The Trident Fund

WHAT IS THE TRIDENT FUND AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

The Trident Fund is a vessel for sustaining and nurturing the activities of Jaya Kula, its teacher and students. Donors to the Trident Fund pledge to make a substantial annual contribution for three years. 

The three-year pledges of Trident Fund donors give Jaya Kula the ability to plan and act on longer-term, community-building initiatives. Trident Fund donors also ensure that we are able, as a Mandala of practitioners, to respond skillfully to changing circumstances. We can take a big step, or wait for the “ripe” time to act, knowing that we have the enduring support of our community. For all of these reasons, we call Trident Fund donors "Guardians".

Major accomplishments of the trident fund

Trident Fund donors help create the strong financial foundation we need to achieve our mission:  hosting a collaborative, sustainable, supportive mandala of people who are committed to becoming living examples of the human potential to embody wisdom, skill, compassion, tenderness, devotion and spontaneity.

Trident Fund donors have touched the lives and supported the sadhana of every person in our Mandala by substantially contributing to realizing the following major goals:

  • Applying for and receiving our official non-profit 501(c)3 designation;
  • Establishing and dramatically increasing the availability of low-income options for all workshops and discounted rates for retreats and yatras;
  • Continuing to upgrade the equipment that facilitates the live-stream teachings;
  • Ensuring a living wage for Shambhavi;
  • Hiring part-time administrative help for Shambhavi;
  • Paying for 100% of the design and development of the current Jaya Kula website;
  • Establishing a health care emergency fund and travel grants for Mandala members;
  • Establishing an organizational reserve fund for emergencies and future special projects; and
  • Training the Board of Directors to hone the skills they need to guide Jaya Kula.

Most recently, Trident Fund donors were key to ensuring that Jaya Kula weathered the first years of the pandemic with grace. During those three years, our ability to offer retreats and meet new students was negatively impacted. Trident Fund donors were truly Guardians who provided the confidence we needed to adapt appropriately and who protected the Mandala and supported our teacher through a stressful time. 

participation in the trident fund

  • Each contributor to the Trident Fund makes a substantial annual donation for a period of three years.
  • Annual contributions are due in the fourth quarter of each year (October 1 – December 31) for the following year. 
  • A semi-annual contribution option is available if that would make it easier for you to participate. Semi-annual contributions of half of the pledge amount are made by December 31 for the following year and June 30 of the current pledge year.
  • Trident Fund participation is on an individual or household basis.
  • Any household is welcome to join, regardless of familial or marital ties. In the case of household pledges, each member designates responsibility for a portion of the collective pledge, which must be at least $1000 per person. Donations can still be given jointly as one gift.
  • Trident Fund is a Guardian giving program for people who want to support Jaya Kula in a more sustained and substantial way. It does not replace or include MGO (Milk Ghee Ojas). MGO is not strictly a donor program. It’s a student-initiated vehicle for donating monthly for regularly offered satsangs, live practices, and reading groups.
  • Trident Fund donors are invited to our Guardians channel on Slack. 

levels of participation

Oddiyana – $4000 or higher annually

Oddiyana is the home of dakinis, the subtle wisdom beings who transmit teachings into the human realm.

Kailash – $2000 to $3999 annually

Mt. Kailash is the Himalayan home of Lord Shiva.

Kashi – $1000 to $1999 annually

Kashi is the ancient name for Varanasi, Lord Shiva’s city of light.

thank you for being a member of the trident fund AND A GUARDIAN OF JAYA KULA!

Every single member of our Mandala benefits from the generosity of Trident Fund donors. Whenever someone enjoys a live-stream teaching, is able to come to a teaching because there is a low-income option, or benefits from Shambhavi being able to devote all of her time to Jaya Kula without working a second job, they are saying “Thank you!”

Please join us in stepping up to
the next level of serving
our community, our teacher and everyone.

To join the Trident Fund, please contact Vidhra [at] jayakula.org, our Board member in charge of the Trident Fund. She’ll answer your questions and concerns and can set up a face-to-face meeting with you. If you’re ready to donate now, click this button.

To join the Trident Fund, your donation must be $1000 or above, and you are pledging to give that amount for three consecutive years. If you want to give a one-time donation or a smaller donation, click here. THANK YOU!