Nyingma Institute
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE NYINGMA INSTITUTE WAS FOUNDED IN 1972 BY TIBETAN TEACHER AND AUTHOR TARTHANG TULKU TO PRESENT THE TEACHINGS OF THE TIBETAN TRADITION TO THE WEST. (SEE SCHEDULE O FOR FULL STATEMENT)
- Income
- $1.0 million
- Spending
- $903,128
- Spent on programs
- 84%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 60%
- Employees
- 16
- Volunteers
- 8
- Highest pay
- $4,710, secretary
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 64% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 9% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 66% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1584% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Fair: 65 out of 100. Higher than 39% of charities in its peer group (religion, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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 (4)
- $537,857 spent. NYINGMA INSTITUTE PROMOTES, FOSTERS, ENCOURAGES, TEACHES AND DISSEMINATES THE TIBETAN NYINGMA TRADITIONS OF BUDDHISM AND MAKES THESE TEACHINGS AVAILABLE TO WESTERN STUDENTS IN FORMS SUITED TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD. SUBJECTS INCLUDE MEDITATION; NYINGMA PSYCHOLOGY, WHICH ENCOMPASSES THE STUDY OF THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS AND PATTERNS OF THOUGHT, FEELING, AND EMOTION; SKILLFUL MEANS, WHICH OFFERS WAYS OF WORKING THAT INSPIRE CREATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENT AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF MASTERY THROUGH THE TRANSFORMATION OF AWARENESS, CONCENTRATION, AND ENERGY; TRADITIONAL BUDDHIST STUDIES; KUM NYE (TIBETAN YOGA); AND TIBETAN LANGUAGE AND PRACTICES. APPROXIMATELY 100 CLASSES, 50 WORKSHOPS, AND 10 RETREATS ARE OFFERED PER YEAR, SERVING APPROXIMATELY 800 PARTICIPANTS
- $144,755 spent. GRANTS (PLEDGES TO HEAD LAMA OF TIBETAN NYINGMA MEDITATION CENTER) ARE GIVEN ANNUALLY TO ENCOURAGE AND ASSIST OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS FOUNDED BY TARTHANG TULKU WHICH ALL SHARE SIMILAR GOALS TO PRESERVE AND PRESENT THE LIVING SPIRIT OF BUDDHISM TO THE WEST AND TO PRESERVE TIBET'S CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL PEOPLE.
- $77,179 spent. SACRED ART PROJECTS/OFFERINGS AND TRADITIONAL TIBETAN BUDDHIST CHANTS AND CEREMONIES THAT TAKE PLACE AT THE NYINGMA INSTITUTE. THIS ALSO INCLUDES COSTS RELATED TO THE CREATION OF PADMAKARA GARDEN - A PRECIOUS JEWEL OF A CULTURAL HERITAGE GARDEN, WITH TIBETAN SACRED ART AND ARCHITECTURE SET IN A LUSH HIMALAYAN THEMED GARDEN, BALANCED BY MODERN ARCHITECTURAL ACCENTS.
- FULL MISSION STATEMENT: THE NYINGMA INSTITUTE WAS FOUNDED IN 1972 BY TIBETAN TEACHER AND AUTHOR TARTHANG TULKU TO PRESENT THE TEACHINGS OF THE TIBETAN TRADITION TO THE WEST. IT STRIVES TO PROMOTE, ENCOURAGE, TEACH AND DISSEMINATE THE TIBETAN NYINGMA TRADITIONS OF BUDDHISM AND TO MAKE THOSE TEACHINGS AVAILABLE TO WESTERN STUDENTS IN FORMS APPROPRIATE TO THE CONTEMPORARY WORLD.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending August 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? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending August 2025.
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 December 1972.
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.