As an all volunteer organization, Dallas Shambhala depends on the generosity and participation of everyone involved with the center.

One goal of the 2009 Survey was to learn more about how individuals
perceived Center Finances and to elicit suggestions for ways to improve the financial health of the Center.

The results of these questions are summarized in the table below.

Who includes Dallas Shambhala Center as part of their charitable giving?

Overall, about two-thirds of the respondents reported that they included the Dallas Shambhala Center as part of their charitable giving.

Suggestions for a financially healthy Center

Individuals were also asked an open-ended question to share ideas for growing a financially healthy Center. See the list of suggestions below.

*Annual memberships

*I would suggest talking to large charitable organizations that have a lot of experience raising money. If a fundraiser can join the community, even better! This is probably one of the quickest ways to ramp up the expertise level (other than having rich people join, if they are not members already)

*Think it would be helpful to have a task force to work on this - There is
probably a lot we could learn from the other Shambhala centers also.

*I thought it might help to have the bowl for donations be in a more visible spot, or perhaps to make it a point to remind people on their way out or at the end of the talk where the bowl is and how much it helps us if they contribute.

*Creating more activities and diverse classes, ask the members their
preferences for the activities and the new classes.

*Request some grands.

*Organize some art events like a concert.

*Sale of bonsai trees.

*Make a store. Promote ecoturism and buddhism at the same time by
organizing some trips.

*Have some suggested ways/amounts for regular charitable giving

Read more about survey participants’ views on other ways to contribute to the Dallas Shambhala Meditation Center.

Join the discussion and add your suggestions.
Members can log in to leave comments in the box below. Others can send comments directly by email to Dallas_Shambhala@yahoo.com