Infinite Smile Sangha

Overview

Mission

Infinite Smile Sangha is a non-profit organization (501[c]3) that endeavors to integrate relevant spirituality with 21st century living, through Zen-inspired, meditative practices led and taught by Michael McAlister—aiming to develop stillness, wisdom, and compassion in day-to-day life. Mindfulness practices build an attentive awareness of the present moment and appear to support the kind of well-being school communities seek to cultivate. Currently there are increases in demands for the services offered by crisis counselors, who work to serve students’ emotional needs. Students are increasingly reporting levels of chronic sadness, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. This is reflected nationally with high school students around the country reporting increased incidents of stress and depression. This issue represents larger educational problems, which correlate increased stress...

Infinite Smile Sangha (501[c]3) is a Zen-inspired, meditation-focused nonprofit that aims to share spiritual teachings integrating stillness, wisdom, and compassion into everyday life. The organization teaches through practices such as weekly virtual sit sessions (including meditation, a dharma talk, and Q&A) and also offers silent intensives and weekend retreats designed to support deep stillness and reflection. Its teachings draw on Zen/Buddhist training and also integrate wisdom from multiple traditions while providing opportunities for practitioners to deepen their relationship to what they consider sacred.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN

731734024

IRS 990-N coverage

2024–2024

Official website data refreshed

Sep 2026

Forms available

Form 990-EZ 2010, Form 990-N 2024

Location

Lafayette, CA, US

Phone

(925) 871-1622

Rating confidence

Limited

Sector

Religion Related N.E.C.

Affiliation

Buddhism

Official website

The verdict

- This form does not report enough financial and governance detail to rate the organization. That is normal for this form and is not a warning sign.

Rating breakdown

Details

• What they do: 1 operating location identified
• Postcard: tax year 2024
• Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
• 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.

Grant-readiness screening is separate from the live rating, not a measure of program quality. Review the source records before making a grant decision.

• High — Grant Readiness: California registration: this organization is recorded as not currently operating in California.