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Khyentse Foundation: Academic Development Grant

Khyentse Foundation

Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Other requirements

  • Applications for programs to strengthen academic Buddhist study and research are welcome.

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: In applying for an Academic Development Grant, please consider the following:Applications from universities and academic institutions are welcome; applications from individuals will not be considered.
  • Not eligible: Support for organizing or participating in conferences will not be considered.
  • Not eligible: Building and construction projects will not be considered.
  • Not eligible: Indirect costs, overhead, and other administrative costs will not be supported.

Overview

The Khyentse Foundation's Academic Development Grant aims to enhance the quality of Buddhist studies at academic institutions worldwide. By supporting scholarly excellence in Buddhist teaching and research, the foundation seeks to inspire both students and educators. This grant encourages applications from universities to strengthen academic Buddhist programs while fostering collaboration and outreach within communities. Notably, individual applications are not accepted, ensuring a focus on institutional development in Buddhist scholarship.

Primarily a funding institution, our mostly volunteer foundation is constantly growing and evolving, shaped by the needs and circumstances of the world and those who seek our support.
Grant Philosophy
Supporting Buddhist Study and practice is at the heart of Khyentse Foundation’s mission, and our grants and scholarships programs are the way we connect with you and learn about your work. There are a number of ways to apply, and we support a wide range of dharma studies, practice, and activities.
Our applicants are Buddhist teachers, students, scholars, educators, translators, practitioners, and retreatants. Each application is reviewed by international review committees, appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.
Are you seeking financial assistance for a Buddhist studies program? To complete work on a translation project? To take time for retreat? To start a Buddhist education program for children? For a grassroots effort in India or Nepal? Or do you have your own ideas about how to bring the dharma to the world? Consider applying for one of our grants or scholarships.
The objective of Academic Development Grants is to help make sure that authentic Buddhist studies are conducted at the highest level of academic excellence. Such scholarly distinction, which once existed only in Asian monasteries and dharma centers, is flourishing today at major universities around the world. To inspire students and faculty alike, Buddhist study and research programs at the university and graduate levels require teachers and scholars who are knowledgeable about the Buddha’s teachings and grounded in Buddhist traditions, and who have the open-mindedness to debate the role of Buddhism in the world today.
Funding
The amount of the grants varies depending on the project.

Eligibility

In applying for an Academic Development Grant, please consider the following:Applications from universities and academic institutions are welcome; applications from individuals will not be considered.Applications for programs to strengthen academic Buddhist study and research are welcome.

Ineligibility

Support for organizing or participating in conferences will not be considered.
Building and construction projects will not be considered.
Indirect costs, overhead, and other administrative costs will not be supported.

What Khyentse Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
20
Total given
$1.66M
Median grant
$28K
Range
$8,000–$699K
  • By dollars: New York 52%, Massachusetts 20%, California 12%. Top recipient cities: New York, NY; Berkeley, CA; Boulder, CO.
  • 5% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 33% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Middle Way School · Saugerties, NY

    Usa - 2024/25 operating grant

    $699K

  • Buddhist Digital Resource Center (BDRC) · Cambridge, MA

    Usa - zen peacemaker fellowship grant

    $221K

  • 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…

    $116K

  • Middle Way Education · Woodstock, NY

    Usa - grant to support mwes buddhist education curriculum framework design and…

    $95K

  • Yale University · New Haven, CT

    Usa - year 2 of 4 year grant to support a khyentse postdoctoral associate in tibetan…

    $95K

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Humanities
  • Education

Categories

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