Information about our current Capital Improvement Project: The Essentials Campaign

The Zen Community of Oregon is currently in the process of raising $180,000 to take care of some essentials at Great Vow Zen Monastery. The monastery building has proven to be a tremendous asset to our Dharma work, and taking care of this building has become the obvious next step as we strive to meet the needs of an ever-widening Sangha. We see four essential priorities at this time:

1 - The monastery’s “30 year roof” has served the building for 36 years now. The roof leaks every time there’s a hard rain, causing damage to the building. Last summer, with the help of many donors, we were able to re-roof the section just above the new zendo floor. Now it is time for us to replace the roof over the guest area, residents’ area, cafeteria, gym, and hallways. Estimated cost: $100,000

2 - The 36-year-old heating system in the guest area will need to be replaced soon. Heating systems in most other areas of the building have already been replaced. Estimated cost for guest area heating: $20,000

3 - While we have put some energy into the monastery guest area, our current sleeping arrangements in the residents’ area still resemble a tent city with cobbled together furniture and “whatever’s around” for partitioning. We would like to upgrade the residents’ area and provide each long-term resident with at least a simple bed, dresser, reading lamp, and clothes closet. If funds allow, we will also replace the carpet in this area. Estimated cost: $15,000

4 - As always, we are looking towards paying off the mortgage. Through this campaign we hope to raise at least the equivalent of one year’s mortgage payment: $45,000.

Please know that we are relying on “stretch gifts” to this campaign in order to ensure its success. To “stretch” in this context means to widen or expand our current ideas about what we are willing to donate; it means to extend ourselves in response to the needs that are in front of us, and really ask: What can we do?

We have recently received an anonymous matching gift of up to $50,000. What this means is that any amount we raise (up to $50,000) will be matched dollar-for-dollar by an anonymous donor. The donor has specified that they will match only what we have deposited in the bank by January 15 th, 2008.

This is a great opportunity for us; can you help us meet this donor’s challenge?