Tsadra Foundation is a privately funded nonprofit trust established in New York City in 2000. Based at 70A Greenwich Avenue in New York, NY, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) private grantmaking foundation dedicated to advancing the combined study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism in the Western world.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.1M
+153.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
-0.6% YoY
Grant Count
65
-4.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
+4.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Tsadra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Tsadra Foundation envisions a flourishing community of Western scholar-practitioners who are fully trained in the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Grounded in wisdom and compassion, the foundation aims to contribute to the ongoing development of wisdom and compassion in Western minds by advancing the combined study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism.
The foundation operates through four primary program areas:
- Contemplation Program: Supports training for individuals in both solitary and group retreat, utilizing traditional Buddhist contemplative and meditative techniques
- Translation Program: Transmits Buddhist wisdom through translations of important Buddhist texts and commentaries
- Buddhist Higher Education Program: Funds in-depth study of Buddhist philosophy for proficient Western Buddhists
- Publication Program: Supports the publication of Buddhist materials
The foundation also administers scholarship initiatives including Advanced Studies Scholarships and Advanced Contemplative Scholarships for qualified individuals committed to the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism.
Grantmaking
Tsadra Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis.
Grant Range
$38,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in New York, California, and Massachusetts, with some international activity related to Tibetan Buddhist institutions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent (2024):
- Revenue: $3,476,404
- Expenses: $2,846,550
- Total Assets: $1.06 million
- Total Liabilities: $13,000
2023:
- Total Assets: $419,075
- Total Revenues: $2,800,695
- Total Expenses: $3,045,269
2022:
- Total Assets: $663,000
The foundation maintains a giving rate exceeding 100% of assets, indicating it distributes more annually than its asset base.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,060,731 | $419,075 | $663,424 |
| Revenue | $3,476,404 | $2,800,695 | $701,150 |
| Expenses | $2,846,555 | $3,045,269 | $2,925,282 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,841,770 | $3,041,084 | $2,922,086 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,371 | $1,369 | $934 |
| Distributable Amount | $30,647 | $27,004 | $74,340 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Karma Phuntsho ($90,000), Simon Houlton ($65,000), Art Engle ($65,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tamphel Konchok | Research | $49,973 |
| Karen Portaluppi | Advanced Studies Scholarship Recipient | $7,700 |
| David Higgins | Translating Buddhist Texts | $60,390 |
| Jonathan Webb | Contemplative Scholarship recipient - retreat | $3,000 |
| Thomas Enns | Contemplative Scholarship recipient - retreat | $6,000 |
| Sree Sukumar | Contemplative Scholarship recipient - retreat | $3,600 |
| Andres Cristian Reid Macho | Advanced Studies Scholarship Recipient | $7,700 |
| Christian Charrier | Translating Buddhist Texts | $50,025 |
| Stephen Gethin | Translating Buddhist Texts | $16,726 |
| Patrick Carre | Translating Buddhist Texts | $36,956 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Eric Colombel serves as founder and president of Tsadra Foundation, overseeing the foundation's strategic direction and evolution.
Marcus Perman serves as Executive Director.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC COLOMBEL | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Tsadra Foundation fund?
Tsadra Foundation envisions a flourishing community of Western scholar-practitioners who are fully trained in the traditions of Tibetan Buddhism. Grounded in wisdom and compassion, the foundation aims to contribute to the ongoing development of wisdom and compassion in Western minds by advancing the combined study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism. The foundation operates through four primary program areas: • **Contemplation Program**: Supports training for individuals in both solitary and group…
How do I apply for a grant from Tsadra Foundation?
Tsadra Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications and operates on an invite-only basis. **Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $1,030,211 • Number of grants: 25 • Median grant size: $38,000 • Grant range: $10,000–$90,000 **Grant Activity (2022):** • Total giving: $1.1 million • Number of grants: 29 • Median grant size: $38,000 Recent grantees have included Wisdom Publications, which received $85,000 for institutional development in 2023.
Where does Tsadra Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations and individuals in New York, California, and Massachusetts, with some international activity related to Tibetan Buddhist institutions.
What size grants does Tsadra Foundation award?
In 2024, Tsadra Foundation awarded 65 grants totaling $1.4M — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Tsadra Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Tsadra Foundation reported a distributable amount of $31K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Tsadra Foundation's EIN?
Tsadra Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-7224970. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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