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Khyentse Foundation

EIN 91-2167303 · San Francisco, CA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood70 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SEE SCHEDULE O

Income
$5.4 million
Spending
$7.3 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
83 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 62%
Employees
0
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$60,000, treasurer

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 42% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 83.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 33% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 38% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 1 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    13 of 14 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 30, 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 (4)
  1. $471,828 spent. TEXT PRESERVATION: PRESERVATION OF BUDDHIST TEXT IS A FUNDAMENTAL ACTIVITY OF KHYENTSE FOUNDATION, WHICH SUPPORTS THE CONSERVATION INITIATIVES OF MANY LIKE-MINDED ORGANIZATIONS IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT THE HERITAGE OF BUDDHIST WISDOM TRADITIONS IS PRESERVED AND MADE AVAILABLE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
  2. $2.4 million spent. EDUCATION PROGRAMS: SUPPORT FOR WORLDWIDE EDUCATION INITIATIVES BASED ON BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES; PARTICULARLY FOR PROGRAMS WITH A LONG-TERM VISION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS OF BUDDHIST STUDENTS AND PRACTITIONERS THROUGH INNOVATIONS IN EDUCATION SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN; CURRENTLY SUPPORTING AN INDEPENDENT SCHOOL IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, AND IN SINGAPORE BASED ON BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES.
  3. $881,313 spent. ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT: TO EXPAND AND SUPPORT THE ACADEMIC STUDY OF BUDDHISM IN UNIVERSITIES AND BUDDHIST INSTITUTES AROUND THE WORLD. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO STRENGTHEN THE STUDY OF BUDDHISM AS A MAJOR PHILOSOPHY AND WORLD WISDOM HERITAGE WHICH WILL SIGNIFICANTLY INSPIRE AND BENEFIT BUDDHIST STUDY AND PRACTICE IN THE LONG TERM; SIGNIFICANT DONATION GIVEN THIS YEAR TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY TO SUPPORT TEACHING AND RESEARCH IN TIBETAN BUDDHISM.
  4. $3.0 million spent. TRANSLATIONS: TO TRANSLATE THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS INTO THE WORLD'S MAJOR MODERN LANGUAGES, THEREBY MAKING THEM AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE TO EVERYONE WHO WISHES TO USE THEM FOR STUDY AND PRACTICE. KF INITIATES, DEVELOPS, AND SUPPORTS A NUMBER OF ONGOING AND CONSTANTLY EVOLVING PROGRAMS TO CARRY OUT THAT MISSION BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL TRANSLATORS WHO SHARE OUR ASPIRATION. KF NOW FUNDS THE TRANSLATION AND DISSEMINATION OF BUDDHIST TEXTS IN POLISH, UKRAINIAN, AND MONGOLIAN, AMONG MANY OTHER LANGUAGES.TO MAINTAIN THE HERITAGE OF ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER BUDDHIST STUDIES IN TRADITIONAL BUDDHIST SHEDRAS (MONASTIC UNIVERSITIES), AND TO PROVIDE QUALIFIED BUDDHIST SCHOLARS AND TEACHERS TO SERVE THE WORLD, THE FOUNDAITON SUPPORTS A SERIES OF MONASTIC COLLEGES IN CHINA, INDIA AND BHUTAN.SCHOLARSHIPS: TO PROVIDE FUNDING THAT ENABLES STUDENTS WORLDWIDE TO PURSUE THEIR STUDY AND PRACTICE OF THE BUDDHADHARMA, ENSURING IT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL THOSE WHO SEEK IT. SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AWARDED ON MERIT AND NEED, REGARDLESS OF NATIONALITY, ETHNIC ORIGIN OR CULTURAL BACKGROUND. REVITALIZING BUDDHIST HERITAGE: SUPPORTING BUDDHIST EDUCATION IN TRADITIONALLY BUDDHIST COUNTRIES SUCH AS INDIA, CHINA, AND COUNTRIES IN SOUTHE EAST ASIA WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF DIFFERENT BUDDHIST SCHOOLS AND LINEAGES AND THE LONGEVITY OF THE BUDDHA'S TEACHINGS.INCLUDES SUPPORT FOR TRAINING AND DEVELOPEMENT OF BUDDHIST LEADERS, AND VARIOUS SPECIAL GRANTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 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? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 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 June 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 April 2002.

    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 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.