2021
Total donations received in 2021 were nearly $80,000. Total expenditures for the year were about $110,000. More than 80% of funds expended went for the new Surmang Kyelaka nunnery, either for support for the nuns or for interior decorative painting or furnishings. A portion of the funding used for the nunnery in 2021 came from donations received in 2020. Some additional support was provided through Konchok Foundation for a project to publish Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Tibetan works, in Tibetan. The printing of those books has now taken place. Monks on long term retreat at Surmang continue to be supported.The children’s programs at Surmang in 2021 were restricted to a far smaller size than usual due to precautions against the covid pandemic; no reports were received of children falling ill. Konchok Foundation operates with volunteers and has no paid staff. Overhead expenses in 2020 were again well under 5% of total expenditures.
2020
Total donations received in 2020 were approximately $120,000. Total expenditures for the year were about $300,000. About 80% of funds expended went for construction of the new Kyelaka nunnery at Surmang in Tibet, or for support for the nuns. The lhakang (shrine hall) for the nunnery is now closed in, although various finishing work remains to be done, together with artwork and furnishings. Much of the funding used for the nunnery in 2020 came from donations received in 2019. Support was provided through Konchok Foundation for a project to publish Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche’s Tibetan works. Monks on long term retreat at Surmang continue to be supported. The children’s programs at Surmang in 2020 had to be closed down almost immediately because of the onset of the pandemic; fortunately, we received no reports of illness from covid at Surmang. Konchok Foundation operates with volunteers and has no paid staff. Overhead expenses in 2020 were well under 5% of total expenditures.
2019
Total donations received in 2019 were approximately $480,000. The donations for the year were significantly larger than usual because a major donor contributed $400,000 toward the new Surmang nunnery. This contribution will be used to help fund construction expenses at the nunnery in 2020 and 2021, not just in 2019. Total expenditures for the year were about $250,000, with 80% going to construction of the new nunnery at Kyelaka and a significant portion of the remainder used for supporting the nuns while they are living and practicing at the Surmang shedra. Continuing support was provided in 2019 for the children’s educational program at Surmang. Modest support was provided for the living expenses and social services expenses for monks and members of the Surmang community. Konchok Foundation continues to operate with volunteers rather than paid staff. As a result, program expenses in Tibet represented well over 95% of total expenditures and overhead expenses in North America represented significantly less than 5% of total expenditures.
2018
Total donations received in 2018 were approximately $160,000. Of the expenditures for the year, a bit less than half was devoted to the Surmang shedra (monastic college) building project. That complex is now nearly completed and future expenses on that building should be much diminished. The rebuilding of the shrine hall of the Surmang nunnery represented nearly a third of expenses. Continuing support was provided in 2018 for the children’s educational program at Surmang. Modest support was provided for the living expenses and social services expenses for monks and members of the Surmang community. Konchok Foundation continues to operate with volunteers rather than paid staff. As a result, program expenses in Tibet represented more than 95% of total expenditures and overhead expenses in North America represented less than 5% of total expenditures.
2017
Total donations received in 2017 were approximately $54,000. Some funds were still available from donations over the prior two years, making it possible to expend approximately $109,000 for the year. About three-fourths of expenses for the year went to the Surmang shedra building project. Continuing support was provided in 2017 for the children’s educational program at Surmang. Modest support was provided for nuns and monks at Surmang and for living expenses for the abbot of Surmang, Choseng Trungpa XII Rinpoche. Konchok Foundation continues to operate with volunteers rather than paid staff. As a result, program expenses in Tibet represented about 95% of total expenditures and overhead expenses in North America represented about 5% of total expenditures.
2016
Total donations received in 2016 were approximately $42,000. Continuing support was provided in 2016 for the children’s educational program at Surmang and also educational programs at Wenchen and Kyere, representing about one-third of total expenditures. Support was provided for ongoing construction at the Surmang shedra (school) and for the rebuilding of the Surmang kargenma (teacher residence). Modest support for living expenses was provided to the abbot of Surmang, Choseng Trungpa XII Rinpoche, and for monks on retreat at Surmang. Less than 5% of total expenditures went to overhead expenses in North America.
2015
Thanks to the remaining portions of a major challenge grant from the Pema Chodron Foundation, as well as support from many people who provided a range of small, medium and large donations, total donations received in 2015 were approximately $170,000. The major use for these funds is toward the completion of the shedra (monastic college) at Surmang Dutsi Til monastery in Tibet. Continuing support was provided in 2015 for the children’s educational program at Surmang and also at Wenchen. Modest support for living expenses was provided to the abbot of Surmang, Choseng Trungpa XII Rinpoche, and for monks on retreat at Surmang. The educational program funding for children represented about 20% of total expenditures for 2014, support for monks represented about 5%, and support for Trungpa Rinpoche less than 5%. Less than 5% of total expenditures went to overhead expenses in North America.
2014
Thanks to the first stage of a major challenge grant from the Pema Chödrön Foundation, and an outpouring of support by donors providing matching funds, total donations received in 2014 were approximately $188,000. The major use for these funds is toward the completion of the shedra (monastic college) at Surmang Dutsi Til monastery in Tibet. Because so many of these donations were received at the end of 2014, much of the associated expenditure will take place in 2015. Continuing support was provided in 2014 for the Children’s Educational Program at Surmang and also at Wenchen. Modest support for living expenses was provided to the abbot of Surmang, Chökyi Senge Rinpoche, the Twelfth Trungpa, and for monks on retreat at Surmang. The educational program funding represented less than 10% of total expenditures for 2014 and the support for Trungpa Rinpoche and the monks each represented less than 5%. Less than 5% of total expenditures went to overhead expenses in North America.
2013
Total donations were received in 2013 of approximately $29,000 from approximately one hundred donors. The most important expenditure in 2013 was for support of the children’s educational program at Surmang, amounting to more than 50% of total expenditures. Approximately 15% of expenditures were for continuing work on, or maintenance of, the Surmang shedra building complex. Nearly 30% was given, mostly in donor-directed funds, for other initiatives, principally for the support of Surmang teachers including Trungpa XII Rinpoche, and monks and nuns connected with Surmang. Less than 5% of expenditures went to overhead costs in North America.
2012
Total donations were received in 2012 of approximately $74,000 from approximately four hundred and fifty donors. By far the most important expenditure in 2012 was for support of the children’s educational program at Surmang, amounting to more than 50% of total expenditures. Approximately 25% of expenditures were for continuing work on, or maintenance of, the Surmang shedra building complex. Approximately 20% was given, mostly in donor-directed funds, for other initiatives, principally for the support of Surmang teachers including Trungpa XII Rinpoche, and monks and nuns connected with Surmang. Less than 5% of expenditures went to overhead costs in North America.
2011
Total donations were received in 2011 of approximately $104,000 from approximately four hundred donors. By far the most important expenditure in 2011 was for support of the children’s educational program at Surmang, amounting to about 60% of total expenditures. 13% of expenses were for the Surmang shedra construction budget and another 13% was donor-designated for follow-up relief for the 2010 Jyekundo earthquake. Less than 5% was used for overhead costs in North America. The other expenses were for the support of Surmang teachers including Trungpa XII Rinpoche, and monks and nuns connected with Surmang.
2010
Konchok Foundation received total donations in 2010 of approximately $210,000 from more than one thousand donors. Approximately 60% of these donations were designated for earthquake relief for the disastrous Jyekundo earthquake. The great majority of the funds designated for earthquake relief had already been used by year-end to provide direct financial, food, and other aid to affected families. Approximately $85,000, including some funds held over from 2009, was directed to the Surmang shedra construction in 2010. Additional funds were expended for the children’s educational program at Surmang. Some support was provided to monks and nuns and to Trungpa XII Rinpoche. Administrative and other expenses in North America amounted to less than $15,000 for the year.
2009
Approximately $70,000 in donations from approximately 250 donors was received in 2009. The principal use of these funds was to support construction of the Surmang shedra, however, the pace of work on the shedra was considerably slower as compared to prior years and some resources were conserved for use in 2010. Some support was provided to Trungpa XII Rinpoche and to monks on retreat. Administrative and other expenses in North America amounted to approximately $10,000 for the year.
2008
Approximately $135,000 in total donations were received from hundreds of donors in 2008. The principal use of these funds was to support the construction of the Surmang shedra, plus educational and other expenses for Trungpa XII Rinpoche and monks at Surmang. A modest amount was provided for construction at Wayen in eastern Tibet. Administrative and other expenses in North America were less than $20,000, representing a slight reduction in those expenses compared to 2007.
2007
Many hundreds of donors contributed approximately $230,000 to the Konchok Foundation in 2007. By far the largest use for these funds was construction costs for the Surmang shedra (school) in eastern Tibet. Additionally, funds were sent to Tibet for educational and related construction at Wayen in eastern Tibet, for support for the education of the future main teacher at Surmang—the 12th Trungpa—and for support of monks. Administrative and other expenses in North America represented less than 10% of total expenditures.
2006
More than six hundred donors contributed a total of more than $225,000 to the Konchok Foundation in 2006. The great majority of these funds were sent to Tibet to pay for construction of the Surmang shedra (school). Konchok Foundation has also been providing financial support annually in Tibet for the young Trungpa XII Rinpoche. Administrative and other costs in North America represented slightly more than 10% of the total expenses in 2006. The Konchok Foundation has no endowment and relies upon the ongoing generosity of donors to be able to provide financial support to projects in Tibet.
More than $200,000 in donations were contributed in 2005, with the great majority of those funds having gone to the Surmang shedra. Approximately $100,000 was sent to Tibet for the Surmang shedra in 2004, the first year of construction on the shedra.
2005
More than $200,000 was raised in 2005, the great majority of which was sent to Tibet to pay for construction of the Surmang shedra. Some support was also fowarded for the Trungpa Tulku, the monks on retreat at Surmang, and monasteries connected to Mipham Rinpoche in Wayen and Golok
2004
In 2004, $97,000 was sent to Surmang by the Konchok Foundation to pay for the first season of construction on the Surmang shedra. Additionally, $10,000 was provided for support of Trungpa XII Rinpoche. Of the total Konchok Foundation expenditures for the year, only 3% was used for foundation overhead costs. Donations for the shedra project came from hundreds of sangha donors, including donations made inconjunction with Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche’s marathon runs in Big Sur and Edmonton, and also with an art auction in Boulder.