Welcome from The Lenz Foundation

For our next round of grant funding in 2026, we will start accepting applications on May 30, 2025. An announcement with a link to the grant application will be sent at that time. The window to accept applications will be open until September 30, 2025. There is no single theme for 2026 grants. We instead look forward to supporting a range of innovative programs.

Based on experience, we are updating our grant application to include questions that encourage grant-writers to think beyond their own event or program to a larger, sharable impact. In this context, we’re asking grant-writers to consider how major elements of the program they propose could be continued or re-used in the future. We will send out a link to the new application on May 30.

Please wait for the link as the application has been revised. - For more information, including projects we do not fund, we strongly recommend that you visit our

Grant Policy page.



Shambhala USA

Tashi Gatsel Ling

With the 2024 grant theme of women leaders in Buddhism, many new and past grantees of The Lenz Foundation stepped up to submit proposals centered on programs for female-identified people. We did not give detailed instructions, so every group was free to create their own program. Reports have been coming in, and we’re beyond excited to share that this theme was taken up by all 60 grant recipients with heart, innovation and gusto. The variety of programs present an underlying sense of purpose and discovery-- what transpires when women Buddhists express their full voices in atmospheres of trust, appreciation, and courage. 

~  For example, all-female speaker series gave candid talks about the feminine in Buddhism (Lions Roar, Soto Zen Buddhist Association, Zen Peacemakers). 

~ Live events created networking and new levels of understanding (The Garrison Institute, Loyola University, Upaya Zen Center, Tara Mandala). 

~ Active training allowed more women to become leaders in Buddhism and their communities (Shambhala USA, Dharma Bum temple, Sati Center for Buddhist Studies, Dhammadharini, NYU Changemaker Center).

~ Enriching the confidence and knowledge of today’s Buddhist women, the strong history of women in Buddhism was brought to light (Wendy Garling and the Barre Center, Treasury of Lives, Northwestern University). 

~ Sharing traditional knowledge in new ways for women brought high enrollment and interest (Prison Mindfulness Institute, Buddhist Prison Ministry, Veteran’s Yoga Project, The Healing Well). 

~  The visit of first-time Geshe Ma Dawa Dolma and another leading nun from Tibet enabled them to share their extensive knowledge within the American Buddhist community (Tashi Gatsel Ling). 

Many grantees reported unprecedented high enrollment in their programs. More examples are on our Reports pages.

Each program has been excellent; taken together they form a powerful wave of female energy that is celebrated in Buddhism. To continue this momentum and explore more possibilities based on your ideas, The Lenz Foundation is looking into holding online bi-monthly meetings for Women Leaders in Buddhism grant recipients past and present.  Stay tuned for the announcement!

Empower Your Non-Profit Organization with AI

Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 9:30 - 10:30 am PST - Exclusive Webinar for Grantees and Stakeholders

Hold the date - Registration Coming Soon!

Want to achieve more with less? Join our exclusive webinar designed specifically for grantees and stakeholders! Discover how small, resource-constrained nonprofits can leverage AI to significantly boost impact— often at low or no cost. We'll explore practical AI tools for social media, newsletters, correspondence, grant writing, task automation, strategic planning, and more. Some of the Lenz Foundation's grantees are already using AI with amazing success. Send us your AI-related questions or successes in advance, and we'll tailor the session to your specific interests.

Presenter: Jeff Richardson, Technical Advisor at The Lenz Foundation, IT architect, and expert in AI-driven digital transformation. Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your group's success!



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YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES A DIFFERENCE

Each year, demand for support from worthy organizations grows. Your generosity enables us to meet this critical need. On our Giving pages, you’ll learn how to make an immediate or monthly cash donation as well as other ways to engage in giving that allow us to provide significant help to many groups and programs. Adding a brief bequest to  your estate planning is easy and deeply impactful.

“Selfless giving rounds the edges in spiritual practice, unties the hard knots. Meditation is not enough. Meditation and selfless giving must always go together.” – Dr. Frederick Lenz

As other sources of societal support suffer attrition, the number of American Buddhist groups that we are able to help becomes increasingly impactful. Mindfulness and meditation are more needed than ever. 



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Feedback on the content of this newsletter is welcome. Please write us at: info@fredericklenzfoundation.org.   

The Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism

info@fredericklenzfoundation.org

https://fredericklenzfoundation.org

"Enlightenment comes through the feminine side of the being." - Dr. Frederick P. Lenz