Insight Santa Cruz
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Everyone suffers, has stress, finds life as we know it as unsatisfactory. our aim is to help anyone who comes to us to learn skills and practices which will reduce or alleviate that suffering.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Community meditation
Our programs include daily meditation sessions, classes, group discussions, dharma talks, retreats, and meetings with senior teachers from a variety of Buddhist traditions.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn 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?
Our aim is to help anyone who comes to us to learn skills and practices which will reduce or alleviate that suffering.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
We offer programs for all who wish to attend for free.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We have been working on this goal for more than 30 years in Santa Cruz, CA, and we have grown from a weekly class in the teachers living room to a vibrant center with in-person and zoom attendance attended by hundreds of people both locally and internationally. We have a cadre of teachers who welcome all who attend and who teach many different techniques and practices. We have grown from donations in a basket to a solid financial basis, still all based on voluntary donations. After weathering the pandemic, we feel stable and are looking forward to reaching larger numbers of people
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
1. Progress from a budget of $35,000 to one of $157,000 over the last 10 years.
2. Progress from a single teacher to 6 teachers and a more than a dozen community leaders.
3. Progress from a small group of volunteers, to incorporation as a 501(3)c organization with a board of 8 and with 50 volunteers who perform all the necessary administrative and functional tasks to operate the center.
4. Progress from 5 or 10 members to more than 1200 members of our program.
5. Progress from a single small group of practitioners to running programs with the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, sending teachers into the jails and prisons, and offering retreat practice opportunities for our organization and for others who wish to attend.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
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.
Insight Santa Cruz
Board of directorsas of 01/30/2024
Jim Memmott
Brian Voenell
Jules Rodriguez
Diane Morgenstern
James Memmott
Chorel Centers
Evelyn Strauss
Trey Dunbar
Cris Tulloch
Maria Mead
Heather Lear
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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 ? Not applicable -
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? Not applicable -
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? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
No data
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
No data
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/30/2024GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.