Paramitas Foundation

Paramitas Foundation is a Monte Sereno, California private family foundation (32 years old) rooted in Buddhist philosophy — the name refers to the six paramitas (Buddhist tenets on the path to enlightenment and nirvana). Its strategy centers on two pillars: (1) education-focused scholarship awards to students at named universities (Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Santa Clara, University of Washington, University of Hawaii, University of Central Missouri) and (2) cause-partnership giving with major organizations aligned with the Foundation's values. Paramitas operates as a closed private foundation — it does not run an open grant application cycle, and giving flows through pre-identified university partners and cultivated nonprofit relationships rather than competitive RFPs.

With ~$24M in assets, typical annual payout runs $1M-$1.7M (5-7% distribution). Scholarship awards at named universities are a recurring, line-item pattern rather than one-off gifts — suggesting endowed or rolling student-support commitments. Geographic focus is national but weighted toward Silicon Valley and the named partner universities; the Foundation's P.O. Box is in Saratoga, CA. Sector focus is clearly education (higher education scholarships) plus Buddhist-aligned values-based causes. Individual scholarship amounts are not publicly disclosed but typical for similar-sized family scholarship funds are $5K-$25K per student-year; nonprofit partnership grants likely $10K-$75K.

Peer comparison — closed private family foundations at $20M-$30M assets with education focus:

Paramitas is most distinct in this peer set for its named-university scholarship model — few closed family foundations at this size maintain multi-university scholarship partnerships — and for explicit values-based (Buddhist) framing of its mission.

The Foundation's website highlights 32 years of operation and ongoing scholarship partnerships with 7 named universities (Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Santa Clara, University of Washington, University of Hawaii, University of Central Missouri). The organization-partnership page describes 'major organizations' partnered across various efforts, suggesting continued cause-based giving alongside the scholarship program. No open RFP cycle or public application form is listed. Mailing address remains P.O. Box 2699, Saratoga, CA 95070.

1. Do NOT send an unsolicited proposal — Paramitas operates as a closed foundation with no public application portal. 2. If you are a student at one of the 7 partner universities (Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, Santa Clara, UW, U Hawaii, U Central Missouri), check with your university's financial aid or scholarship office for the Paramitas scholarship process — it is administered through the institutions, not directly. 3. For nonprofits seeking partnership, the path is through warm introduction — trustee networks in the Silicon Valley and Buddhist community are the most likely entry points. 4. Values alignment matters: proposals that genuinely reflect Buddhist-informed values (non-harm, generosity, patience, wisdom) will resonate more than purely secular framings. 5. Education-adjacent causes (mentorship, first-generation college support, contemplative education) are the most likely fit outside the named scholarships.