Applying for financial support
We are very happy that you are interested in attending a mindfulness retreat in the Plum Village tradition!
Currently we are offering support for LGBTQIA+ practitioners facing financial difficulties, for the following two retreats:
LGBTQIA++ Retreat (in English)
at EIAB - European Institute of Applied Buddhism, Germany
22 - 26 April 2026
To apply for financial support for the LGBTQIA++ Retreat, please fill in the questionnaire here.
The RAD support application is open until 8th of March 2026.
You will receive feedback on your application around the 22nd of March.
Support offered for the LGBTIQA++ Retreat at EIAB 2026 :
Maximum funding per person:
240 € towards retreat costs
180 € transportation costs, for those travelling less that 500 km OR within Germany
or 210 € transportation costs, for those travelling more that 500 km AND from outside of Germany
50 € Dana for the facilitators of the retreat
June OI Retreat (in English)
at Plum Village, France
June - the week(s) you want
To apply for financial support for the June Retreat, please fill in the questionnaire here.
Please note that this is a retreat for experienced practitioners.
The RAD support application is open until 15th of April 2026.
You will receive feedback on your application around the 29th of April.
Support offered for the June Retreat at Plum VIllage 2026 :
Maximum funding per person:
265 € towards retreat costs
160 € for transportation costs, for those travelling less that 500 km OR within France
or 235 € transportation, for those travelling more that 500 km AND from outside of France
General conditions and further information:
Financial support is for practitioners within the LGBTQIA+ community only, who otherwise struggle to afford the costs of a retreat. Priority is given to those attending their first in-person retreat, and to those facing multiple forms of discrimination.
Maximum funding per person is dependent on retreat costs, and is published with each round of funding.
We encourage all applicants to register with the retreat center as soon as they are able, as receiving support from RAD does not guarantee a place at the retreat. Those requesting funding from RAD should also request a reduction from the retreat center (usually 25% to 50%, depending on the center and one's situation).
Please note that we can only provide reimbursements for costs after completion of the retreat, and only for expenses for which we receive proper documentation. We cannot offer reimbursement for cancelled or unattended retreats. To ensure we can process your support, we kindly ask that all receipts and the completed reimbursement form be submitted within one month of the end of the retreat. To align with our collective commitment to mindfulness and sustainability, only eco-friendly travel options such as bus, train, or ridesharing are eligible for reimbursement.
By applying for and receiving funding for your retreat, you also agree to send us a short (written) sharing of your retreat experience, along with a photo.
We aspire to distribute this funding both fairly and anonymously. We gently ask that applicants refrain from sending personal messages to the RAD team, as doing so could unintentionally affect the anonymity of the process.
This is our fourth round of funding, and we will be continuously improving this process. We thank you for your patience as we begin our journey of offering support to our community. Your feedback is always welcome.
For questions, please feel free to contact us: collective@rainbowdharma.org or by using the form at the bottom of this page.
We have supported practitioners attending the following retreats:
Retraite Arc-en-Ciel at Dharma Mountain, France, 8 - 13 September 2025
Wake Up retreat at Plum Village France, 9 - 16 August 2025
Radical Love – True Inclusivity, LGBTQIA+ retreat at the EIAB, Germany, 2 - 6 April 2025
The support we offer is made possible through grants from the Temple Foundation and the Thich Nhat Hanh Foundation, along with the generous contributions of our community.