Pema Chodron Foundation
The Pema Chodron Foundation is a public charity based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Founded in 2006, it supports Buddhist monastic and contemplative programs as well as community-based organizations serving marginalized populations, and seeks to build an endowment to sustain this work.
Pema Chodron Foundation at a glance
In short: Pema Chodron Foundation gave $1.1M across 21 grants in 2024 (avg $50K), mostly in Colorado. 20% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,059,431
- +47.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 21
- +5.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $50,449
- +40.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $6,258,878
- -3.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (4 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Colorado (74% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Pema Chodron Foundation
- Contact
Mailing address: P O Box 770630, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477
Website: https://pemachodronfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Pema Chodron Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Drala Mountain Center ($375K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $931K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
96 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 96 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing describes grants in North America and South Asia. By recipient state, 2024 grant dollars were distributed as follows: Colorado, 74%; Washington, 7%; California, 6%; New York, 6%; and Utah, 2%. The Foundation also describes support for Gampo Abbey, a monastery in Nova Scotia, Canada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Pema Chodron Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 20 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $25K; repeat grants $60K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $18K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $718K (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 21 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Drala Mountain Center Red Feather, CO | Operational support for retreat ctr | $300,000 |
| Mangala Shri Bhuti Boulder, CO | Support for church | $200,000 |
| Tsoknyi Nuns Crestone, CO | Support nuns & their education | $110,000 |
| Drala Mountain Center Red Feather, CO | Young Adult Retreats | $75,392 |
| Home Boy Industries Los Angeles, CA | Retraining for problem youth | $50,000 |
| Sravasti Abbey Newport, WA | Monastic support | $50,000 |
| Konchok Foundation Boulder, CO | Monastic support | $49,629 |
| Malezi School Tivoli, NY | Support Kenyan school | $36,100 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $25,000 |
| Berkana Institute Provo, UT | Community engagement & leadership | $20,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $6,258,878 | $1,095,135 | $1,858,176 | $1,059,431 | 21 | $160,043 |
| 2023 | $6,457,287 | $771,441 | $1,328,676 | $718,192 | 20 | $146,672 |
| 2022 | $6,433,667 | $1,038,159 | $1,668,827 | $956,850 | 16 | $156,919 |
| 2021 | $8,183,827 | $1,930,179 | $1,271,561 | $781,800 | 19 | $154,596 |
| 2020 | $6,773,188 | $994,404 | $1,384,842 | $889,200 | 20 | $147,817 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support Buddhist monasticism and the Buddhist tradition worldwide, and to assist community-based organizations serving marginalized populations, including distressed families, abused individuals, incarcerated people, and people with drug addiction. It also aims to create and support a permanent endowment for these activities.
Its reported grantmaking includes support for monasteries, monastics, meditation centers, and scholarships for education; health programs; youth rehabilitation and training; meditation books for prisoners and underserved people; and translation and archiving of Buddhist teachings.
Examples of grantees’ work, as described by those organizations, include the Tibetan Nuns Project’s education and leadership support for Tibetan Buddhist nuns; Homeboy Industries’ training and support for formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people; Malezi School’s affordable education in Nairobi; and the Berkana Institute’s work with communities and their existing resources.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Foundation reported 21 grants totaling $1,059,431. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $300,000, with a median of $20,000.
The largest reported grants included $300,000 to Drala Mountain Center for operational support, $200,000 to Mangala Shri Bhuti for church support, and $110,000 to Tsoknyi Nuns for support of nuns and their education. Other grants included $75,392 to Drala Mountain Center for young adult retreats, $50,000 to Homeboy Industries for retraining for at-risk youth, and $50,000 to Sravasti Abbey for monastic support.
The Foundation says it monitors grant activities through visits and ongoing updates, and requires grantees to submit annual financial reports and progress reports. It states that foreign recipient organizations must have a history of successful operations to be considered for support. Its website also accepts organizational requests for free books through the Book Initiative; this is a book-distribution program, not a grant application.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Pema Chodron as Chairman, Timothy Olmsted as President, Marjorie Rodgers as Vice President, Martha Kirkman as Secretary, Cathryn Mayer as Treasurer, Glenna Olmsted as Foundation Manager, and Arvo Fallon as Director.
Pema Chodron Foundation is led by Timothy Olmsted, President on every filing since 2020; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Timothy Olmsted
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$17K (2020) → $17K (2024)
Pema Chodron
Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$2K (2022) → $5K (2024)
Arvo Fallon
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $11K (2024)
Cathryn Mayer
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $7K (2024)
Glenna Olmsted
Foundation Manager
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $41K (2024)
Marjorie Rodgers
Vice President
On filings since 2020
14 hrs/week
$11K (2020) → $16K (2024)
Martha Kirkman
Secretary
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$26K (2020) → $26K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $41K, to Glenna Olmsted (Foundation Mgr.). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Pema Chodron Foundation
How much does Pema Chodron Foundation give each year?
Pema Chodron Foundation gave $1.1M across 21 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $718K across 20 grants.
What is Pema Chodron Foundation's typical grant size?
Pema Chodron Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $50,449, across 21 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Pema Chodron Foundation that year got $25K on average.
Where does Pema Chodron Foundation give grants?
Pema Chodron Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest states were Washington (7%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boulder, CO (3 grants) and Red Feather, CO (2 grants).
Does Pema Chodron Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 5% of Pema Chodron Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990. Recurring purposes include "Monastic support" (3 grants).
Who are Pema Chodron Foundation's largest grantees?
Pema Chodron Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Drala Mountain Center ($375,392 across 2 grants), Mangala Shri Bhuti ($200,000) and Tsoknyi Nuns ($110,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($25,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Pema Chodron Foundation?
Pema Chodron Foundation reported $6.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.1M.
What does Pema Chodron Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s stated mission is to support Buddhist monasticism and the Buddhist tradition worldwide, and to assist community-based organizations serving marginalized populations, including distressed families, abused individuals, incarcerated people, and people with drug addiction. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Pema Chodron Foundation?
Pema Chodron Foundation has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check pemachodronfoundation.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Pema Chodron Foundation's EIN?
Pema Chodron Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5958865. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS September 28, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 10, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Pema Chodron Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/pema-chodron-foundation-morg_f3f16e4e3e824386b06a146813bd4d7b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_205958865_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Pema Chodron Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/pema-chodron-foundation-morg_f3f16e4e3e824386b06a146813bd4d7b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Pema Chodron 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.
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