Khyentse Foundation
Khyentse Foundation is a public charity based in San Francisco, California, established in 2001 by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It is primarily a funding organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the Buddha’s wisdom, supporting Buddhist study and practice, and serving people interested in the Buddha’s teachings, whether Buddhist or not.
Khyentse Foundation at a glance
In short: Khyentse Foundation gave $1.7M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $83K), mostly in New York. 24% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,657,610
- -1.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- +81.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $82,881
- -46.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $27,500
- Total assets
- $52,606,967
- +2.0% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 24% first-time grantees (4 of 17, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Khyentse Foundation
- Review Cycle
- The Academic Development Grant window runs September 15–December 15, 2026, with a December 15 deadline at 23:59 US Eastern Standard Time. The website states that applicants for the December deadline are notified the following May, with successful applicants’ funding available in July. The listed dissertation award deadline is December 31, 2026.
- Deadline
- The Academic Development Grant window runs September 15–December 15, 2026, with a December 15 deadline at 23:59 US…
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 156648, San Francisco, CA 94115
Phone: (707) 892-1919
Website: https://khyentsefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from Khyentse Foundation
Ashoka Grants
Khyentse Foundation
Amount
US $1,000 - US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Individual Practice Grant
Khyentse Foundation
Amount
US $500 - US $5,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Khyentse Fellowship
Khyentse Foundation
Amount
$30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Khyentse Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Middle Way School ($699K). Together the top 10 received $1.5M.
Organizations only. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($122,060), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
98 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 98 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation states that it supports individuals and institutions from all Buddhist traditions and works around the world. In its 2025 grantmaking, 52% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, 20% to Massachusetts, 12% to California, 6% to Connecticut, and 3% to Colorado. The listed grants also included recipients in Washington, Illinois, and Arizona.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Khyentse Foundation open to new grantees?
24%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 4 of 17 grantees (24%) were first-time recipients. With only 17 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $31K; repeat grants $118K. How we count
Medians: $31K first-time, $58K repeat.
- 47% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+3%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.6M (2022) to $2.6M (2021). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $1.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Middle Way School Saugerties, NY | USA - 2024/25 Operating Grant. | $699,000 |
| Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC) Cambridge, MA | USA - Zen Peacemaker Fellowship Grant | $220,928 |
| Head of the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center (Sarnath International Nyingm Berkeley, CA | Usa - year 1 of 3 year grant to support advancing strategic and innovative educational programs and partnerships for buddhist monastics. | $115,595 |
| 2 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $122,060 |
| Middle Way Education Woodstock, NY | Usa - grant to support mwes buddhist education curriculum framework design and distribution. | $95,000 |
| Yale University New Haven, CT | Usa - year 2 of 4 year grant to support a khyentse postdoctoral associate in tibetan buddhist studies, and the kf award for excellence in buddhist studies for 3 years. | $94,807 |
| Light of Buddhadarma Foundation Intl Berkeley, CA | Usa - years 1 and 2 ($25,000/year) of 3 year grant to support the dharma training wheel, a program to reach out to buddhist communities around major sites of pilgrimage outside of bodhgaya and hold annual programs to revive the buddhadharma in the land of aryadesa. | $50,000 |
| Naropa University Boulder, CO | Usa - 1st year of a 2 year grant to support completing the chogyam trungpa digital library:no talk left behind. Phase one: the general collection. | $50,000 |
| The Trustees of Columbia University Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF) New York, NY | Usa - year 1 of 6 year grant to support classical tibetan instructor support for columbia university | $50,000 |
| University of Washington Seattle, WA | Usa - year 1 of 3 year grant to support a graduate fellowship for master's students working towards an ma in buddhist studies at the university of washington. | $30,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Khyentse Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $52,606,967 | $5,448,061 | $7,256,899 | $1,657,610 | 20 | $2,060,491 |
| 2024 | $51,581,005 | $8,759,186 | $8,298,599 | $1,690,149 | 11 | $1,867,446 |
| 2023 | $46,401,387 | $4,236,614 | $7,599,632 | $1,800,718 | 22 | $1,986,918 |
| 2022 | $48,468,286 | $4,055,903 | $9,009,453 | $1,605,934 | 23 | $1,349,668 |
| 2021 | $60,349,679 | $7,362,261 | $6,606,869 | $2,586,178 | 22 | $2,583,816 |
| 2020 | $55,029,266 | $10,383,807 | $5,566,740 | $2,119,851 | 19 | $1,343,197 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to preserve and share the Buddha’s wisdom. Its filing describes support for preserving Buddhist texts, education initiatives based on Buddhist principles, academic development, translation, scholarships, monastic colleges, and revitalizing Buddhist heritage. Its website describes eight core activities: academia, education for children, monastics, practitioner support, teacher training, text preservation, tradition and legacy, and translation.
The foundation supports both institutions and individuals through its programs. Examples of grantees’ work include Middle Way Education’s curriculum development and teacher training for bringing traditional Buddhist wisdom into modern education; Naropa University’s education focused on learning, compassionate service, and personal development; and The Treasury of Lives’ biographical encyclopedia of figures from Tibet, Inner Asia, and the Himalayan region.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $1,657,610. Grants ranged from $8,000 to $699,000, with a median grant of $27,500. The largest grants included $699,000 to Middle Way School for a 2024–25 operating grant; $220,928 to Buddhist Digital Resource Center for a Zen Peacemaker Fellowship grant; and $115,595 to Head of the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center for the first year of a three-year grant supporting educational programs and partnerships for Buddhist monastics.
Other 2025 awards included $107,616 to Rangjung Yeshe Institute Foundation for a joint scholarship grant; $95,000 to Middle Way Education for Buddhist education curriculum design and distribution; and $94,807 to Yale University for support of a postdoctoral associate in Tibetan Buddhist studies and an award for excellence in Buddhist studies. Additional recipients included Naropa University, Columbia University, the University of Washington, Northwestern University, and the University of Arizona Foundation.
The foundation’s grants and scholarships page states that, as of March 2026, it was not accepting applications for Buddhist Studies Scholarships, PhD Scholarships, Ashoka Grants, Trisong Grants, and Individual Practice Grants while it reevaluated these programs. Separately, program information lists a PhD dissertation award and PhD and Buddhist Studies scholarships as open. Because these listings differ, applicants should verify a program’s current status before applying.
For Academic Development Grants, the foundation’s website describes a two-step process: submit an Indication of Interest form during the application window and, if approved, submit a grant application. Applications must come from universities or academic institutions. Eligible proposals include programs strengthening academic Buddhist study and research, outreach, and collaboration with institutional or other sponsors. The program excludes applications from individuals, conference support, building and construction projects, and indirect or administrative costs.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Lynn Hoberg as executive director and Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche as chairperson. Board members listed are Angie Tsai, Anita Lee, Asha Pillai-Balsara, Carolyn Yeh, Christine Ng, Isabel Pedrosa, Kris Yao, and Sean Cheang.
Khyentse Foundation is led by Lynn Hoberg, Executive Director since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Lynn Hoberg
Executive Director
Boardmember → Executive Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$30K (2020) → $0 (2025)
Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche
Chairperson
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Isabel Pedrosa
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
15 hrs/week
$43K (2020) → $48K (2025)
Stephanie Suter
Secretary
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$46K (2024) → $48K (2025)
Thomas Swindell
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$60K (2024) → $60K (2025)
Angie Tsai
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Anita Lee
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Asha Pillai-Balsara
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cangioli Che
Boardmember
Executive Director → Boardmember, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Yeh
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christine Ng
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Drubgyad Tenzin Rinpoche
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kris Yao
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard Chang
Boardmember
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sean Cheang
Boardmember
On filings since 2024
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sonam Choden
Boardmember
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tashi Chozom
Boardmember
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Lisa Davidson (2020–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Marc Noailles (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Anja Hartmann (2020–2021) — Boardmember
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 $60K, to Thomas Swindell (Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Khyentse Foundation
How much does Khyentse Foundation give each year?
Khyentse Foundation gave $1.7M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.7M across 11 grants.
What is Khyentse Foundation's typical grant size?
Khyentse Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $27,500, and its average grant was $82,881, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Khyentse Foundation that year got $31K on average.
Where does Khyentse Foundation give grants?
Khyentse Foundation gives mostly in New York: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (20%) and California (12%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (3 grants), Berkeley, CA (2 grants), Boulder, CO (2 grants) and Evanston, IL (2 grants).
Does Khyentse Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 10% of Khyentse Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Khyentse Foundation's largest grantees?
Khyentse Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Middle Way School ($699,000), Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC) ($220,928) and Head of the Tibetan Nyingma Meditation Center (Sarnath International Nyingm ($115,595), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 2 individual scholarships ($122,060), which are not listed by name. Together they received 62% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Khyentse Foundation?
Khyentse Foundation reported $52.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.4M.
What does Khyentse Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to preserve and share the Buddha’s wisdom. Its filing describes support for preserving Buddhist texts, education initiatives based on Buddhist principles, academic development, translation, scholarships, monastic colleges, and revitalizing Buddhist heritage. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Khyentse Foundation?
Khyentse Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check khyentsefoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Khyentse Foundation's EIN?
Khyentse Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-2167303. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 9, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Khyentse Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Princeton, NJ
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funds efforts to improve health and health equity in the United States, including systems change addressing structural barriers to health. In 2024, its grants ranged from $125 to $12.15 million, with a median of $40,000. It typically funds through targeted programs and partnerships; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$13.4B
Grants
3,093
Total Given
$622.6M
Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
San Diego, CA
The Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego supports charitable, educational, and religious organizations, with grants spanning Jewish community life, research, civil rights, health care, arts, and community services. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely; two-thirds of its grants since founding have gone to San Diego organizations, with others mainly elsewhere in the U.S. and Israel. Some listed opportunities accept applications from eligible nonprofits, but the profile does not state whether the Foundation accepts unsolicited requests generally.
Assets
$862.3M
Grants
774
Total Given
$148.1M
Ernst & Young Foundation
New York, NY
Ernst & Young Foundation supports higher education through employee and partner matching gifts, as well as educational and special-project grants, including research, education forums, and programs that expand educational opportunity. In 2025, it made 637 grants ranging from $5,056 to $316,005, with a median of $13,525, to recipients across multiple states; the largest shares went to New York, Texas, California, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$47.6M
Grants
637
Total Given
$16.7M
KPMG US Foundation Inc
Montvale, NJ
KPMG US Foundation supports education, mental health, community vitality, and community relief and resilience, with grants distributed across the United States. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts ranged from about $5,000 to $2.2 million. The available information does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$12.4M
Grants
387
Total Given
$33.5M
Deloitte Foundation
Stamford, CT
The Deloitte Foundation funds U.S. education initiatives, including scholarships, curriculum and faculty support, mentoring, and grants to education nonprofits and universities, particularly through local programs in about 30 selected locations. Its 2025 grants had a median of $50,000, and it does not accept unsolicited requests for its Local Impact Grant Program.
Assets
$51.4M
Grants
121
Total Given
$32.5M
The Henry Luce Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The Henry Luce Foundation supports U.S. nonprofits and international equivalents working in education, research, knowledge-sharing, and leadership, with programs focused on American art, Asia, democracy and civic life, Indigenous knowledge, and religion and theology. Its 2024 grants ranged from $75 to $1.25 million, with a median of $50,000; it accepts inquiries and proposals through an online portal, beginning with a concept note.
Assets
$1.1B
Grants
652
Total Given
$49.3M
More similar funders
More Funders in California
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Khyentse Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/khyentse-foundation-morg_2089db12545c4bf1afe502a6246bd2eb
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_912167303_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Khyentse Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/khyentse-foundation-morg_2089db12545c4bf1afe502a6246bd2eb},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Khyentse Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Khyentse Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?