Dana FAQ
Dāna (pronounced “daa-nuh”) is a Pāli word meaning giving. Dāna is the first perfection of the heart (pāramī), and the foundation of Buddhist practice, based in the understanding that giving opens the heart, creates connection to others, and teaches letting go. Dāna in the form of monetary gifts to Spirit Rock supports our teachers, staff, and operations, and is most often the only form of compensation given to teachers for teaching retreats.
No. Dāna is a form of practice and part of how our community supports teachers at Spirit Rock. We encourage practitioners to see beyond the transactional view that we encounter all around us and instead tap into the generosity in our hearts. Dāna is “paying it forward,” stepping into the cycle of generosity that honors the Dharma ancestors who came before us, expresses gratitude, and supports those who come after us.
Yes. Dāna is set up to be tax-deductible.
100% of your teacher dāna offering goes to the teachers who teach retreat at Spirit Rock. For those retreat teachers who are also on our Teachers Council, Spirit Rock holds back 10% of their portion of the retreat dāna and pools it with all Teacher Council members who teach retreat over the course of the year. Spirit Rock does this to ensure the tax-deductibility of these gifts. Spirit Rock does not take any fees or administrative portion. Teachers are independent contractors and not employees of Spirit Rock.
The coordinating teacher for each retreat determines the ratio of support.
It depends on each individual. For some teachers, dāna is their sole source of support, while others receive income in a variety of ways outside of their teaching at Spirit Rock.
Generally no, most retreat teachers receive no compensation for teaching at Spirit Rock beyond what practitioners offer. As part of our commitment to equity, beginning January 1, 2022, Spirit Rock guarantees a minimum amount of dāna to all movement and assistant teachers, and to some core teachers offering Dharma Training Programs, affinity programs, and 1-2 month retreats.
As of fall 2021, retreat staff are no longer paid through dāna contributions at the end of each retreat. Retreat staff, including cooks and retreat coordinators, are now paid similarly to all other Spirit Rock employees, which increases stability and equity for these valued members of our community. So although staff are no longer directly dependent on your contributions to them, they are still dependent on your Spirit Rock dāna to provide a commitment of year-round salaries and health insurance. Please consider this change as you plan your dāna contributions to Spirit Rock both at retreat and throughout the year.
Several staff members live on the land and work on the campus operations team. All residents are offered room and board as part of their compensation. We do not currently have cooks living in staff housing. All staff are provided lunch during retreats.
As you are moved by the teachings and your experience, and understand your own financial capacity, please choose a level of giving that is best for you. We intentionally do not offer a suggested amount. The teachings of the Buddha have lasted 2,600 years in part because of the generosity of individuals, families, and communities across the world. We receive dāna at every level.
Meal Dana is a gift restricted specifically to pay for some of the nourishing food we all receive in the dining hall. As of our return to the land in 2022, our annual food budget is $365,000.
Registration fees combine with donations to support every aspect of Spirit Rock’s operations, including buildings, food, staff, and more. Spirit Rock depends on the generosity of our community to continue offering the teachings in an accessible and equitable way. Registration fees gather only part of our budget, and donations are needed to supply the rest, including scholarships, staff, and all other expenses.
Our scholarship funds support Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), young adults, those experiencing chronic illness, receiving Social Security, disability insurance, and/or experiencing financial hardship. Spirit Rock offers over half a million dollars in scholarships annually to support practitioners.
There are many ways individuals can support Spirit Rock. These below are all tax deductible. See Giving for more details and options.
* Please note, if you choose to make a direct/individual gift to a single teacher, this will not be tax deductible and cannot be processed through Spirit Rock. Only gifts made through Spirit Rock are tax deductible.
Spirit Rock accepts:
Yes, we accept checks. Please mail the check to Spirit Rock, PO Box 169, Woodacre, CA 94973, and identify the retreat. Please note on the check what amount should be given to the teacher(s) and/or Spirit Rock.
Yes, after making any of the above donations, you will receive a thank you letter with our tax ID information included. If you choose to join our Stewardship Circle by making a monthly offering, you’ll receive an end of year statement around January with a list of your donations/gifts throughout the prior year.
Spirit Rock’s tax ID# is 94-2971001.
Absolutely! Please provide them with our tax ID, listed above.
Yes! Typically it comes as a check mailed to SRMC, but again be sure you have the correct mailing address and be very clear about which retreat and what the dāna split is for Teachers/Spirit Rock.
The dāna buttons will be available on the retreat website for 30 days but if you’re able, we strongly encourage donations to be made sooner rather than later.
