The Tara Project
The work of being a dharma teacher asks immense commitment - to one’s own practice, to one’s ongoing development as a teacher, to one’s students, and to the lineage of the dharma stretching back to the Buddha. It is work of service, in support of practitioners accessing true freedom. Hemera supports Buddhist teachers to share the dharma from the depth of their insight, in skilled ways that meet practitioners where they are.
Inspired by the knowledge that at this moment in the history of Buddhism women’s voices in the dharma are more prominent than ever before, we are interested in the particular challenges that female teachers may face, as well as the particular gifts they can and do offer their students and the communities they serve. Based on our learning from conversations with almost 100 dharma teachers, we have developed a number of grant programs for teachers.
Since 2019, the Tara Project has provided $437,500 to 52 teachers, supporting projects developed by female Dharma teachers. Grant funding went to teachers at all levels of experience and represented various lineages and backgrounds.
The Tara Fellows program builds on our previous programs. We are offering grants to fully authorized female Dharma teachers to support their personal retreat practice, offering each Fellow $15,000 to use over three years. This focus was determined based on the previous grant programs as well as our understanding of the importance contemplative retreat. Retreat practice is a powerful way to meet oneself anew and deepen the presence of Dharma in one’s own life and experience. It allows practitioners to develop in ways that daily meditation practice doesn’t always permit. A regular retreat practice is critical to holding the Dharma and supporting a sangha. We chose this approach because personal retreat was the most requested type of funding in the previous programs as teachers sought to nourish their contemplative practice.
Grants for this program will only be awarded through 501c3 organizations. For more information and to apply, please follow this link: (link will be available in January 2025). To apply, you will need a Google account. Applications are due by February 28.