Ewam Choden FY2021 filing

Tax-deductible

Kensington, CA501(c)(3)EIN 94-1743471Revenue $208K in FY2021

On file with the IRSewamchoden.org254 Cambridge Ave, 94708-1120 · Kensington, CATax-exempt since Jun 1972Publicly supported — 509(a)(2)

This page gets seen. Tell your story. Claim this org.

Founded and continuously overseen by Lama Kunga since 1973, Ewam Choden was one of the earliest Tibetan Buddhist centers on the west coast. The Ewam Choden Tibetan Buddhist Center is located in Kensington, a residential community in California.

501(c)(3) charity; gifts are tax-deductible.
87¢ of each $1 spent went to programs.
$20K paid to officers and key staff.
Mission: Form 990 Part I, line 1 · Status: IRS Pub. 78 · Programs: Part IX · Pay: Part VII

Before you give

FY2021 · Form 990Independent: from IRS data, not the org
Download 990
IRS status
501(c)(3)
not on the IRS revocation list
Looks good: listed by the IRS and not on the revocation list.
IRS BMF · Auto-Revocation List
Tax-deductible gifts
Yes
Donations are tax-deductible
Looks good: the IRS lists gifts to it as deductible.
IRS Pub. 78 · IRS BMF
Latest return
FY2025
latest Form 990
Looks good: the latest return is for FY2025, 1 tax year back; within 2 tax years.
IRS e-file · Filing history
Surplus or deficit
4 of 5
filings with a surplus
Average surplus $27K a year · 20% of revenue · last 5 filings
Fine: a surplus in 4 of the last 5 filings.
Pt I · Ln 19 · 5 filings
Spent on programs
87%
of spending
Looks good: 87% of spending went to programs; 75% or more.
Pt IX · Ln 25 · col B
Pay to officers and key staff
$20K
to officers and key staff · 18% of spending
Fine: pay to officers and key staff is 18% of spending; 15% to 20%.
Pt VII · Sec A
Cash reserves
30 mo
of spending, in cash
Looks good: 29.5 months of spending in cash; 3 or more.
Pt X · Ln 1–2 · Pt I · Ln 18
Named funders
1
named funder · $12K
Fine: 1 funder names it on their filings; under 3.
Funders’ Sch. I, 990-PF
Liabilities
$0
0% of total assets
Looks good: liabilities are 0% of assets; 50% or less.
Pt X · Ln 26
Independent board members
4
of 5 voting members
Looks good: 4 of 5 voting members are independent, a majority.
Pt VI · Ln 1a–1b
Looks goodFineWorth a lookConcernNo data yetTap a box for the reason.
Revenue
$208K
Spent
$112K
To programs
87%
Net assets
$476K
By yearFY2021–FY2025
Revenue
$208K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Revenue by fiscal year
FY2021$208K
FY2022$106K
FY2023$104K
FY2024$138K
FY2025$129K
Expenses
$112K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Expenses by fiscal year
FY2021$112K
FY2022$95K
FY2023$124K
FY2024$103K
FY2025$114K
Net assets
$476K
FY2021
Tap a bar for its year
Net assets by fiscal year
FY2021$476K
FY2022$487K
FY2023$467K
FY2024$502K
FY2025$518K

From the FY2021 Form 990 (year ending January 2021) · see the original

Give Claim
You’re viewing the FY2021 filing — not the latest on file. See the latest (FY2025) →

Is it real?

Yes. Never revoked by the IRS. Latest filing on record: FY2025. IRS ruling in Jun 1972.

IRS Pub. 78 · IRS Auto-Revocation List · IRS Business Master File

Where the money goes

87 cents of each dollar spent went to programs.

Program services 87% · $97K Management & general 13% · $15K

Form 990 Part IX, line 25, columns B–D. Every line is in By the numbers.

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Who runs it and what they're paid

5 people listed on the 990; $20K paid to officers and key staff.

Part VII, Section A · reportable compensation · most recent filed roster (FY2020); the FY2021 filing did not itemize Part VII
$20,350Pt VII · Sec A
Vice President
$0Pt VII · Sec A
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Treasurer
$0Pt VII · Sec A
Board Member
$0Pt VII · Sec A

Compensation history total reportable pay by year · 1 named individual · Part VII

NameFY2025FY2024FY2023FY2022FY2021
Losang Kunga Gyurme$33,549$28,200$32,200$30,200$20,350

Total reportable compensation (Form 990 Part VII column D / Schedule J column E) by filing year, matched by name within this organization. The Schedule J base / bonus / deferred breakdown is not parsed into this dataset.

See Ewam Choden executive salaries →

Are you one of these people? Claim this org to confirm your role

Something off? The org can add a note here. Claim this org to fix it.

Questions the 990 asks

The form asks each of these directly. These are the filed answers.

  • Family or business ties among officersPt VI · Ln 2No
  • Top official's pay set by an independent reviewPt VI · Ln 15aYes

Programs and updates

Offers Tibetan Buddhist teachings and practices guided by Lama Kunga since 1973.

Questions for Ewam Choden

Tap to ask. Ewam Choden sees how many people are interested.

Your first name shows with your question. Ewam Choden answers here, for everyone.

Provided by the organization

Know this organization? Claim it to add your story

3 programs · $97K · in their own filed words · FY2020
01

Under the guidance of the accomplished Vajrayana master and resident teacher,Lama Kunga Thartse Rinpoche, the center offers a wide variety of classes and activities. Lama Kunga Rinpoche gives regular empowerments and teachings, along with a weekly compassion meditation practice on Sunday mornings.

$97Kprogram expense
02

area. Several students have developed skill in creating traditional Buddhist ritual objects and images. The Center is also extremely interested in maintaining close relations with the Tibetan community in India and in the United States.Activities at the Center include:* Meditation: Sunday mornings at 10:00AM and other times.

Pt IX · col B
03

* Private Interviews

As scheduled with rinpoche.* treasure vasesewam choden provides these services to worshippers in the greater bay area.

Pt IX · col B

Funders

Who pays for it.

From grant filings on record. Receipts are incomplete: individual donors are never listed.

Grants

Schedule I · funders on record
Grants received · FY2024
Total grants receivedfrom 1 funder$12K

By the numbers

The FY2021 990, line by line.

1The main four
Money inPt VIII
$208K
Ln 12
Other incomeLn 4–11$99K
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$68K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$41K
Money outPt IX
$112K
Ln 25
Programscol B$97K
Managementcol C$15K
Owns and owesPt X
$476K
net assets · Ln 32
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$275K
Total assetsLn 16$476K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
PeoplePt VI, VII
5
listed · VII A
PaidVII A1
Voting boardVI 1a5
IndependentVI 1b4
2In more detail
Revenue in detailPt VIII
Gifts and grantsLn 1h$68K
Fees for servicesLn 2g$41K
Investment incomeLn 3$32
Other incomeLn 4–11$99K
Gains on assetsLn 7$0
Total revenueLn 12$208K
Assets in detailPt X, end of year
CashLn 1$183K
SavingsLn 2$92K
Cash and savings togetherLn 1–2$275K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$201K
Other assetsLn 15$0
Total assetsLn 16$476K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0
Net assetsLn 32$476K
OperationsPt I, VI
EmployeesI 51
VolunteersI 650
Fiscal year endsHeaderJanuary
Conflict-of-interest policyVI 12aYes
Whistleblower policyVI 13Yes
Records policyVI 14Yes
3Year over year
Balance sheet, start vs end of yearPt X · col A, B
LineStart FY21End FY21
Cash and savingsLn 1–2$157K$275K
InvestmentsLn 11–13$0
Land, buildings, equipmentLn 10c$223K$201K
Total assetsLn 16$380K$476K
LiabilitiesLn 26$0$0
Net assetsLn 32$380K$476K
4Every line
Statement of functional expensesPt IX · every line
LineTotalProgramsManagementFundraising
Grants to domestic organizationsLn 1$0
Grants to domestic individualsLn 2$0
Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsLn 3$11K$11K
Benefits paid to or for membersLn 4$0
Pay of current officers, directors and key staffLn 5$20K$20K
Pay of disqualified personsLn 6$0
Other salaries and wagesLn 7$0
Pension plan contributionsLn 8$0
Other employee benefitsLn 9$2K$2K
Payroll taxesLn 10$2K$2K
Management feesLn 11a$0
Legal feesLn 11b$0
Accounting feesLn 11c$3K$3K
Lobbying feesLn 11d$0
Professional fundraising feesLn 11e$0
Investment management feesLn 11f$0
Other fees for servicesLn 11g$1K$1K
Advertising and promotionLn 12$199$199
Office expensesLn 13$545$545
Information technologyLn 14$5K$4K$990
RoyaltiesLn 15$0
OccupancyLn 16$14K$14K
TravelLn 17$0
Travel and entertainment for public officialsLn 18$0
Conferences, conventions and meetingsLn 19$0
InterestLn 20$1$1
Payments to affiliatesLn 21$0
Depreciation, depletion and amortizationLn 22$22K$17K$4K
InsuranceLn 23$8K$6K$2K
Other expenses (24a–d)Ln 24$16K$15K$1K
All other expensesLn 24e$7K$5K$2K
Total functional expensesLn 25$112K$97K$15K$0

Filing history

YearMoney inMoney outIn minus outNet assetsDownload
FY2025 Latest $129K$114K$15K$518K 990 PDF
FY2024 $138K$103K$35K$502K 990 PDF
FY2023 $104K$124K−$20K$467K 990 PDF
FY2022 $106K$95K$11K$487K 990 PDF
FY2021 Viewing $208K$112K$96K$476K 990 PDF

Want to add your own materials alongside these filings? Claim this org

Schedules filed Part IV

III · Programs I · Grants R · Related orgs G · Fundraising L · Interested persons A · Public support F · Foreign M · Noncash
See the full FY2021 990 (6 parts)
Part I · Summary $207,695 revenue, 12 lines filed
I-8 Contributions and grantsPrior year $62,119$68,005
I-9 Program service revenuePrior year $45,968$41,064
I-10 Investment incomePrior year $63$32
I-11 Other revenue$98,594
I-12 Total revenuePrior year $108,150$207,695
I-13 Grants and similar amounts paid$10,788
I-14 Benefits paid to members$0
I-15 Salaries and benefitsPrior year $21,714$24,205
I-16a Professional fundraising fees$0
I-17 Other expensesPrior year $84,778$77,029
I-18 Total expensesPrior year $106,492$112,022
I-19 Revenue less expensesPrior year $1,658$95,673
Part VI · Governance 4 of 5 board members independent, no flags
VI-1a Voting members of the governing body5
VI-1b Independent voting members4
VI-2 Family or business relationship among officers or directorsNo
VI-12a Written conflict of interest policyYes
VI-13 Written whistleblower policyYes
VI-14 Document retention and destruction policyYes
VI-15a Process for setting top official's payYes
Part VIII · Statement of revenue $207,695 across 11 lines filed
VIII-1b Membership dues$12,040
VIII-1f All other contributions, gifts and grants$55,965
VIII-1h Total contributions, gifts and grants$68,005
VIII-2a-f Program service revenue, itemized rows (sum of 2a–2f as filed)Related to mission $41,064$41,064
VIII-3 Investment incomeExcluded from tax $32$32
VIII-5 Royalties$0
VIII-6 Net rental income or loss$0
VIII-7 Net gain or loss on sales of assets$0
VIII-8 Net income from fundraising events$0
VIII-11a-d Other revenue, itemized rows (sum of 11a–11d as filed)Related to mission $98,594$98,594
VIII-12 Total revenueRelated to mission $139,658 · Excluded from tax $32$207,695
Part IX · Statement of functional expenses $112,022 across 31 lines filed
IX-1 Grants to domestic organizations$0
IX-2 Grants to domestic individuals$0
IX-3 Grants and assistance to foreign recipientsPrograms $10,788$10,788
IX-4 Benefits paid to or for members$0
IX-5 Pay of current officers, directors and key staffPrograms $20,350$20,350
IX-6 Pay of disqualified persons$0
IX-7 Other salaries and wages$0
IX-8 Pension plan contributions$0
IX-9 Other employee benefitsPrograms $2,149$2,149
IX-10 Payroll taxesPrograms $1,706$1,706
IX-11a Management fees$0
IX-11b Legal fees$0
IX-11c Accounting feesManagement $2,501$2,501
IX-11d Lobbying fees$0
IX-11e Professional fundraising fees$0
IX-11f Investment management fees$0
IX-11g Other fees for servicesManagement $1,275$1,275
IX-12 Advertising and promotionPrograms $199$199
IX-13 Office expensesManagement $545$545
IX-14 Information technologyPrograms $3,962 · Management $990$4,952
IX-15 Royalties$0
IX-16 OccupancyPrograms $14,500$14,500
IX-17 Travel$0
IX-18 Travel and entertainment for public officials$0
IX-19 Conferences, conventions and meetings$0
IX-20 InterestManagement $1$1
IX-21 Payments to affiliates$0
IX-22 Depreciation, depletion and amortizationPrograms $17,484 · Management $4,371$21,855
IX-23 InsurancePrograms $6,192 · Management $1,548$7,740
IX-24 Other expenses (24a–d)Programs $14,885 · Management $1,218$16,103
IX-24e All other expensesPrograms $5,035 · Management $2,323$7,358
IX-25 Total functional expensesPrograms $97,250 · Management $14,772 · Fundraising $0$112,022
Part X · Balance sheet $476,070 assets, 17 lines filed
X-1 Cash, non-interest-bearingStart of year $65,623$183,143
X-2 Savings and temporary cash investmentsStart of year $91,811$91,843
X-3 Pledges and grants receivable$0
X-4 Accounts receivable$0
X-8 Inventories for sale or use$0
X-9 Prepaid expenses and deferred charges$0
X-10c Land, buildings and equipment, netStart of year $222,939$201,084
X-11 Publicly traded securities$0
X-12 Other securities$0
X-13 Program-related investments$0
X-14 Intangible assets$0
X-15 Other assets$0
X-16 Total assetsStart of year $380,373$476,070
X-26 Total liabilitiesStart of year $0$0
X-27 Net assets without donor restrictionsStart of year $380,373$476,070
X-32 Total net assets or fund balancesStart of year $380,373$476,070
X-33 Total liabilities and net assetsStart of year $380,373$476,070
Part XI · Reconciliation of net assets $476,070 net assets at year end
XI-1 Total revenue$207,695
XI-2 Total expenses$112,022
XI-3 Revenue less expenses$95,673
XI-4 Net assets at start of year$380,373
XI-9 Other changes in net assets$24
XI-10 Net assets at end of year$476,070

Form 990 e-file (XML) FY2021 from the IRS · Classification, formation year and address from the IRS Business Master File

Similar organizations you could support · Compare with another nonprofit

Names, privacy, and removal requests More

The names, titles, and compensation shown on this page are reproduced from IRS Form 990 filings, which are public records.

Philanthropy.org does not alter the content of those filings. All information appears exactly as reported by the filing organization for the tax year shown.

We publish only information contained in the public IRS filing — and less than the filing contains. Our profile pages do not display street addresses, telephone numbers, personal email addresses, or other personal contact information, even where the filing includes them.

Many people share the same name. A name shown on this page reflects only what one organization reported in one IRS filing for one tax year. It should not be interpreted as identifying any other individual with the same or a similar name.

If you are no longer affiliated with the organization, your name will generally stop appearing in future IRS filings once the organization no longer reports you. Pages for tax years in which you were reported remain published because those filings remain part of the public record.

Philanthropy.org does not alter or remove IRS filing records. Removing a page from this website would not remove the underlying IRS filing, which remains publicly available from the IRS and other publishers of the same information.

If you believe the IRS filing itself is inaccurate, corrections must be made by the filing organization or the IRS directly.

If you ARE the filing organization, claim this org and add context

Made it to the end? Claim this organization

All figures are derived from public IRS Form 990 filings and are presented without evaluation of any organization. philanthropy.org does not rate, score, or rank organizations, including the pay comparisons above.