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Center for Spiritual Imagination Inc
Garden City, NY · EIN 933387409 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE X99 · Religion-Related · Small ($100K-$1M) · spiritualimagination.org
revenue
$314K
expenses
$191K
net assets
$303K
employees
0
program ratio
72%
mission · from form 990

Our organization has developed a formation program for those seeking to commit to a new monastic life. This three-year formation program helps prepare participants to devote themselves to a life of prayer and service. We interpret the Christian contemplative tradition for people who are living in the world. This activity is conducted by the cofounders listed as officers in this document. Most of the formation happens online with weekly hour long sessions for three different cohorts. We also have a monthly Saturday intensive and two in-person retreats which take place at spiritual retreat centers around the country. We also offer a companion formation program that is less rigorous for those who are interested in engaging with our teaching but cannot commit to the full formation program. This involves a monthly online gathering and individual mentoring.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Center for Spiritual Imagination is a nonprofit rooted in the Episcopal Church that offers contemplative formation programs inspired by new monasticism. It serves individuals seeking deep spiritual practice integrated with justice, offering online and in-person programming for both a dispersed monastic community and broader participants. The organization emphasizes inclusivity, Black contemplative traditions, and intergenerational, interspiritual community.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $7K
    Through engagement in contemplative practices rooted in Blackness we foster a deeper understanding of the Black diasporic contemplative tradition. By delving into rich texts honoring the African Diaspora and fostering a shared practice we empower personal growth and collective healing.
  2. #2 $2K
    Nearly 100 people each week joined us for our weekly contemplative prayer offered online at no cost.
named programs · 4 · from sources

What they call their work

Black Lives & Contemplation
Initiative centering Black wisdom and lived experience in contemplative practice, offering programs rooted in the African Diaspora and fostering personal and collective healing.
Community of the Incarnation Formation Program
Three-year online formation program for individuals committing to a new monastic life, including weekly sessions, monthly intensives, and two in-person retreats.
Companion Formation Program
Less rigorous program for those interested in contemplative practice, featuring monthly online gatherings and individual mentoring.
Weekly Contemplative Prayer
Free online weekly contemplative prayer gatherings open to the public.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Spiritual Development & Meditation Programs 10 activities
    • Annual in-person and online retreats
      Organizes two annual in-person retreats at spiritual retreat centers nationwide and two annual online 2-day retreats for Companions and formation participants, integrating contemplative practices, teaching, and community building.
    • Companion Community spiritual support program
      A spiritual formation and support program for individuals who complete the Guided Exploring Way, offering monthly online gatherings, shared readings, peer interaction, and two annual online retreats to sustain ongoing spiritual growth and community connection.
    • Contemplative programs rooted in Blackness and African Diaspora traditions
      Offers a program that uses contemplative practices rooted in Black experiences and study of African Diaspora texts to support personal growth and collective healing, including courses, written reflections, and knowledge-sharing initiatives centered on Black wisdom and lived experience.
    • Curriculum development for new monastic and public spiritual formation
      Designs and develops spiritual formation curricula for both the vowed new monastic community and public-facing programs, including structured modules on contemplative practices, theological education, and social engagement.
    • Guided Exploring Way spiritual formation program
      A structured program for individuals exploring membership in the Vowed New Monastic Community or the Companion Community, consisting of four month-long modules delivered through asynchronous courses, live discussions, and spiritual practices over an eight-month period. Applications are open for Fall 2026.
    • Incarnation Method of Prayer course
      Offers a multi-week course on the Incarnation Method of Prayer, featuring weekly sessions focused on specific aspects of the practice, guided meditation recordings, and group exploration of contemplative spirituality.
    • Public courses and online formation initiatives
      Designs, implements, and evaluates online courses, workshops, retreats, and public events on engaged contemplative spirituality, including asynchronous lessons, live discussions, peer interaction, and reflection practices, launched in May 2020 to enable nationwide participation.
    • Spiritual formation support for Cathedral College seminarians
      Collaborates on the spiritual formation component of Cathedral College, a new seminary launching in September 2025, supporting at least seven seminarians in developing a rule of life through practices of Benedictine stability, Carmelite contemplation, and Franciscan simplicity.
    • Vowed New Monastic Community formation
      A three-year formation program for individuals preparing for seasonal or permanent vows in the Community of the Incarnation, including discernment, spiritual formation, monastic immersion, theological study, mentoring, and community accountability. The first cohort completed formation in fall 2024, with new cohorts entering annually.
    • Weekly and monthly online contemplative sessions
      Hosts a weekly online contemplative prayer session attended by nearly 100 participants, along with monthly online gatherings for Companions and other formation cohorts, providing guided meditation, shared practice, and spiritual reflection.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Research and publication in engaged contemplative spirituality
      Authors and co-authors books and written reflections on engaged contemplative spirituality, including the 2022 publication *Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide*, and maintains an online platform for sharing insights on Blackness and contemplation.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$314K
Contributions & grants$280K89%
Program service revenue$34K11%
Investment income$5680%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$191K
Program expenses72%
Admin / overhead17%
Fundraising11%
Salaries & benefits$153K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$311K
Cash$300K
Investments$0
Liabilities$7K
Net assets$303K
Liquid reserves18.8 mo
1 years on record · 2024–2024
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
Kristin Vieira Coleman Program Director 40 $112K
board members · 1
  • Adam Bucko — Director
relationships · 19

Who they work with

  • Cathedral of the Incarnation Government — Host institution and mother church of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, where the Center is based.
  • Cathedral of the Incarnation Government — Hosts staff members who serve as Episcopal priests and collaborate on spiritual programming.
  • Cathedral of the Incarnation Partner — Founding partner in the Cathedral College seminary initiative, collaborating with the Center for Spiritual Imagination on spiritual formation.
  • Cathedral of the Incarnation Partner — Hosts the vows ceremony for the Community of the Incarnation in Garden City, NY.
  • Codrington College Partner — Partner in launching Cathedral College, an Anglican seminary offering a Master of Arts in Theology and Spirituality.
  • Codrington College Partner — Partners with the Center for Spiritual Imagination on spiritual formation for seminarians at Cathedral College.
  • Community of the Incarnation Partner — Collaborates with and draws inspiration from the Community of the Incarnation in embodying new monasticism
  • Community of the Incarnation Partner — Ministry partner and vowed community leading the Center for Spiritual Imagination.
  • Community of the Incarnation Partner — Vowed members of the Community of the Incarnation lead the Center for Spiritual Imagination.
  • Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Government — Ecclesiastical authority under which the Center operates, with the Bishop serving as Episcopal Visitor.
  • Episcopal Diocese of Long Island Government — Hosted the initial development of the Center at the Cathedral of the Incarnation and continues to support its mission, with the Bishop serving as episcopal visitor.
  • Mercer School of Theology Partner — Collaborates with the Center for Spiritual Imagination on spiritual formation for seminarians at Cathedral College.
  • Mighty Networks Partner — Platform used for hosting reflection discussions among participants in the Guided Exploring Way program.
  • Reciprocity Foundation Partner — Co-founded and worked with the Reciprocity Foundation to support homeless youth through spiritual care and program development.
  • Spiritual Retreat Centers Across the Country Partner — Hosts two annual in-person retreats at various spiritual retreat centers nationwide.
  • St Ethelburga's Centre for Reconciliation and Peace Partner — Shares in the "Great Work" of spiritual transformation and holds the Center in solidarity, indicating a relationship of mutual support and aligned mission.
  • Vowed Community Partner — Vowed members provide support to Companions in adopting the Rule of Life.
  • afrolatin@ forum Partner — Executive Director of afrolatin@ forum also serves as Director of Black Lives & Contemplation at the Center, indicating an organizational partnership.
  • spiritualimagination.substack.com Partner — Platform used for publishing writings on Blackness and contemplation.
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.

  • Contemplation-Action Integration
    methodology: contemplation_and_action_integration
    By integrating contemplative spiritual practice with active social justice engagement, the organization produces deeper and more sustainable personal and societal transformation because spiritual formation fuels and informs ethical action.
  • Democratized Monastic Spirituality
    methodology: democratized_contemplative_spirituality
    By adapting monastic contemplative practices for accessibility and integration into everyday life, the organization enables broader spiritual formation because it removes institutional and vocational barriers to deep spiritual engagement.
  • Embodied and Communal Contemplation
    methodology: embodied_contemplation
    By grounding contemplative practice in the body and in communal, diasporic experiences—particularly of Blackness—the organization fosters inclusive spiritual formation because somatic and cultural expression are central to authentic engagement.
  • Inclusive, Christ-Centered Spiritual Community
    methodology: inclusivity_within_faith_rooted_practice
    By offering a Christ-centered spiritual formation model that welcomes people across belief systems, the organization fosters inclusive community engagement because it prioritizes shared practice over doctrinal uniformity.
  • Structured Spiritual Formation with Discernment
    methodology: structured_spiritual_formation
    Through a time-bound, modular curriculum combined with experiential practice, the organization supports spiritual discernment and sustained community participation because structured progression deepens commitment and clarity of purpose.