<2006 Annual Report-4>

In March 2006 we hosted a major fundraising event: Being Peace in a Time of War, a celebration which featured Bhante Suhita Dharma and Tenzin Robert Thurman as our speakers. The event, held at Saint Mary’s Church in San Francisco, attracted over 300 people. To our delight, we met our fundraising goals and brought in a net income of $25,000. Our intention is to make this an annual event, with the purpose of not only raising funds for BPF but of sharing our mission with a wider audience.

The event, combined with our continued presence within the national and international community of socially engaged Buddhists, had ripple effects on our fundraising efforts. Overall, we had a successful year financially, ending with a net income of nearly $15,000. Revenue from individual member contributions increased by $20,000 over the 2005 amount. Nearly 500 donors participate in the Bodhisattva Circle, which provides the opportunity for individuals to sustain their financial support over three years on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. We continue to maintain a strong base of 4,000 members, and we gained 650 new members through our annual membership acquisition mailing. All these signs indicate that the organization has stabilized quite well since earlier periods of leadership transitions and financial volatility from 2002-2004.

Our programs also experienced considerable growth. We gained additional foundation support for the Coming Home Initiative, a project of our Transformative Justice Program, and saw an increase of support for our chapter work and BASE programs. The Youth Program’s Teen Retreats continue to draw more participants and support from foundations and individuals every year; compared to the previous year, income from the 2006 retreats increased by $15,000.

In spring of 2006, BPF took some deep breaths and reflected together as an organization during a board and staff strategic planning process. Over an extended weekend that included time to practice and lengthy discussions about our individual visions for the organization, a three-year strategic plan was produced. We see this plan as a key tool in increasing membership participation in the future.

For the first time in years, BPF held a membership gathering, which took place at the Garrison Institute in New York in June. The gathering was an important way to deepen a sense of community and partnership among BPF members and chapter leaders. Over three days, we connected, shared the diversity of our dharma practice, and brainstormed strategies for social change. Additionally, Maia and BPF staff and board members shared a draft of the strategic plan and invited feedback from members and chapters.

By the year’s end, BPF maintained a robust cash balance thanks to the continued support from our members. The coming year promises to hold new beginnings as we say good-bye to some key staff, including Maia Duerr our Executive Director, and make room for new staff. We look forward to the future as we continue on our journey to bring together wisdom and compassion for progressive social change.

(More detailed financial statement will be included in PDF file of 2006 Annual Report, to be posted soon.)

All of this work has been made possible through the generosity of our members, as well as grants received from:

We offer our supporters an opportunity to sustain BPF through a three-year pledge program called the Bodhisattva Circle, at amounts ranging from $10/month and upwards. We gratefully acknowledge the more than 500 people whose membership in this Circle and consistent giving provides a strong foundation for our work. Thank you!

We bow in gratitude to all who have supported the Buddhist Peace Fellowship during 2006, and to the many volunteers who have offered their time and talents.

BPF Fundraising Mission Statement

The Buddhist Peace Fellowship views fundraising as an important aspect of the
Buddhist practice of dana (generosity), which has the potential to transform
scarcity into sufficiency, and which is based on principles of
interdependence, gratitude, and inclusion. In all our fundraising efforts,
we vow to hold the quality of relationships over attachment to outcome.