Woodenfish Foundation

Overview

Mission

Woodenfish aims to establish a global network of ethical and compassionate professionals, scholars, and leaders through education, primarily through promoting Chinese Buddhist philosophy and incorporation in modern life.

What it reported doing in 2024

June 21-23, 2024 Buddhism, Science and FutureAI Grand Hotel, Taipei, TaiwanThe Woodenfish hosted a summit, Buddhism, Consciousness and AI Summit with panel discussion regarding AI and Buddhism. Panel discussion including 1.Buddhist Consciousness and Modern Science -This panel considers the mechanisms behind and products of mindfulness practices and its detractors2.AI and the Buddhist Ethics - This panel discusses the ethical implications of technological developments from Buddhist philosophical perspectives.3.AI and Buddhist Metaphysics -This panel thinks about the possibilities and limitations of AI from Buddhist philosophical understandings of intelligence, karma, and consciousness.4.Application of AI and Buddhism -This panel explores AI application in Buddhist spaces and Buddhist application in AI spaces.5.AI and Buddhist Future - This panel weighs the possibilities of using AI toward Buddhist goals/ discusses positive relationships between AI and humans moving forwardThe panelists including Co Abbot of San Fransico Zen Center, professors and director from various universities, author of Buddhist book, founding & program director of AI related labs and programs.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 74% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The filing allocates 100% of reported program-service expenses outside its grant, affiliate-payment, and member-benefit lines. This expense classification does not rule out separately announced grant awards.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
261616887
IRS 990 coverage
2024–2024
Forms available
Form 990 2024, Form 990-N 2023
Location
Arcadia, CA, USA
Phone
8572008733
Rating
49
Verdict
MIXED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Scholarships, Student Financial Aid Services, Awards
Affiliation
Buddhism

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$273,053
Expenses
$110,252
Assets
$247,599
Liabilities
$0

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024. Amounts in USD.

The verdict

MIXED - The filed numbers largely add up and revenue comfortably covers expenses. A relatively small share of available resources goes toward mission work and a relatively small share of voting board members are independent.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 40
  • Transparency & Controls: 92
  • Accountability: 6
  • Sustainability: 80
  • Growth: NotEnoughData

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 29.3%; rating input score 29
  • Program expense ratio: 72.7%; rating input score 73
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Limited
  • Grant itemization coverage: Limited
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 0%; rating input score 0; 7th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 1 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 14
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Fail
    • Whistleblower policy: Fail
    • Document-retention policy: Fail
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Fail
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Fail
    • Audit committee oversight: Pass
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: 59.6%; rating input score 94; 94th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 2.25; rating input score 62; 62nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0; rating input score 80; 80th percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 69; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: Limited
  • Revenue growth: Limited
  • Asset growth: Limited

Details

  • Where the money goes: 29.3% of revenue deployed · 72.7% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 0 of 3 board members independent · 1 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 7 filed program accomplishments · $80K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 3 people listed
  • Consistency: 14 of 14 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 3 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: Resolved incoming and outgoing counterparties from filed money flows.
  • Grant readiness: Federal tax and exclusion status, award history, and grant-maker relationships.
  • People: Everyone the filings name, and which of them the filings identify by more than a name.

Key Signals

Signals prioritize questions for review. They are not findings of misconduct.

  • High — Financial Efficiency: Mission deployment rate scored 29/100.
  • High — Accountability: Independent voting board scored 0/100.
  • High — Accountability: Governance controls: 6 of 7 not reported.

Leadership & pay

3 people listed

People named in this filing

  • VENERABLE DR YIFA (President)
  • PETER ROMASKIEWICZ (Secretary)
  • KIM DEMBROSKY (Treasurer)

Selected names, not a complete roster or a statement of current roles. Open leadership details for the complete filed list.

Source: IRS Form 990. Selected filing: tax year 2024.