named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Karma Yoga Volunteering
Engages volunteers in property maintenance and event support as a form of selfless service, fostering spiritual growth through work
Residential Retreats
Offers quiet, self-directed retreats for spiritual seekers to deepen meditation and inner connection with the Divine in a peaceful, rural setting
Sunday Gita Class
Weekly study and discussion group on the Bhagavad Gita, serving as a forum for exploring moral and spiritual responsibilities
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 2 activities
- Host multi-day spiritual retreats and teachingsHosts multi-day retreats featuring lectures and teachings on major spiritual texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, Shanti Gita, Ashtavakra Gita, and Katha Upanishad, led by visiting swamis. Recent examples include themed retreats like “The Way To Freedom” and “Karma and Rebirth—A Deep Dive,” with meals provided and all programs offered free of charge.
- Operate spiritual retreat center with public accessOperates a retreat center offering daily public access to the shrine and Manor House for meditation, prayer, and group sessions from 6am to 7pm (5pm on Sundays), including day visits and overnight stays for individuals aged 17 and older by prior arrangement. Extended retreat stays of more than two weeks are available with advance approval.
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Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
- Conduct annual Kali Puja religious ceremoniesConducts full Kali Puja rituals involving invocation of Dakshina Kali into a water pot, murti, and ritual performer, including evening worship open to the public, prana pratishtha, homa fire, and Prasad. Annual events typically run from 6pm to 1am and allow attendees to make traditional 16-item offerings.
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Regular Religious Worship Services 1 activity
- Facilitate regular spiritual gatherings and classesHosts ongoing spiritual programming including weekly Sunday classes at 10:30am (weather permitting) and informal satsang evenings with visiting swamis, providing opportunities for community engagement and spiritual discourse.
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Religious Worship and Spiritual Instruction 1 activity
- Host annual Durga Puja celebrationsHosts an annual Durga Puja event including ritual worship, flower offerings, a homa fire ceremony, and a Prasad meal, typically held in late September with recent events running from 11am to 4pm.
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Camp Volunteer Engagement & Facility Stewardship 1 activity
- Support retreats and ceremonies with logistics and maintenanceProvides comprehensive logistical support during retreats and large events, including cooking, cleaning, setup, and property maintenance. Relies on volunteer "karma yogis" and a weekly seva crew for trail upkeep, garden work, and event staffing.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Respond to storm damage and infrastructure disruptionsManages recovery from natural disasters such as ice storms by clearing thousands of fallen branches and tree limbs, restoring power and phone lines, and using generators to maintain boiler and water systems during extended outages lasting up to four days.
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financials · form 990 · fy2025
revenue
Total revenue$285K
Contributions & grants$279K98%
Program service revenue$5K2%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$143
expenses
Total expenses$231K
Program expenses70%
Admin / overhead30%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.04M
Cash$461K
Investments$6K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.04M
Liquid reserves24.3 mo
6 years on record · 2020–2025 · YoY revenue +70.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2025
Who runs it
board members · 11
- Chandi Sanyal — Director
- Dr Shelley Brown — Vice President
- Mitu Hirshman — Director
- Paramita Roy — Director
- Peter Hirshman — Director
- Pravrajika Gitaprana — Treasurer
- Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana — Secretary
- Swami Atmajnanananda — Director
- Swami Sarvadevananda — President
- Swami Tyagananda — Director
- Tapas Mukherjee — Director
relationships · 16
Who they work with
- Kali Partner — Primary deity worshipped through ritual practices at the retreat
- Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York Network — Part of the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center network, sharing spiritual lineage and organizational affiliation.
- Swami Atmajnanananda Partner — Visiting teacher leading sessions on the Ashtavakra Gita at a retreat.
- Swami Sarvadevananda Partner — Visiting teacher leading sessions on the Shanti Gita at a retreat.
- Swami Tyagananda Partner — Visiting teacher leading sessions on the Bhagavad Gita at a retreat.
- Vedanta Center of Greater Washington DC Partner — Hosts Swami Atmajnanananda, its Head Minister, for retreats at Vivekananda Retreat Ridgely.
- Vedanta Society of Berkeley Partner — Former spiritual community where early teachings were received under Swami Swananda.
- Vedanta Society of New York Partner — Held an intensive retreat at Vivekananda Retreat Ridgely from April 16–19, closing the site to general visitors.
- Vedanta Society of Providence Partner — Collaborates by sending Swami Yogatmananda to lead annual retreats at Ridgely.
- Vedanta Society of Providence Partner — Hosts Swami Yogatmananda, its Head Minister, for annual retreats at Vivekananda Retreat Ridgely.
- Vedanta Society of Providence Partner — Hosts retreats with Swami Yogatmananda, Head Minister of the Vedanta Society of Providence.
- Vedanta Society of Southern California Partner — Collaborates with monks from the Vedanta Society of Southern California who lead retreats at Vivekananda Retreat Ridgely.
- Vedanta Society of St. Louis Partner — Collaborates by sending Swami Shivarchanananda to lead retreats at Ridgely.
- Vedanta Society of St. Louis Partner — Hosts retreats with Swami Shivarchanananda, Assistant Minister at the Vedanta Society of St. Louis.
- local friends Partner — Volunteers who assist with puja, retreat preparations, transportation, property maintenance, and staffing during large gatherings.
- qualified arborist Partner — Scheduled to assess and remove storm-damaged trees and dangling branches posing safety risks.
strategies · 4
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Karma Yoga as Spiritual Practicemethodology: karma_yogaBy integrating karma yoga—selfless service—into operations, the organization supports spiritual development among volunteers because service is viewed as a transformative practice that fosters inner growth and community.
- Self-Directed Spiritual Retreat Modelmethodology: self_directed_retreatBy providing a minimally structured, quiet environment, the organization enables individuals to self-direct their spiritual retreat experience because autonomy in practice is believed to deepen personal engagement and inner transformation.
- Structured Spiritual Inquiry Methodologymethodology: structured_spiritual_inquiryBy combining lectures, guided readings, and self-inquiry practices like viveka (discrimination) and vichara (self-inquiry), the organization facilitates spiritual progress because critical examination of thoughts enables liberation from suffering and deeper self-realization.
- Work-Exchange Access Modelmethodology: work_exchangeBy offering work-exchange opportunities, the organization increases access to retreats for those with limited financial means because service-based participation preserves program integrity while fostering equitable inclusion.