EIN 77-0284767

Mind and Life Institute

IRS 501(c) type
501(c)(3)
Num. employees
25
Year formed
1991
Most recent tax filings
2022-12-01
NTEE code, primary
Description
Mind and Life Institute bridges science and contemplative wisdom to foster insight and inspire action toward flourishing. Its archives hold 35 years of dialogues between His Holiness the Dalai Lama and leading researchers and other thought leaders, as well as recordings from 18 summer research institutes and 4 international symposia exploring various topics. In 2022, the Mind & Life podcast continued with seasons 5 & 6, offering 18 one-hour long episodes with over 650,000 downloads. The podcast addresses fundamental questions that arise through bridging science and contemplation.
Total revenues
$3,320,239
2022
Total expenses
$3,755,763
2022
Total assets
$8,595,479
2022
Num. employees
25
2022

Program areas at Mind and Life Institute

Research institutes: the 19th annual summer research Institute, was held in june 2022 and was entitled "othering, belonging, and becoming". The online format allowed us to welcome over 350 participants from 40 countries and 6 continents. The program included plenaries, small groups, storytelling 'pods, and contemplative sessions to explore the root causes and potential solutions to the growing divides in our world. 115 scholarships were provided to create a more diverse and inclusive experience for all participants.
Mind & Life podcast:in 2022 the Mind & Life podcast entitled "Mind & Life" continued with seasons 5 & 6 with 18 one-hour long episodes with over 650,000 downloads. The podcast addresses fundamental questions that arise through bridging science and contemplative wisdom. Conversations on the podcast integrate contemplative approaches with varied perspectives including psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, religion, art, and activism. Mind & Life's host, wendy hasenkamp, investigates these complex questions with leading researchers, thinkers, and on-the-ground practitioners, moving us toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and our world. Online summit: in november 2022, Mind & Life hosted our second online summit: the global joy summit in connection with 3 strategic partners. More than 186,000 viewers in 190 countries tuned in to this free, online event. Building on the inspiring friendship and worldviews of the dalai lama and archbishop desmond tutu, the summit brought together renowned scientists, contemplatives, activists, and artists who offered insights and practical steps for living with joy in challenging times. Citing a range of contemporary challenges including individualism, materialism, and anxiety, presenters illuminated a more joy-filled path forward rooted in open-heartedness, community, and acknowledgement of our fundamental interconnection.conversations with the dalai lama: in october, Mind & Life co-hosted (with Mind & Life europe) a profoundly enriching conversation with the dalai lama and leading scientists on "interdependence, ethics, and social networks," to explore this question and more. Presenters included evolutionary biologist joseph henrich, psychologist molly crockett, philosopher hanne de jaegher, and cognitive scientist abeba birhane. This two-day discussion spanned the tension that exists between diverse views and perspectives in today's world and the need to come together as one to address our collective challenges
Grant programs: in 2022, Mind & Life offered 2 grant programs, awarding a total of 16 projects in 6 countries. The varela grants, named for co-founder francisco j. varela, fund wide-ranging scholarly examinations of contemplative techniques, from neuroscience to anthropology to clinical psychology. The peace grants support research that promotes positive change in the world by examining wholesome mental qualities such as prosociality, empathy, altruism, compassion, and ethics (peace). A third grant program: contemplative changemaking grants was in the planning stages this year. Starting in 2023 these grants will fund small-scale, impact-oriented work undertaken by individuals, community workers, and non-profit organizations that ground themselves in contemplative practices to achieve real impact in people's everyday lives
Digital archives projectour archives hold 35 years of dialogues between his holiness the dalai lama and leading researchers and other thought leaders, as well as recordings from 18 summer research institutes and 4 international symposia. The topics explored are timeless and remain of significant value for anyone who wishes to better understand the human Mind. Through a new platform on our website, we began to share some of our favorite moments from the past, including key teachings from the dalai lama from our extensive video archive. We will continue to build on this archive and offer more teachings in the years to come.online course: Mind & Life broadcasted key learnings, offerings, and resources aimed to foster and strengthen our human-earth connection. Drawing from rich content presented at Mind & Life's 2021 summer research Institute, in 2022 we launched a new online climate course, "the Mind, the human-earth connection, and the climate crisis." The 10-hour course examines the root causes of the climate crisis and strategies for healing our relationship with one another and the earth. More than 800 people have enrolled in the self-paced course to date, which features presentations from 20+ leading experts, including indigenous leaders, scientists, scholars, contemplative teachers, and activists around the globe. Global majority leadership & mentorship: in 2022, we completed the pilot phase of Mind & Life's global majority leadership and mentorship program with the goal of supporting and growing the pool of global majority investigators in contemplative research, particularly those who attend the Mind & Life summer research Institute and those who may seek funding from our grants. The program was developed by an interdisciplinary committee of black, latinx, asian, and indigenous contemplative scholars, with six mentees paired with mentors during the pilot phase. Young adult engagement: throughout 2022, Mind & Life set out to explore the feasibility and parameters for engaging young adults across the globe more actively in our work. Over the course of the year, we conducted field research/interviews with like-minded organizations, performed desk research into young adult needs/aspirations, carried out focus groups/interviews with young adults currently engaged in our programming, formed an internal advisory group, engaged three external young adult advisors, held five visioning sessions with representation across the organization, refined our audience, and developed an outcome logic model and action guide to direct our efforts moving forward. We are pleased to have developed a strategy that was deeply informed by young adults, with a young adult advisory council being formed to advise the initial roll-out of the strategy in 2023. Insights on flourishingthrough its pioneering role in bridging science and contemplative wisdom, Mind & Life has generated vital insights into the nature of the human Mind with profound relevance to the challenges of our time. In fall 2022, we released insights, a new multimedia website exploring key learnings inspired by Mind & Life's work at the intersection of science and contemplative wisdom. At the time of its launch, the site featured 18 essays by leading researchers and contemplatives, including jud brewer, dekila chungyalpa, roshi joan halifax, rhonda magee, jenny mascaro, thupten jinpa, and more. We'll continue publishing essays and sharing insights from leaders in the field on this platform for years to come.in 2022, Mind & Life completed its inspiring minds online speaker series which brought together thought leaders and contemplatives to engage with one another and the audience in exploring the role of the Mind in human flourishing. Two sessions were held reaching an audience of over 1,800. Also in 2022, Mind & Life celebrated it's 35th anniversary with a series of events, including one in person event in april, sharing Mind & Life's enduring impact and offering opportunities to deeply engage with contemplative science insights in addition, Mind & Life developed programming ideas and event themes with the assistance of a steering council composed of eight outside experts from the field of contemplative research and three staff members. The council assesses trends, topics and themes that are relevant in the field of contemplative research and steers programming themes.

Who funds Mind and Life Institute

Grants from foundations and other nonprofits
GrantmakerDescriptionAmount
Tides FoundationHealthy Individuals and Communities$300,000
Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF)Sciences$125,000
Bess Family FoundationGeneral Grant$100,000
...and 15 more grants received

Personnel at Mind and Life Institute

NameTitleCompensation
Ryan StaggDirector of Digital Strategy$112,179
Margaret GuggenheimerDirector of Advancement$113,371
Krista WeihDirector of Grants and Events$124,130
Wendy HasenkampScience Director$111,717
Susan Bauer-WuPresident$247,980
...and 5 more key personnel

Financials for Mind and Life Institute

RevenuesFYE 12/2022
Total grants, contributions, etc.$3,072,536
Program services$86,159
Investment income and dividends$80,768
Tax-exempt bond proceeds$0
Royalty revenue$23,762
Net rental income$0
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets$57,014
Net income from fundraising events$0
Net income from gaming activities$0
Net income from sales of inventory$0
Miscellaneous revenues$0
Total revenues$3,320,239

Form 990s for Mind and Life Institute

Fiscal year endingDate received by IRSFormPDF link
2022-122023-07-24990View PDF
2021-122022-08-04990View PDF
2020-122021-07-14990View PDF
2019-122021-01-21990View PDF
2018-122019-10-25990View PDF
...and 9 more Form 990s

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Data update history
October 25, 2023
Received grants
Identified 3 new grant, including a grant for $50,000 from The Owsley Brown III Philanthropic Foundation
August 25, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2022
August 21, 2023
Posted financials
Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2021
August 19, 2023
Received grants
Identified 15 new grant, including a grant for $600,000 from Tides Foundation
June 26, 2023
Updated personnel
Identified 2 new personnel
Nonprofit Types
Social advocacy organizationsHealth organizationsCharities
Issues
HealthHuman services
Characteristics
Receives government fundingTax deductible donations
General information
Address
977 Seminole Trail PMB 363
Charlottesville, VA 22901
Metro area
Charlottesville, VA
Website URL
mindandlife.org/ 
Phone
(434) 939-0001
Facebook page
mindandlife 
Twitter profile
@mindandlifeorg 
IRS details
EIN
77-0284767
Fiscal year end
December
Taxreturn type
Form 990
Year formed
1991
Eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions (Pub 78)
Yes
Categorization
NTEE code, primary
E00: Health Care: General
NAICS code, primary
813319: Social Advocacy Organizations
Parent/child status
Independent
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