Amitabha Buddhist Society of USA

Overview

Mission

Buddhist temple providing free distribution of buddhist materials and TV/Radio/Newspaper broadcasting of Buddhist Teachings to the general public.

What it reported doing in 2024

EProviding TV/Radio/Newspaper Broadcasting of Buddhist teachings to the general public and anticipating that the public would be spiritually and physically benefited and will prosper. TV broadcasting of Buddhist teachings(30 minutes) daily or on weekend through KTSF channel 26, TVB cable-San Francisco, TVB Cable-Los Angeles, TVB-Satellite (TVBe) and PTV Network (USA) Inc. Radio broadcasting of Buddhist teachings through AM 1380-New York(M-F)for 30 minutes. Buddha Name Chanting (60 Sec) broadcasting through San Francisco FM 96.1 & AM 1400, New York AM 1380 & AM 1480, Los Angeles AM 1300 & AM 1430. Buddha Name Advertising on World Journal Newspaper(SF, Seattle, HI, DC, NY), ZhongGuo Daily News(LA), and Chinese L.A. Daily News. Estimated more than 50,000 people have benefited from these program services.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 100% of the money available for current operations came from contributions and gifts.
Distribution model
Direct operator. The nonprofit carried out 100% of its reported program work directly.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
770211532
IRS 990 coverage
2015–2024
Website checked
Jun 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Headquarters
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
Rating
72
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Buddhism
Affiliation
Buddhism

Official website

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and the filed numbers largely add up. The filing reports that some governance safeguards are missing and the website gives limited detail about leaders and governance practices.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 100
  • Transparency & Controls: 69
  • Accountability: 51
  • Sustainability: 22
  • Growth: 0

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Fundraising efficiency: Limited

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 63rd 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
  • Public monitoring controls: 0 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Public policy transparency: 0 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Public financial transparency: 0 of 5 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Impact reporting controls: 0 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Public relationship transparency: No; rating input score 0

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 77.8%; rating input score 78; 24th percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 2 of 7 controls in place; rating input score 29
  • Public governance controls: 0 of 4 controls in place; rating input score 0
  • Zakat policy transparency: Limited

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -67.2%; rating input score 25; 25th percentile among comparable filings
  • Operating reserve ratio: 0; rating input score 3; 3rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: Limited
  • Officer compensation ratio: 0%; rating input score 60; 60th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: -7.3% per year; rating input score 0; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -11.8% per year; rating input score 0; 29th percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: -17.6% per year; rating input score 0; 8th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 100% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 7 of 9 board members independent · 2 of 7 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 3 filed program accomplishments · $147K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $0 · 9 people listed
  • Consistency: 15 of 15 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 5 filed schedules · includes major donors
  • Filing history: 9 annual filings from 2015 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • 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.