Center for Contemplative Research

Legal name: The Center for Contemplative Research

Overview

Mission

To explore the nature and potentials of consciousness firsthand, while fully engaging with scientists to develop rigorous measures for novel research into the nature of the mind. About Icon The mission of the CCR is to develop, apply, and proliferate methods of contemplative science — through expert training, collaborative research, and accessible education — to further the exploration of the nature and potentials of consciousness, deepen empirical understanding of genuine well-being, and offer accessible tools for flourishing to the world. CCR is associated with the Contemplative Consciousness Network (CCN), a UK Charity whose vision is the transformation of individual consciousness via contemplative practice and scientific investigation for mutual benefit and a world of peace and wisdom. CCN’s intention aligns deeply with the purpose, mission, and vision of CCR. CCR will draw on...

What it reported doing in 2024

The ccr is a global network of contemplative research observatories, where professional contemplatives and researchers work collaboratively across the interface of religion, science, and philosophy. Highly trained contemplatives engage in long-term meditation retreat and collaborate with a global team of expert scientists to measure the impacts of such practices on genuine well-being. The findings inform the development of secular educational offerings for mental balance as well as encourage a dialogue and renaissance across contemplative wisdom traditions. The ccr north america currently hosts 14 full-time contemplatives collaborating with 45 scientists to fathom the nature of mind and human flourishing in a challenging era.

Operating model

Revenue model
Donor-supported. 97% 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.
  • Includes noncash contributions: Reported contributions include donated property or goods.

Nonprofit profile at a glance

EIN
851666977
IRS 990 coverage
2020–2024
Official website data refreshed
Jun 2026
Forms available
Form 990 2024
Location
Crestone, CO, United States
Phone
7192564042
Rating
70
Verdict
SUPPORTED
Rating confidence
Moderate
Sector
Buddhism
Affiliation
Buddhism

Official website

Reported finances

Revenue
$363,705
Expenses
$473,425
Assets
$2,399,688
Liabilities
$109,795

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

The verdict

SUPPORTED - A large share of available resources goes toward mission work and most voting board members are independent. The filing reports few safeguards for money sent abroad and the filing does not identify recipients for some grant dollars.

Rating breakdown

  • Financial Efficiency: 85
  • Transparency & Controls: 55
  • Accountability: 74
  • Sustainability: 33
  • Growth: 60

Detailed rating inputs

Financial Efficiency

  • Mission deployment rate: 100%; rating input score 100
  • Program expense ratio: 78.8%; rating input score 79
  • Fundraising efficiency: $6.57 raised per $1 spent on fundraising; rating input score 28; 28th percentile among comparable filings

Transparency & Controls

  • Consistency checks: 100%; rating input score 100; 64th percentile among comparable filings
  • Pay-setting controls: Limited
  • Foreign activity oversight: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Grant itemization coverage: Scored; rating input score 0
  • Major donor itemization: Yes; rating input score 100
  • Related-party transparency: Limited

Accountability

  • Independent voting board: 83.3%; rating input score 83; 22nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Governance controls: 5 of 8 controls in place; rating input score 62
    • Conflict-of-interest policy: Pass
    • Whistleblower policy: Pass
    • Document-retention policy: Pass
    • CEO compensation review process: NotApplicable
    • Other executive compensation review process: Fail
    • Form 990 shared with the board: Pass
    • Board meeting minutes documented: Pass
    • Audit committee oversight: Missing
    • Independent financial-statement audit: Fail

Sustainability

  • Operating margin: -30.2%; rating input score 9; 9th percentile among comparable filings
  • Total-asset coverage ratio: 5.07; rating input score 79; 79th percentile among comparable filings
  • Liabilities to assets ratio: 0.05; rating input score 33; 33rd percentile among comparable filings
  • Officer compensation ratio: 21.1%; rating input score 18; 18th percentile among comparable filings

Growth

  • Program expense growth: 27.2% per year; rating input score 100; 89th percentile among comparable filings
  • Revenue growth: -30.6% per year; rating input score 0; 2nd percentile among comparable filings
  • Asset growth: 11.2% per year; rating input score 100; 69th percentile among comparable filings

Details

  • What they do: 1 programs and campaigns described on the official site
  • Where the money goes: 100% of revenue deployed · 78.8% of spending went to programs
  • Governance: 5 of 6 board members independent · 5 of 8 filing controls reported
  • Programs: 1 filed program accomplishment · $373K in reported program spending
  • Leadership: top reported pay $100K · 7 people listed
  • Consistency: 25 of 25 current checks pass
  • Schedules: 6 filed schedules · includes major donors and foreign activity
  • Filing history: 5 annual filings from 2020 to 2024
  • Contacts: How to reach this organization
  • Money network: 1 filed money-flow record
  • Related organizations: 1 filed related-organization link
  • 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 — Transparency & Controls: Foreign activity oversight scored 0/100.
  • High — Transparency & Controls: Grant itemization coverage scored 0/100.
  • High — Financial Efficiency: Fundraising efficiency scored 28/100.
  • Review — Accountability: Governance controls: 2 of 7 not reported.
  • High — Sustainability: Operating margin scored 9/100.
  • High — Growth: Revenue growth scored 0/100.
  • High — Sustainability: Officer compensation ratio scored 18/100.
  • Moderate — Sustainability: Liabilities to assets ratio scored 33/100.

Leadership & pay

7 people listed

Highest reported compensation

  • COURTNEY JOHNSON (EXECUTIVE DI): $100,008 total reported compensation
  • B ALAN WALLACE (FOUNDING PRE): $50,000 total reported compensation

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