Passes our checks

Unfettered Mind

EIN 95-4264256 · Windsor, CA

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

What it says it does

PUBLIC EDUCATION ON THE BENEFITS, TECHNIQUES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE AS THE RESULT OF THE STUDY OF BUDDHISM.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 70 out of 100.

Reserves
35 of 35
Spendable reserves would cover 34.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20
It owes 1% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15
Spending exceeded income by 41% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15
Income fell 37% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 15
82% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Good: 86 out of 100.

Independent board
18 of 25
4 of 4 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.
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

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)

$101,338 spent. THE DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLICATION OF PRINTED, AUDIO AND DIGITAL MATERIALS ON THE PRINCIPLES AND METHODS OF SPIRITUAL PRACTICE IN BUDDHISM. UNFETTERED MIND MAINTAINS A WEBSITE OF SOME 400 PAGES THAT IS FREELY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL INTERESTED PEOPLE, WHICH INCLUDED ARTICLES ON MEDITATION INSTRUCTION, AUDIO RECORDINGS AND PODCASTS OF CLASSES. IN 2024 UNFETTERED MIND BEGAN A THOROUGH OVERHAUL OF ITS WEBSITE, INSTALLING UP TO DATE TECHNOLOGY, AND PREPARING A LARGE BODY OF PREVIOUSLY RECORDED MATERIAL FOR PUBLICATION ON THE WEBSITE. THE OVERHAUL IS PROJECTED TO BE COMPLETE IN MID-2025. IN ADDITION, IN JULY 2024, KEN MCLEOD, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF UNFETTERED MIND, PRESENTED A HIGHLY ATTENDED 6-WEEK COURSE ON THE DIAMOND SUTRA AT THE BERKELEY ALEMBIC, ATTRACTING OVER 300 PEOPLE, WHILE ALSO COMPLETING A NEW TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURE, WHICH, ALONG WITH HIS COMMENTARY, IS PROJECTED TO BE PUBLISHED IN 2026. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PUBLISHED A MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER. THESE NEWSLETTERS CONTAINED PRAGMATIC ADVICE ON THE APPLICATION OF BUDDHIST PRINCIPLES TO CONTEMPORARY LIFE AND WERE TREASURED BY MANY OF THE APPROXIMATELY 4000 RECIPIENTS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

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.
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.
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.
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.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 1990.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 October 7, 2026.

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