Frequently Asked Questions
The mission of the Tibetan community center is to empower Tibetan-Americans of all ages to thrive in the United States, while promoting the continuity and development of Tibetan social, cultural, and artistic traditions. Seeds of Tibet will be a refuge for Tibetans in Exile, and a gateway to the living culture of Tibetan for the New Jersey community at large. The center will provide a mixture of social services and educational, recreational, and cultural programming to the Tibetan and New Jersey communities.
Our community in Bergen County has grown from a few families in the 1990s to a vibrant population of over 150 members. This rapid growth has outpaced our informal resources, creating an urgent need for a permanent home. A dedicated center will provide a sanctuary for our elders to worship and share meals, while offering our youth a consistent environment to learn the Tibetan language and arts.
Beyond providing services, the center is a vital stand against cultural extinction. As our heritage faces severe restrictions in Tibet, this center ensures our traditions remain a living culture in the diaspora. By establishing a permanent home, we empower the next generation to balance a proud Tibetan identity with a successful life in the United States.
The Board of Trustees is currently conducting a community needs assessment to prioritize the services most vital to our members. Based on our decade of experience organizing events, we anticipate the center will host a wide range of programs, including classes in the Tibetan language and traditional musical instruments, as well as specialized training in the Tibetan performing arts.
Beyond cultural education, the center will serve as a critical support system by offering after-school care and youth empowerment programs, alongside dedicated care and services for our elders. We also plan to implement programs specifically designed to assist new arrivals as they transition into our community. Ultimately, our vision is for the center to serve as a comprehensive hub for all things Tibetan—a permanent home where our culture, services, and community connection can thrive together.
Tibetan community will actively give back to the New Jersey community the generosity that has been showed to it. The New Jersey has long been a strong zone of support for Tibet. With one of the largest concentrations of Buddhist practitioners in the West, as well as key educational and artistic institutions that have pioneered the introduction of Tibetan religion and culture to the United States, it is obvious that Bergen County communities are well positioned to take advantage of the programming at the Seeds of Tibet. Moreover, we acknowledge that even if we meet our immediate fundraising goals, there is still a considerable amount of planning and work needed to ensure that the center is sustainable over the long term. Most community centers have income generating activities, and the Seeds of Tibet will be no exception.
We are targeting Churches, warehouses and other similar types of properties in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The project desires 5000 square feet plus property with space for a community hall for up to 200 people, large kitchen, classrooms, offices, and a library. In addition, there would be a small stupa where members can gather and perform their daily spiritual practices. This initial space assessment may adjust, principally because we are aware of the importance of location to any successful center, and that we may have to compromise on certain aspects of the space in an effort to have the center centrally located near large clusters of Tibetans.
There are several ways to contribute financially to Seeds of Tibet, including one-time donations, monthly giving, and planned giving. To arrange a contribution or to learn more about how your gift can support our mission, please contact us directly at seedsoftibet@gmail.com
Seeds of Tibet is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and all contributions are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
All contributions to the capital campaign will go straight into a bank account established for community center fundraising. Seeds of Tibet have a formal accounting system and we have set up a separate bank account for community hall contributions. All expenses incurred are being paid out of general Seeds of Tibet funds. So, 100% of every dollar you contribute to Seeds of Tibet community hall is being set aside for the purchase of the building.
The Board of Trustees of The Seeds of Tibet is to design, implement, and manage a campaign to raise sufficient funds for a Tibetan Community Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The president from the Trustees leads and coordinates the work of the committee. The members are not paid.
The goal for the capital campaign is to raise $ 2 million by the end of 2030. Even after meeting this goal, we will need additional funding. The exact mixture of up front money with other financing is dependent on a number of factors, including the municipality the building is in and how much re-design and renovation are required to make the space workable.