Universal Chan
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
UNIVERSAL CHAN'S MISSION IT TO SPREAD THE CHAN TEACHINGS TO DEEPLY BENEFIT THOSE INTERESTED IN LEARNING THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA.
- Income
- $83,478
- Spending
- $125,767
- Reserves
- 4.5 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
We do not score finances when yearly spending is very small or the return has too little detail. The ratios stop meaning much at that size.
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 (2)
- DURING 2024 UNIVERSAL CHAN HELD DHARMA TALK AND CHAN MEDITATION CLASSES FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC. EXPLAINING THE IMPORTANT PRINCIPLES TO PRACTICE, HOW TO MEDITATE PROPERLY, AND HOW TO US PRAJNA WISDOM IN DAILY LIFE. ATLEAST 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED.
- $42,351 spent. DURING 2024 UNIVERSAL CHAN ALSO HELD MEDITATION RETREATS. INSTRUCTING HOW TO DO CHAN PRACTICE MOMENT-BY-MOMENT IN ALL KINDS OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING SILENTLY SITTING, DRINKING TEA, WALKING IN NATURE, EXERCISING, AND PERFORMING LIGHT CHORES. THESE WERE 7-DAY AND 3-DAY PROGRAMS. ATLEAST 80 PEOPLE ATTENDED. ADDITIONALLY, UNIVERSAL CHAN HELD CHAN TEA SESSIONS: TEACHING HOW TO LIVE A SATISFACTORY LIFE, FULLY ENJOY EACH MOMENT, AND HARMONIZE WITH OTHERS THROUGH THE ACTIVITY OF USING CHAN WISDOM TO DRINK TEA. ATLEAST 100 PEOPLE ATTENDED.
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
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 November 6, 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 June 2018.
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 November 4, 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.