Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $17,438,908 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Not applicable (invitation-only)
• Grant Range: Varies - 14 awards distributed in 2024
• Geographic Focus: International (primarily India and Nepal)

Contact Details

• Website: www.vedicpandits.org
• Address: 1100 North 4th St. Ste 124, Fairfield, IA 52556
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation (EIN: 26-2986750) is a 501(c)(3) public charity founded to honor Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teacher, Brahmananda Saraswati (Guru Dev). With annual grant distributions exceeding $17 million, the foundation supports over 5,000 Vedic Pandits across more than 70 locations in India and Nepal. The foundation's mission centers on promoting global peace, prosperity, and invincibility through supporting large groups practicing Transcendental Meditation and advanced Vedic techniques. Operating from Fairfield, Iowa—a major center for the Transcendental Meditation movement in the United States—the foundation maintains a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and employs 13 staff members alongside 15 volunteers.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two primary funding streams:

• Direct Support to Vedic Pandits: Financial aid for living expenses of over 5,000 practitioners
• Organizational Grants: Support for non-profit organizations implementing TM-related peace programs

Priority Areas

• Support for Vedic Pandits performing traditional rituals for world peace
• Transcendental Meditation and advanced TM techniques programs
• Coherence-creating groups practicing collective meditation
• Organizations operating at the Brahmasthan (geographic center) of India
• Peace-building initiatives through Vedic practices

What They Don't Fund

• General nonprofit programs outside the TM/Vedic tradition
• Secular peace-building or development projects
• Organizations not aligned with Maharishi's teachings
• Programs outside their specific philosophical framework

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is led by Dr. Harris Kaplan as CEO, overseeing a team of 13 employees and 15 volunteers. An Investment Committee manages the endowment funds and oversees granting and accounting procedures for disbursements to implementing organizations in India. The foundation maintains a comprehensive monitoring system including detailed grant requests, grant reports, and audits from recipient organizations, with an on-site team for progress verification.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded through pre-established partnerships with organizations implementing Transcendental Meditation and Vedic programs, primarily in India and Nepal. The foundation works with specific "managing partners in India" who serve as implementing organizations for their programs.

Getting on Their Radar

Given the foundation's specific mission and closed partnership model, organizations seeking support would need to:

• Be actively engaged in Transcendental Meditation or Vedic practices aligned with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teachings
• Have established connections within the TM movement community in Fairfield, Iowa or internationally
• Demonstrate capacity to implement programs supporting Vedic Pandits or peace-creating groups
• Consider partnering with existing recipient organizations like MVVVVP at the Brahmasthan of India

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are distributed to pre-selected partner organizations

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates through a closed partnership model rather than open applications, traditional application success factors don't apply. Organizations within the Transcendental Meditation movement that share the foundation's specific mission may be considered for partnership based on:

• Demonstrated alignment with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's teachings and practices
• Capacity to support Vedic Pandits or implement TM-based peace programs
• Existing relationships within the TM movement network
• Geographic focus on India, Nepal, or other key locations for Vedic practices
• Track record of implementing coherence-creating group meditation programs

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grant-making foundation with open applications
• Funding is exclusively for organizations within the Transcendental Meditation movement
• The foundation distributed $17.4 million in 2024 to just 14 organizations
• Primary focus is supporting Vedic Pandits in India and Nepal
• Sister organizations include the Brahmananda Saraswati Yagya Foundation and international counterparts
• Organizations outside the TM movement should not pursue funding from this source
• The foundation maintains high transparency standards with a 4-star Charity Navigator rating

References

• Charity Navigator Profile - Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation (accessed March 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 data for EIN 26-2986750 (accessed March 2026)
• Official Website: www.vedicpandits.org (accessed March 2026)
• Candid/GuideStar Profile - Brahmananda Saraswati Foundation (accessed March 2026)
• Related organization research - Brahmananda Saraswati Yagya Foundation EIN 46-3250017 (accessed March 2026)