Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Compassion Relief
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Tzu Chi is accredited by the United Nations and mobilizes to provide international disaster relief in a big way. Our volunteers arrive with immediate emergency necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and medical supplies. We also offer direct financial aid to those in need. And, we're on the ground for the long haul, rebuilding, setting up schools and water supply, offering free clinics, and more.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Food Pantry
Hunger hides beneath the facade of upscale S. Cal where one in six individuals often go hungry because stable access to food is beyond the financial means of the families. After 7 months of studying for a solution, Tzu Chi plans to introduce a mobile-based food pantry service where food can be delivered directly to the communities in need. Tzu Chi has already arranged with local schools(title 1) for distribution when the service begins, where up to 500 students (and their families) in just one such school, would receive regular food assistance.
Medical Outreach Expansion
Recent changes in healthcare laws and insurance practices have resulted in a polarized group of people near poverty line for whom health coverage is mkore out of reach than ever. For the poor or the undocumented without regular access to healthcare, small health concerns often develop into major health issues over time. Tzu Chi has conducted free medical outreach care over the past 20 years.
Scholarship program
Assist underprivileged college-bound high school graduates and returning undergraduates. Help students pursue their dreams.
Winter Care Distributions
This programs serve low-income families, homeless individuals, seniors, and parolees.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of people within the organization's service area accessing food aid
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adults, Homeless people, Victims and oppressed people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
With two 22-foot trucks carrying up to 20,000 pounds of fresh produce and wholesome food, we can serve up to 500 families per distribution and up to 20,000 families annually.
Number of students receiving homework help
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
All across the country, Tzu Chi Volunteers help low-income, underprivileged elementary school students focusing on their studies and thrive, provides after school tutoring and more.
Number of students who receive scholarship funds and/or tuition assistance
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of meals served or provided
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of people within the organization's service area accessing cash transfers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We provide financial and material reliefs to victims of disasters caused by floods, wildfires, tornados throughout the county
Number of inmates served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
We started an inmate support program in late 2013. Volunteers go to selected correctional institutes to offer group discussion sessions based on Jin Si Aphorisms as well as anonymous pen pal program.
Number of tax returns completed by volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Our free services to tax return preparation help low-income families.
Number of entrance scholarships and awards and exit scholarships
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Adolescents
Related Program
Food Pantry
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Tzu Chi provides from $300 to $1,000 scholarship awards to college students to help them achieve their education dream.
Hours of tutoring administered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of dental care products distributed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of adults who received literacy services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Total weight of materials recycled
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Number of Mobile Field Clinics served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Economically disadvantaged people
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Tzu Chi's seven mobile clinics offer comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and cancer screening services to patients who have no insurance or access to ongoing medical care.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Tzu Chi provides food, clothing, shelter, direct financial assistance, and more. We improve lives in tangible ways and rejoice in how charity brings inner benefits too. Transforming feelings of helplessness and despair into hope and empowerment, and bringing out the good in people through the happiness they discover when helping others is also our goal.
Illness is one of life's most painful challenges. Providing medical care to those who lack the means to pay was Tzu Chi's priority from the start. Today, we have a comprehensive network of hospitals, mobile units, doctors, medical professionals and volunteers offering free healthcare. Ours is a human and holistic approach that values the well-being of the patient, family, and medical team equally.
In the Education field, teaching the next generation matters when you have the future in mind. Tzu Chi has schools, colleges, and universities worldwide. Their shared objective is to deliver superior education and nurture virtue, kindness, compassion, and joy in selfless giving. With deep faith in human nature, we advance universal respect towards all people, regardless of race, culture, language or religion.
Tzu Chi is dedicated to fostering humanistic culture through civic responsibility and personal character. Founded on Buddhist philosophy, we advocate the view that as individuals, we should aspire to be moral, self-aware, and willing to act for the benefit of others. We offer support and spiritual guidance for pacifying negative emotions, developing love and compassion, and attaining wisdom.
Tzu Chi acts on the premise that we can protect the environment by the choices we make and our behavior as individuals. We actively promote waste reduction and recycling. We also discourage meat consumption and advocate a healthy diet consisting of more fruits and vegetables. Living a simpler lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint is crucial towards living in harmony with Mother Earth.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Achieving well-being is the essence of human existence, but a variety of obstacles can hinder the goal and cause misery. Tzu Chi is an international humanitarian organization whose mission is to relieve the suffering of those in need and create a better world for all.
Putting compassion into action is at the heart of Tzu Chi's mission. We have a global community of volunteers selflessly sharing their time, applying their energy, and offering their individual capacity for the benefit of others. With their sincerity and love, volunteers make all our charity, medical, educational, international relief, and environmental protection programs possible.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
Tzu Chi had a monthly base mobile clinic and the food pantry delivers to certain areas. We provide cash card for victims of disaster relief. We had character program nurture children and help them grow morally while building inner strength.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Charity is at the forefront of our mission. Tzu Chi provides food, clothing, shelter, direct financial assistance, and more. We improve lives in tangible ways and rejoice in how charity brings inner benefits too. Transforming feelings of helplessness and despair into hope and empowerment, and bringing out the good in people through the happiness they discover when helping others is also our goal.
Illness is one of life's most painful challenges. Providing medical care to those who lack the means to pay was Tzu Chi's priority from the start. Today, we have a comprehensive network of hospitals, mobile units, doctors, medical professionals and volunteers offering free healthcare. Ours is a human and holistic approach that values the well-being of the patient, family, and medical team equally.
On Education field, teaching the next generation matters when you have the future in mind. Tzu Chi has schools, colleges, and universities worldwide. Their shared objective is to deliver superior education and nurture virtue, kindness, compassion, and joy in selfless giving. With deep faith in human nature, we advance universal respect towards all people, regardless of race, culture, language or religion.
Tzu Chi is dedicated to fostering humanistic culture through civic responsibility and personal character. Founded on Buddhist philosophy, we advocate the view that as individuals, we should aspire to be moral, self-aware, and willing to act for the benefit of others. We offer support and spiritual guidance for pacifying negative emotions, developing love and compassion, and attaining wisdom.
Tzu Chi acts on the premise that we can protect the environment by the choices we make and our behavior as individuals. We actively promote waste reduction and recycling. We also discourage meat consumption and advocate a healthy diet consisting of more fruits and vegetables. Living a simpler lifestyle and reducing our carbon footprint is crucial towards living in harmony with Mother Earth.
Tzu Chi is accredited by the United Nations and mobilizes to provide international disaster relief in a big way. Our volunteers arrive with immediate emergency necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and medical supplies. We also offer direct financial aid to those in need. And, we're on the ground for the long haul, rebuilding, setting up schools and water supply, offering free clinics, and more.
We would also like to promote our Ethical Eating Day and let more people become vegetarian in the future.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation
Board of directorsas of 01/06/2023
Master Shih Cheng Yen
Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foudnation
Term: 2011 - 2012
Shih Der Ming
William Keh
Linda Sun
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation
Paulina Luan
Buddhist Tzu Chi Education Foundation
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data