Trust for the Meditation Process
The Trust for the Meditation Process is a private foundation based in Edina, Minnesota. It makes grants to nonprofit organizations for meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer projects, with an emphasis on small grants for short-term projects with identifiable outcomes.
Trust for the Meditation Process at a glance
In short: Trust for the Meditation Process gave $277K across 33 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), top state District of Columbia. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $277,468
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 33
- +32.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,408
- -18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $7,407,461
- +82.7% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (17% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Trust for the Meditation Process
- How to Apply
-
Begin by reviewing the Trust’s programs and guidelines, then submit an inquiry form; inquiries are accepted at any time. Applicants whose projects fit the programs and guidelines can proceed with a complete application. Materials include a brief cover letter; a project description, audience, meditation approach, presenter qualifications, intended outcomes, evaluation plan, and timeline; project and organizational budgets; the organization’s tax-exempt determination letter; director names and affiliations; and its most recent financial statement. Applications should describe direct project costs. The Trust says international grants, endowment and capital-campaign grants, and general operating support are very rare, and it does not fund annual fundraising or membership appeals.
- Review Cycle
- No application deadline is stated. The Trust says awards are announced in mid-August.
- Deadline
- No application deadline is stated.
- Contact
Application contact: M Bolinger Trust For Meditation Pro
Mailing address: 2801 Hennepin Ave S 259, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Phone: (612) 554-7253
Email: martha@trustformeditation.org
Website: https://trustformeditation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Trust for the Meditation Process
Who Trust for the Meditation Process funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Georgetown University ($26K). Together the top 10 received $163K.
Grant Size Distribution
61 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 61 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust generally limits grants to the United States; international grants are very rare. Its 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in multiple states and Washington, DC. The largest reported state shares were DC (17%), Massachusetts (16%), Texas (9%), and Georgia (6%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 33 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Trust for the Meditation Process gives
- 30% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+11%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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 $239K (2020) to $277K (2024). In 2024 it made 33 grants totaling $277K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University Washington, DC | Various | $26,000 |
| BIPOC Centering Prayer Retreat Group Fresno, TX | Various | $25,500 |
| World Community for Christian Meditation Intl | Various | $25,000 |
| Contemplate Lincoln Lincoln, NE | Various | $15,680 |
| Contemplative Outreach West Hartford, NJ | Various | $15,000 |
| Laudato Si Movement Washington, DC | Various | $15,000 |
| Georgia State University School of Public Health Urban Life Atlanta, GA | Various | $12,989 |
| Inner Explorer Franklin, MA | Various | $10,000 |
| Whole School Mindfulness Wrentham, MA | Various | $10,000 |
| Inward Bound Mindfulness Education Concord, MA | Various | $8,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $7,407,461 | $3,728,169 | $375,522 | $277,468 | 33 | $347,694 | $293,968 | $268,083 |
| 2023 | $4,054,814 | $218,447 | $340,857 | $256,312 | 25 | $313,167 | $190,757 | $224,212 |
| 2022 | $4,177,224 | $277,572 | $351,276 | $273,283 | 1 | $321,163 | $247,459 | $236,320 |
| 2021 | $4,250,928 | $275,322 | $333,407 | $250,449 | 1 | $299,273 | $241,188 | $269,570 |
| 2020 | $4,309,013 | $138,449 | $325,699 | $239,335 | 1 | — | $108,551 | $239,050 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Trust for the Meditation Process reported a distributable amount of $268K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s mission is to encourage meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer. It makes grants in two areas: Contemplative Christianity and mindfulness. Its guidelines favor silent, non-discursive meditation; awards for other forms of meditation are described as exceptionally rare.
Eligible project types include courses, workshops, lectures, retreats, teacher development, curriculum development, program materials, efforts to expand access, meditation research, relevant publications, and East/West meditation dialogue. The Trust prioritizes projects with a defined audience, strong teaching, clear outcomes, and potential to reach underserved groups. It funds direct project costs, not indirect overhead.
Its grantees include organizations whose own missions address contemplative practice, education, and community well-being. For example, Contemplative Outreach says it seeks to renew the contemplative dimension of the Gospel in everyday life, primarily for lay people. Inward Bound Mindfulness Education says it provides in-depth mindfulness programming for youth and the parents and professionals who support them. Space Between says it helps school communities integrate mindfulness practices to support mental health, well-being, and social-emotional development.
Grantmaking
The Trust says it makes 20 to 40 grants annually. Initial awards are typically $3,000 to $5,000; its current program information lists an award range of $3,000 to $5,000. In 2024, it made 33 grants totaling $277,468. Those grants ranged from $2,362 to $26,000, with a median of $5,000.
Among its larger 2024 grants were $26,000 to Georgetown University, $25,500 to BIPOC Centering Prayer Retreat Group, $25,000 to World Community for Christian Meditation Intl, $15,680 to Contemplate Lincoln, and $15,000 each to Contemplative Outreach and Laudato Si Movement.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Donelle Polling, Martha Bolinger, Paul Taylor, Deborah Chernick, Michael Lilja, Anthony Nelson Coffee, Thomas J Bushlack, Adam Gordon, and Greg Sichender as officers or directors. Their listed roles include trustee, director, investment committee chair, trust chair and investment committee member, and trustee convenor.
Trust for the Meditation Process is led by Deborah Chernick, Investment Committee Chair since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Deborah Chernick
Investment Committee Chair
Trustee → Investment Committee Chair, 2021
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Michael Lilja
Trust Chair Inv Com Member
Trust Chair & Inv Committee Member → Trust Chair, 2023
Trust Chair → Trust Chair Inv Com Member, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Martha Bolinger
Director
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$46K (2020) → $53K (2024)
Anthony Nelson Coffee
Trustee Convenor
Trust Convenor → Trustee, 2023
Trustee → Trustee Convenor, 2024
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Paul Taylor
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Donelle Polling
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Thomas J. Bushlack PhD
Trustee
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Adam Gordon
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Greg Sicheneder
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: Helen Welter (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Carole Baker (2020) — Chair
- Former: Thomas J. Bushlack Ph D. (2020) — Trustee
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 $53K, to Martha Bolinger (Director).
Frequently asked questions about Trust for the Meditation Process
How much does Trust for the Meditation Process give each year?
Trust for the Meditation Process gave $277K across 33 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $256K across 25 grants.
What is Trust for the Meditation Process's typical grant size?
Trust for the Meditation Process's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,408, across 33 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Trust for the Meditation Process give grants?
Trust for the Meditation Process's top state is District of Columbia, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (16%) and Texas (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (3 grants) and Atlanta, GA (2 grants).
Does Trust for the Meditation Process give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 33 grants with a stated purpose on Trust for the Meditation Process's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Various" (33 grants).
Who are Trust for the Meditation Process's largest grantees?
Trust for the Meditation Process's largest 2024 grantees include Georgetown University ($26,000), BIPOC Centering Prayer Retreat Group ($25,500) and World Community for Christian Meditation Intl ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 28% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Trust for the Meditation Process?
Trust for the Meditation Process reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $348K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $268K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Trust for the Meditation Process fund?
The Trust’s mission is to encourage meditation, mindfulness, and contemplative prayer. It makes grants in two areas: Contemplative Christianity and mindfulness. Its guidelines favor silent, non-discursive meditation; awards for other forms of meditation are described as exceptionally rare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Trust for the Meditation Process?
Begin by reviewing the Trust’s programs and guidelines, then submit an inquiry form; inquiries are accepted at any time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Trust for the Meditation Process's EIN?
Trust for the Meditation Process's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6286503. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 11, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 3, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Trust for the Meditation Process's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Trust for the Meditation Process funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/trust-for-the-meditation-process-morg_7ce54c886528428fb57b39b0be642c47
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_416286503_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Trust for the Meditation Process funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/trust-for-the-meditation-process-morg_7ce54c886528428fb57b39b0be642c47},
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 Trust for the Meditation Process'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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