Khyentse Foundation aims to preserve and promote the Buddha's wisdom. As a mostly volunteer-funded institution, its mission is driven by the vision of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, evolving with the world's needs. It seeks to make Buddha's teachings accessible to all, believing that everyone can benefit from this wisdom, regardless of religious affiliation.
The Ashoka Grants are designed to fund projects and initiatives that contribute to the promotion and preservation of the dharma in ways that are not covered by the foundation's other funding programs, such as Buddhist Studies Scholarships and Individual Practice Grants. This grant supports a wide range of activities, including but not limited to, the creation of Buddhist stories for children, translation of Buddhist texts into local languages, and research on Buddhist topics. The grant aims to support individuals and organizations actively engaged in Buddhist-related projects that demonstrate a clear benefit to the dharma's preservation and propagation. However, it does not fund building projects, incomplete proposals, those lacking in clarity regarding their scope, or projects irrelevant to Buddhism or Buddhist activity. Currently, film projects are also excluded from consideration. The size of the Ashoka Grants is determined by the merit of the proposal and the specific requirements of the project.