Founded in 2008, we have supported centers and non-centers to date in 43 countries throughout Africa, the Americas, Asia & Oceania, and Europe & the Middle East.
Our Mission
VCF’s mission is to provide resources for the spread of Vipassana meditation around the globe, by providing grants and capacity building investments to new and existing centers worldwide.
Our PROJECTS/FUNDING
VCF’s overarching goal is to support the growth of new and existing centers. We do this through various mechanisms:
General capacity building/operating grants: for construction, legal, dhamma registration, etc.
Land purchase for centers that are not yet registered
Low-cost loans (through our revolving loan fund program)
Our STRUCTURE
The Vipassana Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to receive, manage, and distribute charitable donations globally to support the growth of the teaching and practice of Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka in the tradition of Sayagyi U B Khin.
The Foundation is a qualified nonprofit public charity organization under 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code.
The Foundation is run by an active board of directors that is comprised of a majority of senior teachers in this tradition of meditation.
Donations may be received from anyone who has completed at least one 10-day course in Vipassana Meditation as taught by S.N. Goenka, or by anyone (individual or organization) that is affiliated to an old student in this tradition in some way.
OUR HISTORY
Click here for more information about how VCF was founded and its history over the past two decades.
“VCF has funded 64 centers in 43 countries to date. We feel deeply honored to be able to help support the growth of dhamma globally.”
What We've Achieved
Overall Results
Between 2012 and May of 2025, we have issued 291 grants to 64 centers and non-centers in 43 countries.
Relief Funds
In an effort to support centers during particular times of crisis, we have launched various relief funds over the years — including a COVID Fund for the Americas, as well as “relief” funds for Sri Lanka, Italy, Japan, and the Philippines.
Land Purchases
Via old student dana, VCF has had the opportunity to support key land purchases across the years for new and existing centers: 6 centers in North America, 3 centers in South America, 2 centers in Europe and 2 centers in Asia & Oceania.
Other Services
Since 2019 VCF has also provided other services to centers including loans (via our revolving loan fund) as well as supporting receipt of complex donations like crypto currencies and securities.
Geographic Focus
We originally started with grantmaking to centers in the Americas in 2012 — but as of 2020 we expanded to a global focus.
The Americas
To date, we have provided 124 grants to 30 centers in 9 countries in the Americas: U.S., Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Venezuela. (last update May, 2025)
Europe and Asia Focus
Since early 2020, we have also provided 84 grants to 29 centers across Asia & Oceania, Europe & Middle East – as part of our new international focus. (last update May, 2025)
Africa Focus
Based on Old Student volition, VCF also started providing support to non-center and center courses in Africa in 2022. Since then, VCF has funded 17 grants to 8 center/non-centers -- supporting 29 noon-center courses in this part of the world. (last update May, 2025)