Membership in the Shambhala Trust is the primary vehicle for engaging in the practice of generosity as described in the section on Trust History and the Mission Statement. This includes discussing proposals for grants and making donations. We warmly invite everyone who is inspired by the vision of building enlightened society to join at an appropriate level of commitment as Core, Associate, Supporting or Contributing members, as described below.
Core members
Core members are donors who have made a substantial commitment of time and resources to the Trust, meeting twice a year to set and implement policy for the Trust, and then to review and fund proposals. Core members also serve as sponsors/contacts for applicants submitting proposals.
Associate, Supporting, and Contributing members
Associate, Supporting, and Contributing members can participate in strategic decisions about funding worthwhile projects within the Shambhala community that might not otherwise receive financial support. These members are donors who may or may not attend Trust’s semi-annual meetings and take part in the discussions taking place there. Whether or not they attend, these members will receive all relevant information from the project applications and minutes of prior meetings before each meeting takes place. These members may – but do not need to – specify the projects to which they want their donations to be directed.
Associate, Supporting, and Contributing members are asked to donate at least the following amounts annually:
- Associate members: $2,000
- Supporting members: $1,000
- Contributing members: $500
If you are interested in joining the Trust in one of these four categories, current members would be happy to talk with you about their experience and inspiration. Once you have decided that you would like to join us, you may start the process by contacting the Trust Administrator.