Worksite Diaries – Episode 3
The financing of a place like Dhagpo Kagyu Ling is first and foremost a matter of philosophy.
In this new episode of our worksite diaries about the Institute’s Residences, Joëlle Ondo, a retired lawyer living near Dhagpo and member of the fundraising team, sheds light on the participatory approach that has been put in place over the past years to finance Dhagpo’s projects.
“The really fundamental idea behind participatory financing is that everyone can contribute to the Karmapa’s activity at their own level, even with the smallest donation. Every donation is a chance to connect with this activity and this place,” explains Joëlle.
Lama Jigme Rinpoche favoured this progressive approach, whereby everyone can contribute at their own level. It generates a shared commitment, giving everyone the opportunity to connect with the unfolding activity of such eminent bodhisattvas as the Karmapa and the Shamarpa. The Institute, completed in 2015, was mainly funded through such a multitude of generous gestures, as was the Sukhavati Garden.
On a practical level, donations can be one-off or monthly, by bank transfer, direct debit or PayPal, with regularity providing a better predictability of available resources. “The donor choses how these funds are allocated, whether for the Residences of course, or the Garden, the library or operating costs. This is respected one hundred percent,” underlines Joelle.
Another innovative formula, successfully used to finance the Institute, is the possibility to grant an interest-free loan to the Congregation. “The loan is formalized by a written contract between the Karme Dharma Chakra congregation and the lender, for a defined amount and duration. The contract is signed by Lama Jigme Rinpoche himself, which is a source of trust,” Joëlle explains. The minimum loan is set at 3,000 euros over three years. “At the end of this term, I always discuss with the person whether they wish to renew the contract or be reimbursed,” continues Joëlle. There is an in-built flexibility should the person require a full or partial reimbursement before the term of the loan is up.
All the loans taken to finance the Institute were reimbursed. To date, 400,000 euros in loans have been granted for the Institute’s Residences, all from people in France.
Progress in the construction of the Residences is largely conditioned on available resources – the goal being to finance in stages and to ensure that the work is not interrupted. Keeping people regularly informed of the project’s progress and recalling its wider context – the why of the project – is a priority for the fundraising team, explains Joelle.
Shining a spotlight on the project also attracts interest. This was the case with a dedicated tent during the Gyalwa Karmapa’s visit in 2019, but also when Jigme Rinpoche explains the meaning of the Residences during his courses.
When we have books, we need a library to keep them; when there are practitioners, students and teachers, we need residences to house them!
says Rinpoche. Furthermore, guided visits of the worksite by the project manager can be arranged, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you are interested.
Participatory financing changes one’s relationship to the site. “In my view, we don’t only come as the consumer of a teaching; we participate in the creation of this site, in all its changes, and this is something really positive,” reflects Joëlle.
Be part of this project:
Building Dhagpo Kagyu Ling happens together. You can participate in this project in different ways:
- make a donation (non-eligible for tax deduction)
- loan funds
- donate construction materials or share your skills to carry out the project
- acquire a blue box containing definitions from The Entry to the State of a Pandita (available at the library or at Dhagpo’s reception)
Keep informed and be part of this project.
For further information, don’t hesitate to contact us: dkl.donateurs@dhagpo.org
If you wish to support this ambitious project, it is possible to make a donation:
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By bank transfer or check
Download the generosity form in PDF format
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Via Paypal
(one-time/regular donation)
