David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace
The david lynch foundation for consciousness-based education and world peace (the "foundation or "dlf") is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2005. The foundation helps to prevent and eradicate the epidemic of trauma and toxic stress among at-risk populations through widespread implementation of the evidence-based transcendental meditation (TM) program. The foundation works to establish mainstream understanding of the effects of TM among government, health, media, and business leaders, as well as the general public; raise funds to implement TM programs in institutions that serve at-risk populations; and support and facilitate independent research on the important health benefits of the TM program.
Key facts about David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace
In short: David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace gave $196K across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $98K), mostly in Iowa. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 83-0436453
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $196,499
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- Average grant
- $98,250
- Median grant
- $98,250
- Total assets
- $13,264,043
- Primary geography
- Iowa (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$13.3M
+51.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$196K
+241.0% YoY
Grant Count
2
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$98K
+70.5% YoY
How David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace gives
- Giving fell 30% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
About David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace
Based on IRS filings
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace is a public charity, based in New York, NY. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $13.3M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 2 grants totaling $196K. Net investment income was $54K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2023) to $820K (2019). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $196K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maharishi Foundation USA Inc ($162K). Together the top 2 received $196K.
Grant Size Distribution
16 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 9 grants of 16 (56%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maharishi Foundation USA Inc Fairfield, IA | Consciousness-Based Education | $162,499 |
| Global Mother Divine Organization USA Fairfield, IA | Consciousness-Based Education | $34,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,264,043 | $8,753,831 | $10,269,967 |
| Revenue | $7,268,023 | $8,875,141 | $9,331,816 |
| Expenses | $7,666,089 | $9,054,680 | $9,313,384 |
| Net Investment Income | $53,813 | $121,808 | $54,764 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS April 8, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 7, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 3, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace is led by David Lynch, Chairman on every filing since 2019; 8 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Lynch
Chairman
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Chanin
Executive Chairman
Director → Executive Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2019
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Roth Chief
Executive Officer & Director
On filings since 2023
41 hrs/week
$332K (2023) → $416K (2025)
Lynn Kaplan
Regional Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$152K (2025)
Arthur Liebler
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanna Plafsky
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark Axelowitz
Director
Treasurer & Executive Chair → Treasurer, 2024
Treasurer → Director, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Orin Snyder
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert C. Jones
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hassan Tetteh
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nigol Koulajian
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Yolanda Lewis-Ragland
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Larry Comp
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mark S. Nestor
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mike Forman
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sunali Sharma
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fredda Plesser
Executive Vice President
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$219K (2019) → $340K (2025)
Adam Friedman
Vice President, Programs & Partnerships
Senior Director & Programs → Vice President, Programs & Partnerships, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$108K (2020) → $157K (2025)
William Goldstein Secretary
General Counsel - See Sch O
On filings since 2022
6 hrs/week
$38K (2022) → $66K (2025)
Hayley Hanna
Vice President, Programs & Partnerships
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$145K (2023) → $170K (2025)
Velky Marte
Senior Vice President & Finance
On filings since 2023
32 hrs/week
$142K (2023) → $162K (2025)
Vincent Decrescenzo
Vice President, First Responder & Veterans Programs
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$155K (2025)
Nancy Chemtob
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Pegah Easton
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (35)
- Former: Jessica Harris (2019–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Jill Black (2019–2024) — Director
- Former: John Gardner (2020–2024) — Director
- Former: David Goodman (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Jack Rovner (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Peter Dodge (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Natalie Ferrone Vp (2024) — Partnerships & Corporate Development
- Former: Chris Joseph (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Iliane Ogilvie Thompson (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Jane Ottenberg (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Shruti Joshi (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Steve Abrams (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Ethelynn Kaplan (2020–2023) — Regional Director
- Former: Steve Israel (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Susan Molinari (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Darcy Valenti Senior (2023) — Director & Strategic Initiatives
- Former: Jonathan Haseltine Chief (2023) — Operating Officer
- Former: Bruce Wilpon (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Jonathan Haseltine (2019–2022) — Chief Operating Officer
- Former: Robert Roth (2019–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Velky Marte-Valentin (2020–2022) — Vice President & Finance
- Former: Rebecca Fleming (2021–2022) — Associate Director of Finance
- Former: David Ford (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: William Goldstein (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Christina Schwefel (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Leahy (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Nigon Koulejian (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Karin Buchholz (2020) — Chief Development Officer
- Former: Aprajita Kalra (2019) — Former CFO
- Former: Aryn L. Grossman (2019) — Vice Chair
- Former: Barry Scherr (2019) — Director
- Former: Ina Clark (2019) — Chief Philanthropy Officer
- Former: Joseph Orsatti (2019) — Exe. Director, Center for Health & Wellness
- Former: Patti Donatella (2019) — Director, Hr & People Development
- Former: Salma Chodhury-Muro (2019) — Chief Program Officer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $416K, to Robert Roth Chief (Executive Officer & Direct). 8 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace
How much does David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace give each year?
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace gave $196K across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $58K across 1 grant.
How large is David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace?
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace reported $13.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $7.3M.
Where does David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace operate?
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace has awarded grants in Arizona, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri.
What is David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace's EIN?
David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness -Based Education and World Peace's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-0436453. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
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