HOUSTON ZEN COMMUNITY
EIN 76-0522757 · Buddhism (X50)
What they do
Houston Zen CommunityStatement of FaithHouston Zen Community (HZC) Exists to Support and Enhance The Teachings of Compassion and Wisdom That Were Articulated By The Buddha 2,500 Years Ago. Buddha Awoke to The True Nature of Life and to The True Nature of Interconnectedness. for Buddhists, No Individual Can Achieve Separate Freedom From Delusion, or Salvation, Unless Everyone Achieves Freedom, or Salvation. Therefore, Buddhists Understand That Our Efforts Must Be Aimed Toward Freeing All Beings From Suffering. There Can Be No Separate, Isolated, Freedom, Because We Are Connected; We Are All Blessed With Buddha Nature.The Primary Hindrance to Compassion is Delusion, That Is, The Inability to See or Understand Our Total Interconnectedness. Therefore, Meditation and Compassionate Action Aim to Relieve Beings From Fear and Delusion, Allowing Them to Experience The Sacredness of Their Own Lives. On This Basis, Buddhists Become More Skillful At Seeing The Sacredness of Everyones Life; We Bec
Should I give to this charity?
Of every $100 spent, about $95.00 was reported for mission work. Use the spending picture below and ask what results that work produced.
Plain answer: A tax form cannot prove that a charity is doing good. It can show how the charity says it spent its money—and point out questions you should ask.
Basic facts we verified
IRS warning checkNo IRS revocation warning appears in this data.
Money report from 2024The charity has a recent tax report to read.
They explain their jobThe charity tells us what it is trying to do.
They name their leaders5 people are listed in the latest report.
You can reach themThey list contact information, so you can ask questions.
Money made simple
Ask these three easy questions
- Who did you help? Ask for a recent story or report that shows real results.
- What will my money do? Ask exactly what your gift will pay for.
- Is this really the charity? Give only through its official website or confirmed phone number.
Worth asking: Expenses exceeded revenue by $121,544 this year. Ask whether that was planned or caused by a one-time event.
Pay context: The highest compensation shown in this filing is $60,485 for GAELYN GODWIN (HEAD PRIEST). Compare pay with organizations of similar size and complexity.
Bottom line: Do not decide from a name, mission statement, or tax status alone. Look at where the money went, then ask what changed, who was helped, and what your gift will do. YouCanGiveBack does not endorse or grade organizations.
Financial picture
A plain-language look at the latest Form 990 figures available. These numbers help you ask better questions; they do not, by themselves, rate whether a charity is good or bad.
How each $100 of revenue was used
The large number compares each expense with revenue. The smaller number shows its share of total expenses.
Expenses were greater than revenue, so the colored ring fills the available $100 and the total above 100% is shown below.
Has the pattern changed?
Colored bars = expense mix: how each year’s expenses were divided. Total expenses vs. revenue shows whether the charity spent less or more than it received. The current filing is first.
Money in and money out
Reported spending amounts
Mission work means the Form 990 category called program services. These are reported accounting categories—not an independent measurement of results.
See all reported dollar amounts
Leadership and board
Names, titles, time, and compensation below are reported by the organization on its Form 990.
People reported as paid
Compensation alone does not tell whether pay is reasonable. Consider the charity’s size, work, location, and results.
See everyone listed on the board or leadership roster (5)
GAELYN GODWINHEAD PRIEST
CARTER WHITETREASURER
PARMITA DERDENSECRETARY
ROYCE JOHNSONPRESIDENT
ZACHARY BECKERVICE PRESIDENT
About this charity
- Recognized since
- January 2001
- Location
- 1605 Heights Boulevard, Houston, TX 77008
- County
- Harris
- In care of
- Gaelyn Godwin
- Primary officer
- Gaelyn Godwin, Head Priest
How to reach them
Filing and classification
- Latest tax year
- 2024
- Tax period began
- January 1, 2024
- Return type
- 990
- Tax preparer
- GUERRY M DUNCAN PC
- NTEE classification
- Buddhism (X50)
- IRS tax category
- Buddhism