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- About the Project
- 2019 Funds Have Been Awarded
- Become a Merit Box Practitioner
- Submitting Your Merit Box Offerings
- How to Apply for Merit Box Funds
About the Project
The International Merit Box Project was created in order to cultivate generosity as part of a daily practice. The Project began in 2001, and every year offerings are collected from FPMT students, centers, projects and services worldwide.
As of September 1, 2019, there have been US$1,082,755 in Merit Box offerings awarded through 287 grants to Dharma projects and initiatives working to fulfill the FPMT mission!
The grants have supported a wide range of Dharma activity. Holy objects, book publishing, helping ordained Sangha attend retreats, social service projects, translation work, Dharma libraries, education initiatives and trainings, and the list goes on…
The project is a tangible example of generosity and community in action: FPMT students all over the globe practicing together in order to benefit beings and support the Dharma.
2019 Funds Have Been Awarded
Below is the list of the 21 Dharma projects and activities that received funds from Merit Box offerings in 2019 (amounts are in US Dollars). Thank you to all who made Merit Box offerings!
Organization | Project | Awarded |
| Chenrezig Nuns Community, Australia | Resources for Hospital Chaplaincy | $500 |
| FPMT Italy | Translation of FPMT Materials into Italian | $2,500 |
| FPMT Mongolia | 16 Guidelines English | $3,000 |
| Ganden Tendar Ling, Russia | Discovering Buddhism Online Translation | $5,000 |
| International Mahayana Institute, France | Support Sangha to Attend Retreat with Lama Zopa Rinpoche | $500 |
| Jamyang Center, UK | Fire Alarm System | $5,000 |
| Khamlungpa Center, Mexico | Kangyur and Tengyur | $1,500 |
| Land of Calm Abiding, USA | Solar Upgrade | $1,000 |
| Langri Tangpa Centre, Australia | LTC Street Library | $300 |
| Lawudo, Nepal | New Retreat Rooms & Installation of Solar for Hot Shower | $5,000 |
| Liberation Prison Project, Australia | Office Equipment for Art Projects | $380 |
| Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program, India | Online Tibetan Language Course Platform | $1,000 |
| Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive, USA | Lamrim Year Book | $1,000 |
| Maitri Charitable Trust, India | Small and Large Animal Care and Shelter | $2,000 |
| Milarepa Center, USA | External Building Repairs | $1,000 |
| Milarepa Center, USA | Forest Plan Renewal | $1,000 |
| FPMT Student in Nepal | Feeding Stray Animals in Kathmandu | $500 |
| Pamtingpa Center, USA | Pamtingpa Center Gompa | $2,000 |
| Thubten Norbu Ling, USA | Dharma Friends Care Group | $920 |
| Tse Chen Ling, USA | Center Bathroom Upgrade | $1,500 |
| White Mahakala Study Group, Romania | Creating a Kadampa Stupa | $500 |
Total Awarded in 2019 | $34,100 |
Past Grants
View reports of past giving cycles through the Merit Box Project. As you read over the Dharma projects that have been supported by the generosity of thousands of students, please take a moment to rejoice!
2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010
2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018
A simple practice at home, can benefit Dharma communities worldwide!
Become a Merit Box Practitioner
Merit Box practitioners keep a Merit Box handy so they can place offerings in it throughout the year. Just think, one’s spare change can help build a new stupa, retreat cabin or translate a Dharma text!
By growing the number of Merit Box practitioners, we hope to also widen the number of projects benefiting from these kind donations. We invite you to consider starting this simple merit practice yourself! Merit Boxes are offered freely through the Foundation Store.
Click here to order a free Merit Box Practice Kit
How to Practice with Your Merit Box (instructions)
Submitting Your Merit Box Offerings
International Merit Box Project donations, which will next be used to create the 2019 grants, are collected now and continuously until March 31, 2019. You can also support the International Merit Box Project now by making a one-time or monthly recurring donation!
NOTE: If you are planning to submit more than US$500, please contact donations@fpmt.org for direct bank transfer information. Direct transfers for large donations save a lot on fees!
How to Apply for Merit Box Funds
Funds collected through the International Merit Box Project are annually disbursed as grants awarded for centers, projects, services, and study groups; for initiatives managed by FPMT International Office or initiatives elsewhere that further the Mission of FPMT.
The 2019 grant cycle was completed in May. Applications for 2020 can be submitted starting November 1st, 2019 through March 31, 2020. Please contact meritbox@fpmt.org to request an application. Applications for the 2019 funding cycle will be due March 31, 2020. Lama Zopa Rinpoche is involved in the application review and approval process, which takes place in April. Disbursements are made generally in May/June of each year.
Other Ways to Support
Become a Friend of FPMT | Work a Day for Rinpoche | Planned Giving
Endowment Fund | Give a Gift that Helps Others
