Guidelines For Administration

Objectives

• To provide grants to Tibetan Buddhist Nunneries in India for the construction of “Shedras”, Institutes of Higher Buddhist Learning.
• To honor and perpetuate the values taught by Barbara Jarvis in the realms of equal opportunities for women in education, the arts, spiritual vocation, and in the experience of living in community.
• To promote the preservation of Tibetan Buddhist culture and the Himalayan spiritual traditions.
• To achieve these goals with integrity, efficiency, and transparency.

Requirements and Eligibility

• Applicant must be an established or proposed Tibetan Buddhist nunnery in India with the goal to build a shedra. All lineages are eligible.
• Applicant must submit a summary of the project, stating who will oversee the work, what stage the plans are, etc., including the exact location. This should also include details of how the money will be spent. Information is also requested regarding the location of the nearest facility of this kind in the area.
• Applications must be submitted in English.
• Applications must include a detailed budget. The description of the proposed project should include other funding sources, if any.
• Applicants must submit a plan for educating the nuns once the facility is built, such as appointment of a Khenpo or Geshe, or hiring of teachers.
• Applicants must have clear title to the land on which the shedra is to be built.
• Buildings must be architecturally designed for earthquake resistance.
• The nunnery must be registered in India as a non-profit or be operated under the auspices of a non-profit organization.
• The Fund can provide grants to the same applicants for consecutive years, but applicants must re-apply each year.

Guidance on Applications and Budget

• Grants will be given according to need and to availability of funds. There is an interest to assist projects to reach completion.
• Applications will be accepted throughout the year.
• All applicants will receive notice that the application has been received and whether it is complete.
• Grantees are requested to submit quarterly reports and a detailed report 12 months after receiving the grant. If reapplying for funding, the final report should accompany your application.
• Mail applications to:

Ohana Maitreya Fund
PO Box 419
Kapaa, HI 96746
or by e-mail to: ohanamaitreya@earthlink.net

Selection Criteria

All applications will be reviewed and evaluated using the following criteria, which may be enlarged or changed in the future.

• The project is being developed in the spirit of Barbara’s vision for women’s equal opportunities and training.
• There is sufficient skill to carry out the project.
• The Applicant has little access to other resources.

Reporting Guidelines

• Describe what construction was undertaken and the schedule of building. Describe what is necessary to complete the project if it has not completed the final stage.
• Provide a financial statement showing how the money was spent and the other sources of income.
• Include any obstacles that have presented during the process and describe any changes to the schedule, plans, and budget.

The Fund will submit the final reports to the Board of Advisors and to donors to show how the money was spent and to what degree the money helped to enact change. The continued success and support of the Ohana Maitreya Fund is dependent upon these reports. The more information we receive, the better we can make reports to the Board of Advisors and to funders.

The Fund’s Role

• Administer the fund and seek guidance from the Board of Advisors on decisions.
• Raise funds for the purpose of supporting the Fund’s goals.
• Receive the applications throughout the year.
• Contact the applicants to gather more information, if necessary.
• Notify all applicants as to the funding of their proposals.
• Distribute funds to grantees.
• Make site visits to see how we can further assist projects.

The Fund’s Accounting Methods

• ICT maintains a separate Ohana Maitreya Fund account managed by ICT’s accountant, who will produce income and expense reports for the Advisory Board.
• Income and expenditures of the Fund will be included in ICT’s annual report audit performed by independent auditors.
• 5% of donations will go to ICT for administrative purposes.

Role of Advisory Board

• Ensures that the Fund meets its objectives.
• Promotes awareness of the Fund’s existence and purpose.
• Raises funds for the purpose of supporting the Fund’s goals.
• Makes the decision on the selection of applicants by majority vote.
• If any member is unavailable to travel or is not able to review the applications, the votes of the others will be sufficient. This will ensure the process will not be delayed.