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Tibet Fund Inc
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 133115145 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE Q127 · International Affairs · Large ($10M-$50M) · tibetfund.org
revenue
$17.5M
expenses
$13.2M
net assets
$13.0M
employees
6
volunteers
11
program ratio
94%
mission · from form 990

THE FUND'S MISSION IS TO HELP TIBETANS REBUILD AND IMPROVE THEIR LIVES AND PRESERVE THEIR DISTINCT CULTURAL HERITAGE AND NATIONAL IDENTITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Tibet Fund supports Tibetan communities in exile and Tibet by advancing education, cultural preservation, healthcare, and economic development. It provides scholarships, funds health and eye care programs, supports orphanages, and strengthens livelihoods through microenterprise and vocational training. Founded in 1981 and based in New York, the organization works in partnership with the Central Tibetan Administration and receives significant funding from U.S. government agencies.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $3.24M
    COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT-- The Tibet Fund builds self-reliance by improving livelihoods to increase family incomes and employment. We support training and financing for microenterprises, vocational skills training for unemployed youth, and cash crop development for farmers, focusing on women and female-led households.
  2. #2 $2.91M
    THE GIFT OF EDUCATION - FOR THE PAST 36 YEARS, WITH FUNDING FROM THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT FROM 1988, AS OF 2024, THE TIBET FUND'S TIBETAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM HAS ENABLED 496 TIBETAN REFUGEES TO EARN MASTERS DEGREES OR ONE-YEAR CERTIFICATES AT SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S FINEST ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS. THE TIBET FUND SUPPORTED 864 INDIVIDUALS ACROSS MORE THAN 80 PARTNER INSTITUTIONS, SPONSORSHIPS BENEFITED 182 MONKS, 137 NUNS, 420 SCHOOL CHILDREN, 52 CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES, 57 ELDERS, AND 16 PERFORMING ARTS STUDENTS. THE FUND ALSO SUPPORTED 68 PROFESSIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS AND GIRLS SCHOLARSHIP FOR TIBETANS IN INDIA AND NEPAL IN ADDITION, TIBET FUND WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT THE ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS WITH THE FUNDING RECEIVED FROM USAID AND U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE BUREAU OF POPULATION, REFUGEE, AND MIGRATION.
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Emergency Relief and Humanitarian Aid
Provides emergency assistance to new Tibetan refugees and communities affected by natural disasters, including the 2015 Nepal earthquake and Covid-19 pandemic.
Eye Care Program
Funds eye care infrastructure, surgical camps for cataract removal, and training for Tibetan doctors in collaboration with Tilganga Eye Center and Seva Foundation.
Girls Scholarship Program
Provides full financial support for girls from low-income families in exile to attend college, covering tuition and living expenses.
Khawachen Assistance Program (KAP)
Supports medical, educational, and economic needs of Tibetans in Tibet through local NGOs, including scholarships, health care, elder support, and emergency relief.
Tibetan Scholarship Program
Enables Tibetan refugees to pursue graduate studies and professional training in the U.S., funded by the U.S. State Department; has supported 496 students since 1988.
Tibetan Women Microentrepreneurship Program
Supports vulnerable women in exile to grow their businesses and access new markets through training and financing.
activities · 14 groups

What they do

  • Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 1 activity
    • Advancing women's empowerment and gender-based violence prevention
      Operates comprehensive programs to protect Tibetan women and girls, including establishing GBV complaint committees, 24/7 helplines, model safe spaces, home-based counseling by barefoot counselors, safety audits, and deployment of gender focal persons in schools; collaborates with the Women’s Empowerment Desk and Tibetan Women’s Association to provide counseling, legal aid, emergency shelter, and redressal systems.
  • Refugee and Immigrant Resettlement Services 1 activity
    • Delivering humanitarian assistance to Tibetan refugees
      Provides food, shelter, clothing, counseling, and essential medical care to newly arrived Tibetan refugees at reception centers in Delhi and Dharamsala; offers financial and psychosocial support to political prisoners, torture survivors, and refugees with PTSD.
  • Direct Clinical Care Delivery 1 activity
    • Delivering maternal, child, and community health services
      Implements programs in TB and hepatitis prevention, maternal and child healthcare, community health insurance, behavior change communication, safe drinking water, sanitation, and access to essential health services; provides breastfeeding support through the Every Mother and Child initiative to promote infant nutrition, hygiene, and cognitive development.
  • Literacy Program Funding 1 activity
    • Funding education programs for Tibetans in exile
      Funds and supports literacy and education initiatives for Tibetans in exile, serving over 13,000 students across 60 schools in India and Nepal.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Funding grassroots cultural preservation and civil society organizations
      Provides grants to support grassroots Tibetan NGOs and social entrepreneurs in India and Nepal focused on community development, cultural preservation, and civil society engagement, including support for libraries, media, film, publishing, and traditional learning centers.
  • Hospital and Medical Center Support 1 activity
    • Funding health infrastructure and medical services in Tibetan communities
      Funds construction and operation of health clinics, eye centers, cataract treatment facilities, and surgical camps in Tibet and surrounding regions; supported the Lhasa Eye Center, a 36-bed Cataract Treatment Center in Xining, and the Jinpa Project’s mobile health and elder care services in Nangchen County.
  • Agricultural Grantmaking and Funding Programs 1 activity
    • Funding livelihoods and economic development initiatives
      Provides grants to support microenterprises, vocational training for unemployed youth, cash crop development, yak wool processing, revolving loan funds for nomads, and advanced agricultural projects such as the Damshung Yak Semen Station using freezing technology for yak semen research.
  • Disaster Relief and Recovery Services 1 activity
    • Implementing emergency relief and disaster recovery programs
      Conducted emergency relief following natural disasters including the 1995–1996 snowstorms (distributing $402,000 to rebuild herds), the 2010 Yushul earthquake (rebuilding schools, mills, and launching microfinance), and the 2015 Nepal earthquake (rebuilding homes, clinics, monasteries, and providing psychosocial support); provided flood protection funds in Himachal Pradesh and pandemic response across 47 settlements.
  • Support for Tibetan Buddhist Communities 1 activity
    • Operating field-based program implementation in South Asia
      Maintains field-based staff in Nepal, Bhutan, Ladakh, and South India to deliver and oversee education, health, livelihood, and cultural programs for Tibetan communities.
  • Tibetan Cultural Preservation and Language Education 1 activity
    • Preserving Tibetan cultural heritage through institutional support
      Provides resources to strengthen cultural institutions and supports projects in arts, media, film, publishing, and traditional medicine; established a Tibetan medicine factory in Toelung Dechen producing traditional remedies for local and international use.
  • Women's Educational Advancement 1 activity
    • Providing scholarships and educational support for vulnerable students
      Offers full scholarships covering tuition and living expenses for girls from low-income families to attend college; funded scholarships for over 50 economically vulnerable girls to attend technical schools and universities, and supported English language training programs enabling top students to study abroad.
  • Women's Microenterprise and Livelihood Development 1 activity
    • Strengthening livelihoods through women-led microentrepreneurship
      Supports vulnerable women in expanding their businesses and accessing new markets through the Tibetan Women Microentrepreneurship Program, complemented by vocational skills training and financing initiatives focused on female-led households.
  • Direct Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children 1 activity
    • Supporting orphanages and vulnerable children in Tibetan communities
      Financed construction and ongoing support for multiple orphanages in Tibet, including Chushul Orphanage near Lhasa, Waka Orphanage, Sengcham Drukmo Girls Home, an orphanage in Derge County, and Tibetan Home of Hope, providing care and educational support for hundreds of children.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Funding Tibetan scholarship and graduate study programs
      Administers the Tibetan Scholarship Program, established in 1988 with U.S. government support, which has enabled 496 Tibetan refugees to earn master's degrees or one-year certificates in the U.S.; also funds fellowships such as the Ngawang Choephel Fellowship Program, which supported 96 students pursuing higher education in the United States.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$17.47M
Contributions & grants$17.11M98%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$358K2%
Other revenue$6K
expenses
Total expenses$13.17M
Program expenses94%
Admin / overhead6%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$635K
Grants paid out$12.19M
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$14.43M
Cash$5.67M
Investments$7.51M
Liabilities$1.41M
Net assets$13.02M
Liquid reserves12.0 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +41.0%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 3
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
ROBERT ANKERSON PRESIDENT 35 $186K
LHAKPA JHANGOWA DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND GRANTS 35 $115K
YANGZOM SHAWA DIRECTOR OF SPONSORSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION 35 $84K
board members · 11
  • CHAMPA N WEINREB — TRUSTEE
  • ETHAN DAVID GOLDINGS — TRUSTEE
  • GEOFFREY MENIN — VICE CHAIRMAN
  • JIGME SHINGSAR — TRUSTEE
  • MICHAEL LEMLE — CHAIRMAN
  • NIMA R T BINARA — TRUSTEE
  • NINA SCHROEDER — TRUSTEE
  • RINCHEN DHARLO — TRUSTEE
  • TENZIN C WANGYAL — TRUSTEE
  • TENZING T LAMA — TRUSTEE
  • TSEWANG NAMGYAL — TRUSTEE
relationships · 60

Who they work with

  • Altruism in Action Partner — Partner in health programs including TB and hepatitis prevention, maternal and child healthcare, and community health insurance.
  • Brandeis University Partner — Collaborated with Qinghai Tibetan Medical College on a context-based English language training program for Tibetan students.
  • CTA Department of Health Partner — Partner in health programs including TB and hepatitis prevention, maternal and child healthcare, and community health insurance.
  • CTA Department of Home Partner — Key implementing partner in livelihoods programs
  • Candid Government — Recognized with a Platinum seal by Candid for transparency and accountability.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Partner — Collaborates on meeting basic needs of newly arrived Tibetan refugees at reception centers and implementing humanitarian programs.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Partner — Collaborates with The Tibet Fund to address the most pressing needs of the Tibetan community.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Partner — Longstanding collaboration to address the most pressing needs of the Tibetan exile community.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Partner — Works closely with the Central Tibetan Administration in Dharamsala to meet the needs of the Tibetan community.
  • Central Tibetan Administration Women’s Empowerment Desk Partner — Collaborates on creating protection and response mechanisms against gender-based violence in Tibetan settlements and schools.
  • Charity Navigator Government — Rated by Charity Navigator for organizational performance and financial health.
  • College of Higher Tibetan Studies Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Dalai Lama Library and Archive Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Department of Education (CTA) Partner — Collaborates with The Tibet Fund on education programs for Tibetan students in exile.
  • Drokmo Partner — Women-led NGO supported by The Tibet Fund to conduct menstrual, sexual, and reproductive health workshops for adolescents and nunneries.
  • Drokpo Partner — Key implementing partner in livelihoods programs
  • Drung Filmmakers Collective Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Gyudmed Snowland School Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Himalayan Buddhist Library and Culture Center Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • His Holiness the Dalai Lama Partner — Honorary Patron of The Tibet Fund
  • Hope and Challenge Partner — Key implementing partner in livelihoods programs
  • Jinpa Project Partner — Local NGO implementing health clinics, health camps, and elder care initiatives in nomadic areas of Yushul.
  • Johns Hopkins University Partner — Collaborated with Qinghai Tibetan Medical College on a context-based English language training program for Tibetan students.
  • Lha Charitable Trust Partner — Key implementing partner in livelihoods programs
  • Library of Tibetan Works and Archives Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Lodrik Welfare Fund Partner — Key implementing partner in livelihoods programs
  • Manjushri Educational Services Partner — Partner organization delivering educational programs for Tibetan students in exile, supported by The Tibet Fund.
  • Monlam Tibetan IT Research Center Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
  • Norbulingka Institute Partner — Partner organization in efforts to sustain Tibetan traditions and cultural resilience.
+ 30 more
strategies · 5

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.

  • Community-Led Partnership Model
    methodology: community-partnership model
    By collaborating with the Central Tibetan Administration and local NGOs to align programs with community-identified priorities, the Tibet Fund ensures relevance and sustainability because locally driven initiatives are more likely to reflect actual needs and gain community ownership.
  • Culture-Centered Resilience Strategy
    methodology: culture-centered_development
    By empowering Tibetans to preserve their language, religion, arts, and national identity, the organization strengthens community cohesion and resistance to cultural erosion because cultural continuity is foundational to both individual dignity and collective political resilience.
  • Dignity-Centered Refugee Integration
    methodology: dignity-centered refugee integration
    By providing comprehensive humanitarian assistance that includes culturally relevant education, religious access, and health and economic support, the Tibet Fund enables newly arrived Tibetan refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity because holistic and culturally grounded resettlement fosters faster adaptation and long-term well-being.
  • Integrated Community Empowerment Model
    methodology: integrated_community_development
    By combining education, health, livelihoods, and cultural preservation programming in a coordinated way, the Tibet Fund produces greater self-reliance and community resilience because integrated support addresses interconnected challenges more effectively than siloed interventions.
  • Livelihoods-Based Self-Reliance Strategy
    methodology: livelihoods-development
    By improving livelihoods through vocational training, microenterprise support, and agricultural development—especially for women—the Tibet Fund increases family incomes and employment because economic empowerment enables long-term independence and reduces dependency on aid.