC RESEARCH, BUT SIGNIFICANT PASSAGES ARE ROUTINELY PUBLISHED IN THE CHRONICLES.

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? Worth knowing.

    Status was revoked on May 15, 2019 for not filing returns for three years. The IRS now lists it as tax-exempt again.

    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? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2025.

    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 August 2020.

    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.