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Dhammachai Foundation

EIN 87-4002425 · Chicago, IL

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair60 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO SUPPORT AND DIRECT DISSEMINATION OF BUDDHISM AND DHAMMAKAYA MEDITATION, TO MANAGE ASSETS OF MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND TO SUPPORT RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AND CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS AS DEEMED APPROPRIATE.

Income
$601,814
Spending
$857,734
Spent on programs
97%
Reserves
2.9 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
2
Volunteers
5
Highest pay
$16,680, treasurer

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

Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.9 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 43% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 10% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    96% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 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

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 87% of charities in its peer group (religion, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    5 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a 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

    6 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 (3)
  1. $352,629 spent. BUDDHIST ORDINATION PROGRAM AT BOROBUDUR INDONESIABUDDHIST ORDINATION OFFERS A SPIRITUAL PATH ROOTED IN THE TEACHINGS OF THE BUDDHA, PROVIDING A STRUCTURED ENVIRONMENT AND ESSENTIAL CONDITIONS FOR INDIVIDUALS TO DEDICATE THEMSELVES TO A LIFE OF DISCIPLINE, WISDOM, COMPASSION, MINDFULNESS, SELF-CONTROL, HUMILITY, AND RESPONSIBILITY. THROUGH MEDITATION AND ETHICAL LIVING, PARTICIPANTS IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN BUDDHIST PRACTICE. THIS ORDINATION PROGRAM NOT ONLY BENEFITS INDIVIDUALS BUT ALSO FOSTERS A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY. IN PRACTICE, BUDDHIST MONKS AND NOVICES LEAD SIMPLE LIVES FOCUSED ON SPIRITUAL GROWTH. THEY SERVE AS ROLE MODELS, PROMOTING MORAL CONDUCT WHILE ENGAGING IN TEACHING, COUNSELING, AND SOCIAL WORK TO UPHOLD AND SPREAD THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS. THEIR PRESENCE HELPS CULTIVATE PEACE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.PROGRAM OVERVIEWTHE ORDINATION PROGRAM LASTS FOR 18 DAYS AND IS OFFERED AT NO COST. THE SCHEDULE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING KEY COMPONENTS: PREPARATION PHASE: PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN ESSENTIAL CHANTING FOR THE ORDINATION CEREMONY AND UNDERGO A PHYSICAL CHECK-UP. PRE-ORDINATION TRAINING: ATTENDEES PREPARE FOR ORDINATION BY SHAVING THEIR HEADS, ADOPTING A SIMPLE BUDDHIST LIFESTYLE, AND OBSERVING THE EIGHT PRECEPTS, WHICH INCLUDE REFRAINING FROM EATING AFTER MIDDAY AND RESIDING IN DESIGNATED AREAS. THEY ALSO PRACTICE MEDITATION UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF EXPERIENCED TEACHERS, DEEPENING THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF BUDDHIST TEACHINGS. ORDINATION CEREMONY: ON THE ORDINATION DAY, PARTICIPANTS SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM THEIR FAMILIES, RELATIVES, AND LAYPEOPLE BEFORE OFFICIALLY ENTERING MONASTIC LIFE. NOVICES UNDERTAKE THE TEN PRECEPTS. MONASTIC LIFE & PRACTICE: DURING THE PROGRAM, NOVICES RECEIVE ONLY TWO MEALS PER DAY. ADDITIONALLY, THEY PARTICIPATE IN CANDLE LIGHTING AT BOROBUDUR AND DHAMMAYATRA OR DHUTANGHA, A 16-KILOMETER WALKING JOURNEY THROUGH VARIOUS COMMUNITIES, WHERE LAYPEOPLE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WELCOME THEM, OFFER FOOD, PAY RESPECTS, AND RECEIVE BLESSINGS. REFLECTION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: ON THE FINAL DAY, PARTICIPANTS REFLECT ON THEIR EXPERIENCES, SHARING INSIGHTS GAINED FROM THEIR TIME IN THE PROGRAM. THEY ALSO DISCUSS WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY PROMOTING THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS AND MEDITATION PRACTICES.PROGRAM RESOURCESTHIS ORDINATION PROGRAM IS SUPPORTED BY TEACHING MONKS AND STAFF FROM WAT PHRA DHAMMAKAYA, THAILAND. IT PROVIDES ALL ESSENTIAL MATERIALS, INCLUDING ALMS BOWLS, NOVICES' ROBES, CEREMONY TENT, INDIVIDUAL TENTS, SHAVING SUPPLIES, BASIC HEALTHCARE, AND DAILY SUSTENANCE (TWO MEALS AND ONE REFRESHMENT) FOR UP TO 500 PARTICIPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR SIMPLE MONASTIC LIVING ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO ENSURE AN AUTHENTIC EXPERIENCE THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM.
  2. $254,397 spent. THE FULL MOON MEDITATION PROGRAM IS A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT BETWEEN DHAMMACHAI FOUNDATION AND THE MEDITATION CENTER OF CHICAGO, ALONG WITH OTHER AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA. CONDUCTED PRIMARILY VIA THE ZOOM APPLICATION, THIS PROGRAM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC NATIONWIDE, OFFERING INDIVIDUALS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BENEFIT FROM POSITIVE ENERGY WHILE ENGAGING IN MEDITATION. THE FULL MOON MEDITATION PROGRAM AIMS TO PROMOTE WELL-BEING ON PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND SPIRITUAL LEVELS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES, BOTH WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY. THE STRUCTURE OF THE FULL MOON MEDITATION PROGRAM TYPICALLY INCLUDES:INTRODUCTION: A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE SESSION.WISDOM TALK: INSIGHTS AND REFLECTIONS FROM THE MASTER'S TEACHINGS.CANDLE LIGHTING: SYMBOLIC OF ENLIGHTENING TO CREATE A SERENE ATMOSPHERE.GUIDED MEDITATION: A STRUCTURED MEDITATION SESSION LED BY AN EXPERIENCED MONK.LOVING-KINDNESS MEDITATION: FOSTERING COMPASSION AND GOOD WISHES TOWARD SELF AND OTHERS.Q&A SESSION: OPPORTUNITY FOR PARTICIPANTS TO SEEK FURTHER CLARIFICATION AND DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING.WITH THESE COMPONENTS, THE FULL MOON MEDITATION PROGRAM PROVIDES BENEFITS AND FOSTERS PERSONAL GROWTH AND COMMUNITY CONNECTION.
  3. $220,655 spent. THE WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE PROGRAMINTRODUCING THE WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE PROGRAM, AN INITIATIVE DEDICATED TO FOSTERING SELF-DEVELOPMENT THROUGH THE CULTIVATION OF A PEACE CULTURE, SUPPORTED BY CERTIFIED MEDITATION COACHES. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS A UNIQUE BLEND OF ONLINE AND IN-PERSON EXPERIENCES AIMED AT INTEGRATING MEDITATION PRACTICES INTO DAILY LIFE.THE WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE PROGRAM PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH:ONLINE PLATFORMS: ACCESSIBLE VIRTUAL SPACES WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN ENGAGE WITH GUIDED MEDITATIONS, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT.IN-PERSON PROGRAMS: TAILORED SESSIONS DESIGNED TO WRAP UP AND DEEPEN UNDERSTANDING OF PRACTICE OF MEDITATION. ITS UNIQUE HELPS TO EMPHASIZE THE CULTIVATION OF AWARENESS AND MINDFULNESS IN DAILY ACTIVITIES, FOSTERING A HARMONIOUS WORK-LIFE BALANCE ENVIRONMENT.BY ENGAGING THE WORLD PEACE INITIATIVE PROGRAM, PARTICIPANTS LEARN HOW TO PRACTICE MEDITATION AND THAT ENHANCES AWARENESS AND MINDFULNESS IN DAILY LIFE, REDUCES VIOLENCE, AND PROMOTES SELF-DEVELOPMENT AND FULFILLMENT. ULTIMATELY, THEY ARE EMPOWERED TO POSITIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR OWN WELL-BEING AND THE WORLD AROUND THEM.

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 February 2022.

    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.