The Tibet Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $10,926,442 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Varies by program
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $40,000 (TCSEP program); up to $10,000 (Matching Grants)
• Geographic Focus: International (Tibetan refugees in India, Nepal, Bhutan; communities in Tibet)

Contact Details

• Website: www.tibetfund.org
• Address: 241 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016
• Phone: 212-213-5011
• General Contact: tibetfund.org/contact-us
• Grants Page: tibetfund.org/grants
• Matching Grants Email: matchinggrants@tibetfund.org
• Scholarship Program Contact: Tenzing Choephel Chumeego at tchumeego@tibetfund.org

Overview

Founded in 1981 under the patronage of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, The Tibet Fund is a New York-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the primary funding organization for Tibetan communities in exile and in Tibet. The organization's mission is to preserve the distinct cultural identity of the Tibetan people through investment in healthcare, education, refugee rehabilitation, religious and cultural preservation, elder care, and community and economic development. With total assets of approximately $14.4 million, The Tibet Fund distributed $10,926,442 in grants across 129 awards in 2023. The organization maintains a perfect 4-star rating from Charity Navigator with a 99% overall score, directing 94% of expenditure to programs. Since 1991, The Tibet Fund has administered over $61 million in U.S. Government funding from the State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration and USAID.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Tibetan Civil Society Empowerment Program (TCSEP): $5,000 - $40,000 (provides grants to Tibetan-led NGOs/CSOs in South Asia with organizational development support; new applicants up to $10,000, continuing partners up to $40,000; applications typically due October-December)

• Tibetan Settlement Matching Grants Programme: Up to $10,000 from TTF plus $10,000 CTA match (supports overseas Tibetan settlement organizations raising funds for community needs in India and Nepal; apply via email)

• Tibetan Scholarship Program: Full master's degree scholarships for 6-7 Tibetan refugees from India/Nepal to study in the U.S. for up to two years (partnership with U.S. State Department and CTA)

• Tibetan Girls Scholarship Program: Need-based scholarships for Tibetan girls from low-income families attending college

• Tibetan Professional Scholarship Program: Supplemental grants up to 30% of costs for professional degrees (medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.) in India, Nepal, and Bhutan

Priority Areas

• Healthcare and refugee rehabilitation for Tibetan communities
• Education (school funding, scholarships, professional training)
• Religious and cultural preservation
• Civil society and NGO capacity building
• Community and economic development
• Gender equity and women's empowerment
• Emergency relief and social enterprise in Tibet
• Elder care

What They Don't Fund

• Organizations that are not Tibetan-led or don't directly serve Tibetan communities
• Projects outside their geographic focus (Tibetan communities in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet)
• Large infrastructure projects covered by U.S. Government programs
• Settlement camps that received matching grants in the most recent cycle

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Michael Lemle - Chairman
• Geoffrey Menin - Vice Chairman
• Tenzing T. Lama - Treasurer
• Additional trustees include Champa N Weinreb, Ethan David Goldings, Jigme Shingsar, Nima R T Binara, Nina Schroeder, Rinchen Dharlo, Tenzing Tekan, Tom Nazario, and Tenzin Wangyal

Senior Staff:

• Robert Ankerson - President
• Lhakpa Jhangowa - Director of Finance and Grants
• Yangzom Shawa - Director of Sponsorship and Administration
• Tenzing Choephel Chumeego - TSP Program Director

The organization has 5 employees and 11 volunteers, with 80% of staff being Tibetan, enabling effective communication with implementing partners in South Asia.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

TCSEP Program:

• Open to Tibetan NGOs operating in South Asia
• Submit full proposal aligned with TTF's mission
• Visit tibetfund.org/tibetan-civil-society-empowerment-program/ for details
• Deadlines typically fall in October-December

Matching Grants:

• Email proposals to matchinggrants@tibetfund.org
• Subject line: "Tibetan Settlement Matching Grants Fund - [Organization Name]"
• Open to any overseas Tibetan settlement support organization
• Legal registration not required

Scholarship Programs:

• TSP administered jointly with CTA and U.S. Embassy
• Contact TSP Program Director at tchumeego@tibetfund.org
• Must be Tibetan refugees in India/Nepal with valid Identity Certificate

Decision Timeline

• TCSEP grants for activities within the grant year
• Recent cycle: Applications due December 5, 2024 for 2025 activities
• Scholarship program timelines follow U.S. Department of State schedules

Success Rates

• 2023: 129 grant awards totaling $10,926,442
• 2024: 86 awards totaling approximately $12,187,024
• Success rate percentages not publicly disclosed

Reapplication Policy

• TCSEP: Existing grantees "strongly encouraged to apply" for continuation
• Matching Grants: Recent recipients ineligible until following cycle

Application Success Factors

• Mission Alignment: Proposals must explicitly align with TTF's goal of "safeguarding the distinct cultural identity of the Tibetan people while promoting self-reliance and unity"

• Addressing Gaps: TCSEP targets "critical community needs left unaddressed by large U.S. Government-funded programs" - clearly articulate unique value

• Multi-year Partnership Potential: New TCSEP applicants must demonstrate sustainability and long-term partnership capacity

• Community Participation: Matching Grants prioritizes proposals with documented community-led needs assessment

• Youth Leadership: Applications featuring youth empowerment and leadership development align well with TTF priorities

• Recent Funded Examples: TibetWrites (literary publishing), Drokmo (gender justice/reproductive health), Reimagining Doeguling (water conservation), microentrepreneurship programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Tibetan-only focus: Exclusively funds Tibetan-led organizations or programs directly serving Tibetan communities
• Multiple entry points: Five distinct grant/scholarship programs with different eligibility criteria
• TCSEP is primary NGO route: Main competitive grant program for civil society organizations ($5,000-$40,000)
• Relationship building valued: Multi-year partnerships explicitly preferred; consider building relationship before applying
• Fill service gaps: Focus on needs not covered by large government programs
• Document community input: Particularly for Matching Grants, show evidence of participatory needs assessment
• High institutional standards: 99% Charity Navigator score suggests expectation of strong governance from grantees

References

1. The Tibet Fund Official Website: https://tibetfund.org (accessed February 2025)
2. Tibet Fund Grants Page: https://tibetfund.org/grants/ (accessed February 2025)
3. Tibetan Civil Society Empowerment Program: https://tibetfund.org/tibetan-civil-society-empowerment-program/ (accessed February 2025)
4. Tibet Fund Annual Report 2023: https://tibetfund.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/The-Tibet-Fund-Annual-Report-2023.pdf
5. Tibet Fund IRS Form 990 (2023): ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
6. Charity Navigator Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/133115145
7. Central Tibetan Administration - 2024 Scholarship Program Announcement: https://tibet.net/2024-tibetan-scholarship-program-announcement/
8. Triple Funds - TCSEP 2024 Program Details: https://triple-funds.com/tf-entry/2024-tibetan-civil-society-and-community-empowerment-program/