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Tergar Institute Inc

EIN 88-3374052 · Brattleboro, VT

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair58 out of 100GovernanceFair61 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE TERGAR INSTITUTE CREATES COURSES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS THAT COMBINE THE STUDY AND PRACTICE OF VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM THROUGH EXPERIENTIAL AND APPLIED APPROACHES TO LEARNING, AND LOOK TOWARD WAYS THE VAJRAYANA BUDDHIST TRADITION CAN IMPACT TODAY'S WORLD.

Income
$444,139
Spending
$468,340
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
0.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 61%
Employees
3
Volunteers
4
Highest pay
$68,115, co-executive director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 58 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.6 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 15% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 61% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Fair: 61 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (education, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    0 of 25

    2 of 2 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, 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. $434,632 spent. TERGAR INSTITUTE RAN THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE BUDDHIST EXPERIENCE PROGRAM FOR 20 STUDENTS IN PERSON AT OSEL LING MONASTERY IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS AN ENTRY-LEVEL OVERVIEW OF TERGAR INSTITUTE`S BUDDHIST CERTIFICATE STUDY COURSE OFFERINGS.
  2. TERGAR INSTITUTE RAN THE HEART OF VAJRAYANA STUDY PROGRAM FOR 17 STUDENTS IN PERSON AT OSEL LING MONASTERY IN KATHMANDU, NEPAL. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS THE FINAL CAPSTONE COURSE IN TERGAR INSTITUTE`S BUDDHIST CERTIFICATE STUDY COURSE OFFERINGS.
  3. TERGAR INSTITUTE RAN THE PRAJNAPARAMITA STUDY PROGRAM FOR 38 STUDENTS ONLINE. THIS PROGRAM SERVES AS AN ADVANCED COURSE IN TERGAR INSTITUTE`S BUDDHIST CERTIFICATE STUDY COURSE OFFERINGS.

Source: Form 990 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 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 2025.

    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 July 2023.

    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.