How to help Donate Sponsor a Nun Visit our Store Volunteer Other Organizations

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SPONSORSHIP

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

Our sponsorship program supports over 600 nuns living in India – most live in one of the six nunneries that participate in our sponsorship program. All six of 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:

1. Dolma Ling Nunnery and Educational Institute, just outside of Dharamsala in the Kangra Valley. Founded and wholly supported by the Tibetan Nuns Project, it is open to nuns from all traditions and offers a 15-year curriculum of study.

2. Shugsep Nunnery, of the Nyingma tradition, which traces its lineage back to some of the greatest teachers in Tibetan Buddhism. Fully supported by TNP, it is set on the hillside below McLeod Ganj, but will soon be moving to a new facility just below Dharamsala.

3. Geden Choeling, 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.

4. Tilokpur, or Karma Drubgyu Thargay Ling, a Kagyu nunnery, is an hour and a half drive outside of Dharamsala, in Tilokpur. We find sponsors for nuns who do not have sponsors from their Australian supporters.

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

6. Sherab Choeling Nunnery in Lahaul-Spiti, is the first religious educational project for Spiti women. Thirty-nine nuns have been assigned sponsors, and we will further continue to assist them in sustaining their institute.

7. In addition, we assist a number of nuns who live on their own in retreat.

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 ask for $30 per month or $360 a year. And we ask for an initial commitment of one year, with a quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. We try to avoid monthly payments, as we have one part-time employee who processes all sponsorship payments and this lightens her workload considerably.

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 only. After each payment, you’ll receive a letter that serves as your tax receipt. Unfortunately, at this time we do not have any international sister organizations that can provide tax-exempt status for non-U.S. residents.

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.

We request that sponsors not send gifts as tempting as it may be. The gift of sponsorship is sufficient in itself. However, small gifts may be appropriate. If one nun is to receive a new pair socks, we must provide a pair for all 600!

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 do I know my money is really getting to the nuns?

The Tibetan Nuns Project has been in existence since 1987. During this time we have received grants from a number of reputable foundations from around the world, including a twice renewed grant from the Heinrich-Böll Foundation of Germany (the charitable arm of the Green Party), Milarepa Fund, American Himalayan Foundation, Trans-Himalayan Aid Society of Canada, Soir-M, Fokus, Norad, Norwegian Tibet Committee Women’s Group, Gates Foundation and the Betsy Gordon Foundation among others.

You also have the assurance from our Board of Directors and staff. Our Director is Rinchen Khando Choegyal, who has also served as the Minister of Education in the Tibetan Government in Exile and is sister-in-law of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Our Co-Director, Dr. Elizabeth Napper, lives in India full-time to oversee the Project.

How does my money get to India?

Funds are wire transferred to TNP 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 general donations specifically directed toward administrative costs.

How do I begin my sponsorship?

Provide:
1. Your full contact information, including phone number and email address.
2. 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.
3. Personal check or money order made to: Tibetan Nuns Project; or Visa/MasterCard number with expiration date.
And send to:

Tibetan Nuns Project
619 Western Ave. #22
Seattle, WA 98104
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?