Bhikshuni
Making visible the Vinaya Sangha Presence in America
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Bhikshuni is actively serving Buddhists while promoting awareness of the Chinese Buddhist Sangha in the USA. While active in religious activity Bhikshuni is also working on improved public awareness and coverage of the USA's founding Sangha, the Chinese Buddhist Sangha since 1852. Much about the USA Chinese heritage is ignored or diminished. Grassroots change has begun by Chinese Buddhist Sangha who are a hodgepodge of the USA diaspora. Much work has been done to provide accurate English translations of Buddhist sutras from the Chinese Mahayana Tripitaka, a key collection of all the traditions and schools available today. Sangha provide educational and culturally enrichment programs to various interested people from local groups, schools, elderly centers, and social welfare organizations. Since our primary approach is teaching when asked, we do not convert or persuade so people can choose to take away what methods or ideas presented for their own practice while enjoying the teaching.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Buddhist Dharma Services - providing community services like chanting times and meals to improve interaction among fellow Buddhists, thus providing each other mutal support and learning opportunities. Establishing stable practice times and safe environment for people to practice and learn.
Sangha Walks documentary
Kickstarter has approved this documentary film project, currently needing travel funds.
Calm Clarity
Raising funds for the first Chinese Buddhist Temple in Iowa that is primarily educating in English with Chinese as a second language adults interested in Buddhism. Also the first training temple to house Vinaya Sangha members. and Improve academic scholar Sangha in the USA.
USA Sangha Council
Providing community for the resident Sangha in the USA. Recognizing and verifying full ordinations in the USA. Historical archive of members, temples and Buddhist organizations in the USA. Open membership to Bhikshuni and Bhikshu managing their lives in the USA.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people within the organization's service area accessing food aid
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Chinese Buddhist Sangha served food to people in need, by providing meals and gathering food pantry items.
Number of people trained
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Bhikshuni provided resources for people interested in receiving Buddhist training in their area, and received students, and the public interested in contacting Chinese Buddhist Sangha.
Number of small learning community opportunities offered to improve undergraduate student engagement
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of individuals applying skills learned through the organization's training
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Through various social media, in person contact, large group lectures
Number of individuals attending community events or trainings
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Short 4 hour seminar on Chinese Ghosts and how the Buddhist respond to meet their needs.
Number of community initiatives in which the organization participates
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Community Building creating awareness of Sangha
Type of Metric
Context - describing the issue we work on
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Food shortage requires active involvement in providing dry goods and fresh produce. Food Pantries in the area are given these as well as at-risk populations in the area.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Bhikshuni is still striving to create more awareness of the Sangha presence in the USA and abroad. Focusing on the USA we have been active in our local areas with regular programs about Buddhism and those interested in meditation. We are also searching for land to provide the headquarters for our national organization and serve our Sangha community in realistic ways by providing access to resources and education in meeting their needs while remaining robed in the West.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our first strategy has been met, establish a presence in Iowa. We have been here since 2006 Feb 22. And while being here were have persistently remained active in the community. We are stabilizing our presence while being independent of a space or burdened by one. We are now in our second phase where we are comfortably trained in management of a residence and setting up the infrastructure for the permanent site in a home or a piece of land where construction of a space would be required.
In 2018 we are improving our financial stability by seeking professional training for our board and our interested supporters. That training will be complete in August this year. Financial future planning underway for projected donations and a budget will be set in anticipation to provide a set venue for activity for local Buddhists and interested public.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As there is one Bhikshuni for this state of Iowa we are limited in reach so we focused on social networking, google+, website and blog management. At the moment we have 5 volunteers who are part time and on call for help. We are getting the calendar year schedule set up for public events and fundraising.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
In 2006 establishing the organization after becoming very active in hospital and home visits was the biggest accomplishment. Then from 2006-2007 local assessment of needs became apparent with repeated requests for participating in public events. in 2008 to 2009 a Buddha Hall was opened to test the community response, it received little interest and the project was ended after 9 months. The master knew little about advertising and didn't feel that cost of advertising was met by donations which did not cover the rent of the space. In 2009 to present the master spent her time traveling to large events and small events in central Iowa. She decided and started and online presence and published 9 books on Buddha Dharma during this time. She helped connect UNI with people hosting the Dalai Lama and later the Buddha Relics. Due to recent requests in 2012 to 2013 a land search has been underway. At this point fundraising will be undertaken in the upcoming Fall of 2013 to raise approximately $20,000 towards a land purchase.
We failed to raise the necessary funding for land purchase. So we have changed our strategy for donations and are undertaking professional training in this summer of 2018.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Bhikshuni
Board of directorsas of 8/21/2020
Ven. Hong Yang Shi
Bhikshuni
Term: 2006 - 2030
Hong Yang Shi
Bhikshuni
Fu Hsiu Shi
Compassionate Temple
Fu De Shi
Compassionate Temple
Board leadership practices
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes