Buddhist Charities

[offthecourt]

I've been thinking about donating money to a Buddhist charity, something I've never done before. I know there are less than desirable groups out there that suck up money without doing much, so I don't want to just choose one at random. Can anyone suggest a worthwhile organization that really helps people?

[namoh]

the Tzu Chi Foundation, without question... www.tzuchi.org

[Tilopa]

I've been thinking about donating money to a Buddhist charity, something I've never done before. I know there are less than desirable groups out there that suck up money without doing much, so I don't want to just choose one at random. Can anyone suggest a worthwhile organization that really helps people?

Lots of options here: www.fpmt.org/projects/fpmt.html

[Mr. G]

http://www.shangshung.org/home/support-us/donations/

The mission of the Shang Shung Institute is to deepen the knowledge and the understanding of the Tibetan cultural traditions in its religious, historical, philosophical, artistic, medical, and social aspects in order to contribute to the survival and preservation of this culture. Its purpose is to encourage cooperation among interested groups and individuals, thus keeping alive the essential values of these traditions.

[plwk]

the Tzu Chi Foundation, without question... http://www.tzuchi.org

Amen

[justsit]

Bodhi Seeds dedicates its resources to the support of monastics, students, and the elderly in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. A free health clinic was recently opened in Sikkim.

Pundarika Foundation supports the spiritual and humanitarian activities of Tsoknyi Rinpoche, including care for the Nangchen Nuns.

Both do wonderful work and will happily offer prayers for donors.

[Jikan]

Some good choices:

http://www.dwls.org

http://www.mahakaruna.com

and of course your local temple can put a donation to good use... this one can: www.tendai.org

[Zenda]

http://www.lotusoutreach.org/ - Lotus Outreach is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring the education, health and safety of vulnerable women and children in the developing world. Originally established to support refugee education, Lotus Outreach now also helps rehabilitate survivors of human trafficking and keep at-risk students in school. We support this mission through effective grassroots projects, particularly among the rural poor.

http://khyentsefoundation.org/index.php - Khyentse Foundation is dedicated to promoting the Buddha’s teachings for the benefit of all through an effective system of patronage. The Foundation brings visionary thinking to the preservation and expansion of Buddhist education and practice across all lineages and traditions.

[David N. Snyder]

http://www.kiva.org/team/buddhists

Kiva.org is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of micro-finance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

It appears to follow the philosophy of "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life". The borrowers choose their own needs or industry to start or help their business and re-pay when they can, which allows lenders to then make new loans to other people.

[offthecourt]

I appreciate the help, guys!

[Josef]

zangdokpalri.org

[mañjughoṣamaṇi]

http://www.kiva.org/team/buddhists

Kiva.org is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of micro-finance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

It appears to follow the philosophy of "give a man a fish, feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life". The borrowers choose their own needs or industry to start or help their business and re-pay when they can, which allows lenders to then make new loans to other people.

I would do a little bit of due-diligence on any micro-loan organization I was thinking of offering money. I am not besmirching Kiva specifically, but there has been a troubling trend lately with these loans:

India's micro-finance suicide epidemic

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11997571

[Mr. G]

Publications for Free Distribution

We reprint simple and introductory Dhamma books in the local languages for free distribution. Topics are carefully selected on the criteria that they are relevant to all schools of Buddhism and present proper and easy understanding of the Dhamma. These books are distributed by our friends in the country to select population groups such as monks, NGOs, youth groups, village heads, community leaders, etc. (Read more).

Encouraging Dhamma scholarship

We contribute towards scholarship programs for monastics. This will support efforts to educate a new generation of Buddhist scholars which shall result in the sangha recovering its traditional role as teachers and leaders. We believe that the strength and resilience of Buddhist culture and society will to a large extent depend on the standards in the Buddhist sangha. We also contribute towards the cost of holding Dhamma and meditation camps and retreats organised by grass-roots initiatives (Read more).

Rebuilding infrastructure and community support

We contribute towards the building and repair of monasteries, schools and projects which run Dhamma education or community development programs with a focus on poor communities or which receive little public support..

http://dhammaaid.org/

[Will]

This small, efficient group aims at the Himalayan areas: http://www.gadenrelief.org/

[Mr. G]

zangdokpalri.org

Dear Friend, This doctrine of the great and precious secret oral tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism is as yet like a small butter lamp in a strong wind, and is consequently very weak. Such a state of affairs is unbearable for someone like myself. Even though I have now reached the end of my life, the responsibility has developed on me to build this new monastery and to establish new monks and nuns there. To benefit beings, it is my strong intention and desire that study and practice flourish in this region. From your side, too, I hope that you will have a strong motivation to aid this project, and to help as much as possible.

~ Kunzang Dechen Rinpoche, Tashi Choling Monastery

http://www.zangdokpalri.org/howtohelp.html