With the creation of an endowment, you have the chance to build a strong foundation – now and for the future – for the Tibetan nuns living in exile in northern India. Depending on your specific interest, contribution to the Tibetan Nuns Project endowment, which provides funds in perpetuity, can be focused or wide-ranging. An endowment is a permanent fund of support for the purpose you specify.
For current and future ordained Tibetan women, whose life path is dedicated to their studies, to Buddha’s teachings, and to becoming teachers and leaders in their communities, an endowment makes a secure future possible – long after the current teachers, staff, and supporters have passed.
No matter what the future of Tibet holds in relationship to the Tibetans’ return to their homeland, these courageous women will continue their commitment to the monastic life and to preserving their culture and spiritual traditions.
Nun’s Comprehensive Study Program Fund
This fund supports a nun’s complete education, supporting her through her entire course of study. This includes her living, medical and all educational expenses.
Supplemental Programs Fund
There are a number of essential elements to the nuns’ education that falls outside the “normal” course of study. These include Jang Gonchoe, the month-long debating session once only available to monks, and teachers’ salaries for nunneries in remote areas that are starting study programs.
Unrestricted Program Fund
This fund will support programs and projects necessary to support the overall mission of the organization and will be applied wherever needs are the greatest.
Types of Endowments
The Tibetan Nuns Project has established a variety of endowment types with distinct purposes. The amounts listed below show full endowment funding levels. Minimum funding level is $5,000 per fund. Endowment figures are based on a 5% return on investment (principal) to meet annual needs with a 3% allowance for inflation.
Nuns Comprehensive Study Program Fund – Dolma Ling Nunnery
An endowment for a Dolma Ling nun will support a nun through a full course of study that includes both traditional Buddhist philosophy and debate along with modern courses in Tibetan language, English, mathematics, computer skills, and basic medical training. The nuns also receive training in the ritual arts such as sand mandala and butter sculpture. Dolma Ling is unique in that it is the first institute of its kind dedicated to higher Buddhist studies for ordained women, supporting all Tibetan Buddhist traditions – Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug. Nuns who complete their studies often take teaching training courses and serve as educators in the nunneries and throughout the Tibetan exile community.
Nuns Comprehensive Study Program Fund – Shugsep Nunnery
An endowment for a Shugsep nun will support a nun through a full course of study that includes Buddhist philosophy, debate, Tibetan language and English. Shugsep nuns follow the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and have a rich history of illustrious female practitioners in Tibet. Shugsep nuns’ special practice is the Chod ritual which focuses on severing worldly attachments by imagining one satisfying the needs of all living beings by offering up oneself. Nuns who have completed their academic careers are now doing administrative work for the nunnery and devoting themselves to learning English and the ritual arts.
Supplemental Programs Fund
Teacher Salaries An endowment to support 10 teachers’ salaries for remote nunneries that are starting education programs for their nuns and for additional teachers as needed.
Jang Gonchoe An endowment for Jang Gonchoe would support the annual participation of 150 nuns from multiple nunneries to attend the month-long debating session. This includes transportation, housing and food costs. Mastery of debate is essential for the nuns’ education and necessary for them to become leaders and teachers in the Buddhist tradition.
Unrestricted Program Fund
This endowment program will allow the Tibetan Nuns Project to expand and improve educational and self-sufficiency programs, update and increase educational and source materials for existing nunneries. In addition it would assist with special training programs and conferences and develop new programs. In addition, it would supply funds wherever the need is greatest.
Endowment Funds Contributions
The recommended minimum gift for a Tibetan Nuns Project Endowment Fund is $5,000
Gifts of Cash Contributions to the Tibetan Nuns Project Endowment Funds may be made by check payable to the Tibetan Nuns Project (please indicate specific fund or funds) and mailed to the address below:
Tibetan Nuns Project 619 Western Avenue #22 Seattle, WA 98104
Gifts of Securities Donating appreciated securities to the Tibetan Nuns Project is easy. If your securities are held “in street name” with your broker, you can send your broker a letter of authorization to transfer (not sell) shares of specific stock(s) to the Tibetan Nuns Project main brokerage account.
Your instructions should specify your account number, the date by which you wish to complete the gift transfer, the name and number of shares you would like to donate and the purpose of your gift (e.g. Unrestricted Use Fund, etc.,), and provide the following transfer information:
UBS
DTC 0221
Tibetan Nuns Project
Acct. #SG44287C2
Contact: Bruce McPherson, 925-746-0273
Bequest Gifts Bequest gifts can transform the lives of the nuns and help further the mission of the Tibetan Nuns Project. A bequest gift can be a specific dollar amount or a percentage or the entire “residue” of your property. Ask your lawyer to include a provision in your Will to make a gift to the Tibetan Nuns Project Endowment Funds (please specify the type of Fund). We suggest the following language for your Will:
“I [name] of [city, state] give, devise, and bequeath to the Tibetan Nuns Project, a not-for-profit organization (tax ID #68-0327175), [specific amount, percentage of estate, or property description] for [purpose].”
Beneficiary Designation for Life Insurance or Retirement Assets You can name the Tibetan Nuns Project as the beneficiary of a portion or all of a life insurance policy, retirement plan, or IRA, and designate your gift to support any of the Tibetan Nuns Project Endowment Funds. Such a gift may allow you to provide a larger contribution than you may otherwise feel capable of making at any given time.
If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 206-652-8901 or email us at info@tnp.org.
Gifts to the Tibetan Nuns Project are tax deductible in the United States.