Frequently Asked Questions About Sponsorship

How many nuns do you support and where do they live?

Our sponsorship program supports over 700 nuns living in India – most live in one of the eight nunneries that participate in our sponsorship program. The nunneries are in the Himalayan region of northern India, in the Dharamsala area, home to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and a large Tibetan community in exile. These include:

  • Dolma Ling Nunnery and Institute, just outside of Dharamsala in the Kangra Valley, was built and is fully supported by the Project, and is the first institute dedicated specifically to higher education for Tibetan Buddhist nuns from all traditions.

  • Shugsep Nunnery and Institute, of the Nyingma tradition, was built and is fully supported by the Project and traces its lineage back to some of the greatest teachers in Tibetan Buddhism.

  • Geden Choeling Nunnery, of the Gelugkpa tradition and the oldest nunnery in Dharamsala, is in McLeod Ganj. We find sponsors for almost all of their nuns, assist them with their educational program and other efforts to improve the nunnery.

  • Tilokpur Nunnery, or Karma Drubgyu Thargay Ling, a Kagyu nunnery, is an hour and a half drive outside of Dharamsala, in Tilokpur. We find sponsors for the nuns, assist them with their educational program and other efforts to improve the nunnery.

  • Sakya Nuns Institute, in Mundawara, outside of Dehra Dun. We find sponsors for their nuns and raise funds for teachers' salaries and ongoing costs.

  • Sherab Choeling Nunnery, in Lahaul-Spiti, has 45 resident nuns who have begun a rigorous course of study, the first of its kind for women of that region.

  • Other nuns and nunneries that we help include nuns not living in nunneries, nuns on retreat, Khari Ganden Tenphel Ling Nunnery in Nepal, Yangchen Choeling in Spiti, and Dorjee Zong Nunnery in Zanskar.

Do you assist nuns in Tibet?

Not at this time. Providing assistance (financial and educational) to nuns is severely restricted in Tibet.

How much does it cost to sponsor a nun?

We continue to need sponsors for nuns. It costs $360 a year to sponsor a nun, proving her with the basic necessities to live and freely practice her religion. We ask for an initial commitment of one year, with monthly ($30 US), quarterly ($90 US), semi-annually ($180 US), or annual payments ($360 US). One hundred percent of sponsorship money goes directly to the nunneries to support the nuns. Once you become a sponsors, you will receive a photograph and case history of the nun you are sponsoring.

How are the funds distributed?

We seek to offer an equitable system of sponsorship, and in order to do this we have found that distributing money to the nunneries of sponsored nuns, rather than individuals themselves is the best method. Within each nunnery, the funds are used collectively to cover the basic expenses of food, housing, clothing, medical care and education. Each nun receives 200 rupees per month for incidental expenses. In the case of nuns who do not reside in a nunnery (nuns in retreat), funds are issued to them on a monthly basis to cover food, rent and incidentals. When these nuns have additional needs, such as medical care or clothing, they may apply to the Project for assistance.

What if I can’t afford the yearly sponsorship amount – can a group of friends sponsor a nun?

Yes. You can send the payments as one lump sum or as separate checks. Please indicate if each person would like a separate photo-bio and a tax-deductible receipt for their contribution amount.

Is my sponsorship tax-deductible?

The Tibetan Nuns Project is a 501 [c] 3, so all sponsorship payments are tax-deductible for residents of the United States. Canadian residents, who contribute to the Tibetan Nuns Project (sponsorship payments or donations) through Tides Canada Foundation, receive tax-deductible receipts from Tides Canada. After each payment, you will receive a letter or email (depending on your preference) that serves as your tax receipt.

Do I receive a photo or biographical information on my nun?

Once your first payment is processed, you will receive a photograph and case history of your nun. It can take as long as six weeks before you receive information about your nun since our sponsorship program administration is entirely staffed by volunteers.

Can I send correspondence and gifts to my nun?

The nuns are eager to exchange letters with their sponsors, however, most do not yet know enough English to write letters on their own (their English ability varies greatly). However, our Project Coordinator in Dharamsala helps the nuns to read and answer their mail. Also, mail to India is very slow and until the nuns can completely write their own letters, this process is time consuming. It may take some time before you receive an answer. As for gifts, the gift of sponsorship is sufficient in itself.

If sponsors want to send a gift, we recommend small gifts (we discourage monetary gifts) and they should be sent directly India since we do not have facilities in our US office to forward packages.

Can I visit the nun I sponsor?

Yes, you may visit any of the nunneries we support. Our India staff likes to be informed if you are planning to visit, so we can be sure to welcome you, give you a tour, and to introduce you to the nun you sponsor.

How does my money get to India?

Funds are wire transferred to the Tibetan Nuns Project in Dharamsala every quarter. How much of the sponsorship money is spent on administration?

One hundred percent of sponsorship money goes directly to India. Administrative costs are covered by non-restricted funds, not sponsorship funds.

How do I begin my sponsorship?

Provide:
* Your full contact information, including phone number and email address.
* Your method of payment and select a payment option: quarterly ($90), semi-annually ($180), or once a year ($360). You will receive a reminder one month prior to payment due.
* Personal check or money order made to: Tibetan Nuns Project; or Visa/MasterCard number with expiration date.

And send to:

Tibetan Nuns Project
815 Seattle Blvd S #216
Seattle, WA 98134
Attn: Sponsorship

You will receive a sponsorship packet with the photo-bio of your nun and information on how to contact her. Please note, it can take up to six-eight weeks before receiving initial correspondence from India. We thank you in advance for your patience. Further questions?

Contact us at our US office at phone: (206) 652-8901 or email: info@tnp.org


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