Ways to Give

Every day, IMS cares for its retreatants, teachers, staff, facilities and grounds. The income that’s needed to successfully operate our Retreat Center, Forest Refuge and online programs comes from two sources – course fees and donations (dana). Since we try to keep our fees as affordable for as many people as possible, revenue from this stream covers less than half of our expenses.

This means that we must rely on the generosity of our community to balance our budget and to operate our centers in a sustainable way.

Here are a few easy ways to help IMS do this:

General Operating Support – give one-time or monthly

IMS Dana
Forest Refuge Dana
IMS Online Dana

Teacher Dana/Retreat Related Dana

Retreat Center Teacher DanaLog on to MyIMS and select “Give Retreat Dana,” or check your post-retreat email for the link to support your teachers. 
Forest Refuge Teacher Dana
IMS Online Teacher DanaLog on to the Learning Center and navigate to your course. Choose Teacher Support.

Sangha Support

Financial Assistance
Meal Dana

To donate by US check, mail your check made out to IMS to:

Insight Meditation Society
ATTN: Development
1230 Pleasant St
Barre, MA 01005

Please be sure to include a note as to how you would like your gift allocated. If teacher dana, please indicate which retreat or program.


Other Ways to Give

Workplace Matching Gifts: If your company has a matching gift program, you may be able to increase the value of your contribution. If you have given a one-time gift or monthly gifts this calendar year, it may be eligible for your company to match. Please check with your human resources department.

Donor-Advised Fund Gifts: Donor-advised funds (DAFs) are an increasingly popular charitable giving vehicle. If you hold a DAF account, please consider recommending IMS for a grant.

Stock, Cryptocurrency, and IRA Gifts: Learn more about the advantages of giving gifts of appreciated assets, cryptocurrency, or qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from your IRA.

Planned Gifts: Ensure that the Buddha’s teachings of insight, peace, and lovingkindness will be passed onto future generations by including IMS in your will or estate plan.


IMS is a 501c3 public charity.  Our tax-exempt ID number is 51-0152810. To connect with us, please call 978-355-4378 ext. 230 or email development@dharma.org.

Before giving, the mind of the giver is happy; while giving, the mind of the giver is made peaceful; and having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted.

The Buddha

Your support of IMS’s teachers, centers and activities allows us to:

  • offer meditation teachings that awaken our minds and hearts – bringing more wisdom and compassion into the world
  • care for our refuge – maintaining our facilities and providing a nurturing retreat environment
  • keep fees affordable – so that all who wish to attend an on-campus or online program may do so, regardless of means