The Karuna-Shechen network is composed of legally autonomous and independent entities operating under the Karuna-Shechen name. These entities form a coherent group of organizations that share a common mission, values, and guiding principles, aimed at alleviating the suffering of vulnerable populations and promoting a more altruistic world. Some entities may maintain coordination links without constituting relationships of control. As of January 1, 2026, the entities comprising the network are as follows:
- Association Karuna-Shechen, a French non-profit association (loi 1901) recognized as serving the public interest, with its registered office at 199 boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris, acting as the International Coordination Body (ICB)
- Fonds de dotation Karuna-Shechen, an endowment fund carrying out public interest activities in France, with its registered office at 199 boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris
- Société Civile Compassion en Actions – Karuna, responsible for managing Matthieu Ricard’s copyrights, with its registered office at 199 boulevard Voltaire, 75011 Paris. Matthieu Ricard has consistently donated all his royalties to Karuna-Shechen
- Karuna-Shechen Switzerland, a public-benefit association in Switzerland, with its registered office at 1224 Chêne-Bougeries, Geneva, Switzerland
- Karuna-Shechen USA, a 501(c)(3) organization registered in the State of New York, with its registered office at Mowbray Drive, Kew Gardens, New York, 11415, USA
- Karuna-Shechen Asia Limited, a non-profit company registered in Hong Kong, with its registered office at Suite 2801-03, China United Center, 28 Marble Road, North Point, Hong Kong
- Karuna-Shechen India Foundation, a non-profit Section 8 company registered in India, with its registered office at Sukanta Pally, Boral Main Road, Boral, Kolkata 700154, India
- SRPC Trust, a trust registered in India and authorized under the FCRA regime for humanitarian activities, particularly those related to the Shechen Clinic, with its registered office at P.O. Bodhgaya 824231, Gaya, Bihar, India
- Shechen Karuna, a local NGO registered in Nepal, with its registered office at Ward No. 6, Bauddha Mahankal, Kathmandu, Nepal
- Karuna-Shechen Deutschland e.V., a public-benefit organization in Germany, with its registered office at Rehgäßchen 2, 93047 Regensburg, Germany
In this context, the ICB plays a central coordination role (see above). We therefore present the aggregated data of the Karuna-Shechen network from an international perspective, in order to accurately reflect the scale and reality of our activities worldwide. This approach also responds to a strong expectation from our donors, who seek to better understand the network’s overall impact.
Field Partners
Two categories of field partners can be distinguished:
1/ The network’s sister entities that directly implement our activities
- In India, our main partner is the sister entity SRPC Trust, for the portion of its activities related to the humanitarian work of the Shechen Clinic and Karuna-Shechen, as well as the more recent structure Karuna-Shechen India Foundation.
- In Nepal, our main partner is currently the sister entity Shechen Karuna Nepal.
2/ These entities are complemented by external partners that bring expertise in specific areas of intervention.
- In 2026, we continue to work with the Ruit Foundation (mobile eye surgery in remote valleys), HELP Nepal (community empowerment), and the Loden Foundation (social entrepreneurship) in Bhutan.
- Historically, the association has supported over the past 25 years on other partners. In Nepal (Himalayan Children Society, Himaleco, NADEM, Nari Bikash Sangh, Aawaj, CFWA, LOOKS Nepal, INHURED, SMBV…). In India (Barefoot College, ASSEFA, Calcutta Rescue, …).
International Governance
Each of these entities is invited to become a member of the Board of Directors of Karuna-Shechen, located in France, which serves as the headquarters of the organization. Through this Board of Directors, a consortium of cooperation is formed with the goal of preserving the association’s vision and prioritizing its objectives on an international scale.
General Assembly
The General Assembly is composed of 16 members whose purpose is to validate the accounts and the moral report, as well as to elect a Board of Directors, a President, a Vice-President, a Treasurer, and a General Secretary.
Board of Trustees
The Board consists of 12 members. It ensures the proper implementation of the annual plan and meets at least every three months.
Matthieu RICARD
Gaspard FLIEDER
Wendy WORNHAM
Tarek TOUBALE
Ingrid KWOK
Philippe RICARD
Charles-Mathieu BRUNELLE
Geneviève BEKGOYIAN
Khenpo Ngawang TENZIN
Khenpo Gyurmé TSULTRIN
The International Coordination Body
The ICB plays a central coordination role among the entities by facilitating the sharing of relevant information, defining common guiding principles, fostering alignment of practices at the international level, and contributing to the harmonization of strategies. The term “Headquarters” / ICB refers to the activities of sister entities that do not directly implement programs, particularly in France, the United States, Switzerland, and Hong Kong. The term “Field Partners” refers to the entities that directly implement social missions.
The Executive Committee
At Karuna, we strive to adopt an innovative model, breaking away from hierarchical or pyramid structures to value collective intelligence. We aim to work together with enthusiasm and determination.
Quentin Durand, CEO of Karuna-Shechen
Élodie Jalicoux
Javed Miri
Catherine Lalive d’Epinay
Sébastien Pais de Figueiredo
Sunita Sharma
Joseph Sebastian
The “Opal” Operating Model
In 2016, Karuna-Shechen had the opportunity to be guided by Frédéric Laloux, a renowned expert on new organizational models. Matthieu Ricard advocated for the adoption of the “Opal” organizational model.
After a successful initial trial in 2016 for the French and Swiss branches, the model was expanded to the international structure in 2020.
This operating model is based on three pillars: self-management, which relates to collective intelligence; wholeness, which relates to emotional intelligence; and evolutionary purpose, which relates to the intelligence of the living organization.
