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TARA DHATU INC

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 990321886 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE X99 · Religion-Related · Micro (<$100K) · taradhatu.org
revenue
$98K
expenses
$80K
net assets
$119K
employees
0
volunteers
40
program ratio
30%
mission · from form 990

SPREAD TEACHINGS OF TIBETAN BUDDHIST DHARMA THROUGH SACRED DANCE MUSIC AND ART

profile · synthesized from sources

Tara Dhatu Inc. offers educational programs in meditation, dance, and spiritual development rooted in Tibetan Buddhist practices. The organization also engages in humanitarian outreach, supporting educational and community projects for vulnerable populations in various countries. It provides opportunities for individual spiritual growth and teacher training in the Tara Dances.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2021

what they reported doing

Program narrative the organization filed with the IRS. Ordered by program spending.

  1. #1 primary $5K
    SHORT TERM FUNDRAISING PROJECTS TO SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN OUTREACH EFFORTS AND EVENTS
  2. #2 $3K
    RETREATS AND PILGRIMAGES
named programs · 7 · from sources

what they call their work

Atisha School/Bright Nepal Support
Supports the Atisha Primary School in Kathmandu, Nepal, which provides education to children from a Tibetan refugee community, through donations and individual child sponsorships.
Daily Tara Dance Practice
Daily online Zoom meetings for practicing Tara Dance, meditation, and prayers, facilitated by various teachers.
Humanitarian Programs
Raises money for varied humanitarian projects globally, including supporting Tibetan nuns and children, impoverished families, earthquake survivors, and educational initiatives for children in need.
Scholarship Program
Provides financial assistance for young adults and others unable to afford Tara Retreats, online classes, or TDEP membership, often through work-trade opportunities.
Swayambhu Retreat House Project
A project to restore five houses on Manjushree Hill in Swayambu, Kathmandu, Nepal, to provide secluded retreat spaces for practitioners.
Tara Dhatu Educational Program (TDEP)
Offers courses in meditation, dance, music, and spiritual development dedicated to deepening understanding and practice of Tara, with options for individual spiritual growth or teacher training. Includes access to resources, mentorship, monthly meditations, and discounts.
Weekly Tara Circle Meetings
Weekly online Zoom meetings for practicing Tara Dance and meditation, including specific sessions in Spanish and a Medicine Buddha Healing Practice.
activities · 6 clusters

what they do

  • Tibetan Buddhist Meditation & Practice Community 6 activities
    • Facilitating Medicine Buddha healing practices
      TARA DHATU INC facilitates weekly Medicine Buddha healing practices, which include dancing, mantra, meditation, and prayers for individuals, and has maintained a daily Medicine Buddha practice since May 2020.
    • Facilitating community practice sessions
      TARA DHATU INC creates and supports a community of practitioners through weekly Zoom meetings for Medicine Buddha meditation and dance, daily practice sessions with the East Coast sangha, and weekly meetings in Santiago, Chile, often including specific Tara dance practices.
    • Facilitating regular practice sessions and community gatherings
      TARA DHATU INC facilitates daily, weekly, and monthly practice sessions and meetings, including Medicine Buddha meditations, Tara Dance circles, and global Zoom gatherings, fostering a community of practitioners.
    • Offering educational courses and workshops on Tara practices
      TARA DHATU INC provides educational courses and workshops in meditation, dance, music, and spiritual development focused on the practice of Tara, including specific workshops on the Mandala Dance of Tara and monthly methodical studies of Tara Dhatu Dharma.
    • Providing membership benefits and community building
      TARA DHATU INC offers members access to guided mentorship, meditation protocols, monthly full moon meditations, educational resources, and discounts, while also creating a community of practitioners through in-person and virtual meetings, retreats, and online platforms.
    • Providing membership benefits and resources
      The organization offers members access to guided mentorship, meditation protocols, monthly full moon meditations, educational resources, and discounts on retreats and merchandise.
  • International Educational and Cultural Support Programs 5 activities
    • Offering scholarships for Tara practices
      The organization operates a scholarship fund to support student teachers in sharing the Mandala Dance of Tara and offers a work-trade scholarship program for young adults to attend Tara Retreats.
    • Supporting Tibetan communities and individuals
      The organization supports Tibetan children and nuns at Dolma Ling and Kachoe Gyakil Ling Nunneries, has supported Tibetan Children's Villages, and organized a dance tour in Australia that included Lamas performing Cham.
    • Supporting educational and humanitarian initiatives
      TARA DHATU INC supports various humanitarian efforts, including a scholarship fund for student teachers, a work-trade scholarship program for young adults, and financial aid for impoverished individuals and ecological schools in Brazil, as well as supporting Tibetan children and nuns and earthquake survivors in Nepal.
    • Supporting individuals and communities in need
      TARA DHATU INC has supported an impoverished mother in Brazil to train as a nurse's aide, provided support to an ecological school for impoverished children in Brazil, and raised funds for earthquake survivors in Nepal.
    • Supporting student teachers through scholarship funds
      TARA DHATU INC operates a scholarship fund to support student teachers in sharing the Mandala Dance of Tara with their communities, and offers a work-trade scholarship program for young adults to attend Tara Retreats.
  • Religious Retreat Space Development 4 activities
    • Commissioning and consecrating religious art
      The organization commissioned a Bhutanese artist to create statues of Green Tara, White Tara, and Vajrayogini, and will consecrate TaraLing Pirenópolis, Brazil as part of its TaraDhatu Monlam.
    • Restoring and developing retreat spaces
      The organization engages in projects to restore houses for use as retreat spaces in Nepal and is involved in building and land preparation for its Tara gatherings in Brazil, including commissioning statues for these spaces.
    • Restoring and developing retreat spaces
      The organization engaged in a project to restore five houses on Manjushree Hill in Swayambu, Kathmandu, Nepal for use as retreat spaces and is involved in building and land preparation for its Tara gathering in Brazil.
    • Restoring and developing retreat spaces
      The organization engages in projects to restore houses for use as retreat spaces in Nepal and is involved in building and land preparation for its gatherings in Brazil, including commissioning statues for these spaces.
  • Spiritual Teachings Publishing 2 activities
    • Disseminating educational resources
      TARA DHATU INC offers Prema's book "Dancing Tara, A Manual of Practice" for purchase and provides free streaming of the movie "Others Before Self" to share knowledge and inspire compassion.
    • Publishing and distributing educational materials
      TARA DHATU INC offers Prema's book "Dancing Tara, A Manual of Practice" for purchase and provides free streaming of the movie "Others Before Self."
  • Community Infrastructure and Basic Needs Support 1 activity
    • Providing financial and material support to communities in need
      The organization provides financial and material support to various communities, including an impoverished mother in Brazil, an ecological school in Bahia, survivors of the Nepal earthquake, Tibetan children and nuns, and frontline healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Uncategorized 3 activities
    • Organizing and hosting Tara dance events and retreats
      The organization organizes and hosts various Tara dance events, including international in-person annual retreats in Brazil, local dance events in Ecuador and Seattle, and daily, weekly, and special dance events on Zoom, often involving performances and community participation.
    • Organizing and hosting retreats and events
      The organization hosts international in-person annual retreats in Pirenópolis, Brazil, and organizes various dance events, gatherings, and pilgrimages globally, including in Zimbabwe, Portland, Seattle, and Chile.
    • Organizing and leading daily practice sessions
      Tara Dance teachers and facilitators lead daily practice sessions, including White Tara of the Six Shields, Dance of the 21 Qualities, and dedications, with some sessions conducted in Spanish.
financials · form 990 · fy2021

the money

revenue
Total revenue$98K
Contributions & grants$98K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$30%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$80K
Program expenses30%
Admin / overhead52%
Fundraising17%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$16K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$119K
Cash$119K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$119K
Liquid reserves17.8 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2021 · YoY revenue -1.9%
relationships · 20

who they work with

  • Association for the Study of Women and Mythology Partner — Kathryn Henderson offers Tara Dances at their conferences.
  • Bright Nepal Partner — Collaborates with Bright Nepal to support Atisha Primary School and provide education to children in need in Kathmandu.
  • Dolma Ling Nunnery Partner — Supports the nunnery through ongoing humanitarian assistance.
  • Felicity Oswell Partner — Longtime collaborator who shares the Mandala Dance of Tara through performances and teachings in Australia.
  • Heart of Many Ways Partner — Partnered to host "The Mandala Dance of Tara" weekend workshop and public offering.
  • Heartsong Retreat Center Partner — Partnered to host an "Introduction to the Dances of Tara" workshop.
  • His Holiness the Dalai Lama Partner — Invited Tara Dhatu pilgrims to dance for and with Tibetans in 1998.
  • Jetsun Pema Partner — Director of the Tibetan Children's Village who gave a talk to Tara Dhatu pilgrims, featured in the movie "Others Before Self."
  • Kachoe Gyakil Ling Nunnery Partner — Supports the nunnery through ongoing humanitarian assistance.
  • Manjushree Pragya Gyan Vihar Sangh Organization Partner — Partners with the local organization managing the restoration of retreat houses on Manjushree Hill in Swayambu, Kathmandu.
  • Prema USA Partner — Collaborates on 2026 retreats.
  • Reformed Congregation of the Goddess Priestess Gathering Partner — Kathryn Henderson offers Tara Dances at their gatherings.
  • Southern Oregon Women's Land Collective Partner — Kathryn Henderson offers Tara Dances at their gatherings.
  • TDEP Partner — Tara Dhatu Educational Program members are invited to join the rotation to lead the weekly Medicine Buddha meeting.
  • Tara Lotus Circle Partner — Ursula Jacobson manages the Bay Area website for Tara Lotus Circle.
  • The Abode of the Message Partner — Collaborates on events from August 28-30.
  • The Center for Spiritual Living Partner — Hosts monthly Tara Dance Circles led by Adora Deva.
  • Tibetan Children’s Village Partner — Received support from Tara Dhatu through profits from a recording and child sponsorships by members.
  • Tulku Chokyi Nangpa Rinpoche Partner — Will lead a 21 Tara Empowerment as part of the TaraDhatu Monlam.
  • Vimeo Partner — Works through Vimeo to make movies available for streaming or download.