Khyentse Foundation offers many opportunities for individuals and organizations to apply for grants and scholarships to support their dharma studies, practice, and activities. In the nonsectarian spirit of the Khyentse lineage, we accept applications from Buddhist teachers, students, scholars, translators, practitioners, and retreatants, following all traditions, and from all parts of the world. Each application is reviewed by an international committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

If this is the first time you are using Submittable to apply for a grant or scholarship, you will need to create a Submittable account. Before you set up your account, please consider the following:

  • Use the best email address for yourself or your project. The email address you use for your Submittable account will be the only address we use to communicate with you about your application. Once you sign up, you will not be able to change your email address.
  • To ensure you receive expected emails, consider adding Submittable to your safelist with your email service provider (https://submittable.help/en/articles/3221476-how-can-i-safelist-notification-emails-from-submittable).

We look forward to reading your application! To get started, click Apply.

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Submit to Ashoka Grant

Khyentse Foundation Ashoka Grants are open to the public and aim to identify and support organizations and individuals that are working to increase dharma activity around the world. Ashoka Grants are for programs and projects that fall outside the criteria for Buddhist Studies Scholarships, Individual Practice Grants, or other awards. 

KF Ashoka Grants generally range from US$1,000 to $5,000. The committees will review applications with larger budgets, but programs requesting over $5,000 are less likely to be funded. Khyentse Foundation views the Ashoka Grant as a kind of stimulus or as seed money and the grant is intended to help promising programs get started or allow more established programs to expand and flourish.

Ashoka Grants are usually for one year, but multiple years of funding may be possible in some cases. Khyentse Foundation rarely supports programs for long periods of time and we strongly encourage organizations to find ways to become self-sustaining. Whether your application is successful or not, we recommend you continue to look for other sources of funding.

Applicants will be notified of decisions approximately four months after the deadline.

Qualifications

The Ashoka Grant Committees review applications from organizations and individuals who are actively engaged in projects related to Buddhism.

Your application will not be considered if:

  • You are requesting funds for a building and construction project.
  • Your application does not adequately explain the budget and scope of the project.
  • Your application is not related to Buddhism or Buddhist activity. Your application must have Buddhism at its core.
  • Your application is for a film project; we are not accepting proposals for film projects at this time.
  • You have already applied for an Ashoka grant in this round.
  • Your application is in a language other than English. At this time, we can only accept applications in English.
  • You are applying for a book or publication intended as Buddhist education for children that is unfinished or is a work in progress. We are only accepting complete manuscripts for such projects at this time.

Full funding of proposals is not always possible and partial funding may be offered to some applicants. KF is able to offer grants because of the generosity of our donors so please keep this in mind and request only what is needed for your dharma activity.

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Submit to Buddhist Studies Scholarship

Buddhist Studies Scholarships are open to the public and aim to support students who are enrolled or plan to enroll in a Buddhist Studies program. Khyentse Foundation scholarships are awarded for one-year terms. Scholarship recipients may apply each year for continuing support for longer-term studies.

Applicants will be notified of decisions approximately four months after the deadline.

Qualifications
KF accepts applications from students or practitioners from all Buddhist traditions. Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Your application will not be considered if:

  • Your application is not related to Buddhism or Buddhist activity.
  • You have already applied for a scholarship or grant in this round.
  • You are applying for PhD support. PhD candidates should complete the PhD Scholarship application.
  • You are applying for studies at Rangjung Yeshe Institute (RYI) in Nepal. Applicants must apply directly to RYI. KF gives RYI an annual grant to be used for financial aid for ordained sangha, lay students, and work-study participants.

Scholarship award amounts depend on the scope of the proposal. Full funding of proposals is not always possible and partial funding may be offered to some applicants. KF is able to offer scholarships because of the generosity of our donors. Please keep this in mind and request only what you need for your dharma activity.

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Submit to Individual Practice Grant

Individual Practice Grants are open to the public and aim to support students who wish to practice in a Buddhist tradition. Khyentse Foundation practice grants are awarded for one-year terms. Grant recipients may apply each year for continuing support to fund longer-term retreats.

Applicants will be notified of decisions approximately four months after the deadline.

Qualifications

KF accepts applications from students or practitioners from all Buddhist traditions. Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Your application will not be considered if:

  • Your application is not related to Buddhism or Buddhist activity.
  • You have already applied for a scholarship or grant in this round.

Grant award amounts depend on the scope of the proposal. Full funding of proposals is not always possible, and partial funding may be offered to some applicants. KF is able to offer practice grants because of the generosity of our donors. Please keep this in mind and request only what you need.

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Submit to PhD Scholarship

PhD Scholarships support individuals who are currently enrolled in a PhD program, doing research for their PhD degree, or working on their doctoral dissertation. Khyentse Foundation scholarships are awarded for one-year terms. Scholarship recipients may apply each year for continuing support to fund longer-term studies.

Applicants will be notified of decisions approximately four months after the deadline.

Qualifications

KF accepts applications from scholars who are currently enrolled in coursework, doing PhD research, or in the final stages of their PhD dissertation. The maximum award is $5,000 per year. Applications are reviewed by an international selection committee appointed by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche.

Your application will not be considered if:

  • Your application is not related to Buddhism or Buddhist activity.
  • You do not meet the requirements of the PhD program, or your application is incomplete.

PhD Scholarship applications must include:

  • Current curriculum vitae
  • Two-page summary of your PhD thesis
  • Most recent academic transcript
  • Letter of recommendation from your mentor or academic advisor

The amount of each scholarship awarded depends on the scope of the proposal. Full funding of proposals is not always possible, and partial funding may be offered to some applications. KF is able to offer scholarships because of the great generosity of our donors. Please keep this in mind and request only what you need for your dharma activity.