Search Results | New Search

Your Options:

Mission and Programs

Mission

Students for a Free Tibet (SFT) works in solidarity with the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom and independence. We are a chapter-based network of young people and activists around the world. Through education, grassroots organizing, and non-violent direct action, we campaign for Tibetans'' fundamental right to political freedom. Our role is to empower and train youth as leaders in the worldwide movement for social justice.

Programs

SFT's programs include distribution of urgent actions and hosting conferences to train young activists in grassroots organizing and nonviolent direct action. SFT works closely with other Tibet Support Groups and allies in the human rights and environmental movements to coordinate campaigns to raise awareness about Tibet and restore freedom to the Tibetan people.

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

International Human Rights
International Peace and Security

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2007

1. SFT organized our first action inside China, with a demonstration targeting the "Team Canada" trade delegation to Beijing. The demonstration highlighted concerns about foreign investment in China's occupation of Tibet, and generated tremendous publicity and political discussion in Canada.
2. SFT fought China's attempt to raise western capital for exploitation of Tibet's gas resources, costing the PRC over $7 billion.
3. SFT organized a series of protest actions in Tibet and China targeting the Beijing Olympics in 2006 and 2007, propelling the Tibet issue to the forefront of the Olympics discussion.

1. Counter China's attempt to use the Olympics as a tool to legitimize its rule in Tibet, while exposing the reality of China's oppression to the world.
2. Amplify the voice of the Tibetan people in their struggle for freedom and independence.

SFT provides periodic fora to solicit feedback from members and allies. We have established a list of benchmarks that provide criteria for assessing our progress towards achieving our goals.

Chief Executive Profile

A twenty-something Tibetan woman born and raised in exile, Lhadon has traveled the world giving speeches about the situation in Tibet, most notably to a crowd of 66,000 at the 1998 Tibetan Freedom Concert in Washington, D.C. She first got involved with Students for a Free Tibet in 1996, when she founded a chapter at University of King's College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. Lhadon was a leading force in the unprecedented campaign victory stopping a World Bank project that would have underwritten a massive population transfer of Chinese colonists into Tibet. Frequent spokesperson for the youth movement for Tibet, Lhadon also trains young people in Campaign Strategy, Media & Messaging, Grassroots Organizing and more.

Additional Comments

SFT helped lead a coalition that forced the World Bank to cancel the "China Western Poverty Reduction Project," which would have resettled 58,000 Chinese settlers into Tibet. This project would have given international legitimacy to China's population transfer policy and provided public funds for the systematic dilution of Tibetan culture.

Financial Data
From the organization's FORM 990

Revenue and Expenses: Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2008

Revenue			Expenses
Contributions $706,381 Government Grants $0 Program Services $128,131 Investments $319 Special Events $0 Sales $0 Other $23,030			Program Services $1,167,869 Administration $90,944 Other $154,055 Total Expenditures $1,412,868
Total Revenue	$1,389,061		NET GAIN/LOSS	$(23,807)

Balance Sheet: Fiscal Year Ending August 31, 2008

Notes
The balance sheet gives a snapshot of the financial health of an organization at a particular point in time. An organization's total assets should generally exceed its total liabilities, or it cannot long survive, but the types of assets and liabilities also must be considered. For instance, an organization's current assets (cash, receivables, securities, etc.) should be sufficient to cover its current liabilities (payables, deferred revenue, current year loan and note payments). Otherwise, the organization may face solvency problems. On the other hand, an organization whose cash and equivalents greatly exceed its current liabilities might not be putting its money to best use.

Assets	Sep 1, 2007	Aug 31, 2008	Change
Cash & Equivalent	$26,478	$13,411	$(13,067)
Accounts Receivable	$0	$165,503	$165,503
Pledges & Grants Receivable	$0	$0	$0
Receivables/Other	$0	$0	$0
Inventories for Sale or Use	$0	$11,749	$11,749
Investments/Securities	$0	$0	$0
Investments/Other	$0	$0	$0
Fixed Assets	$3,462	$14,547	$11,085
Other	$0	$0	$0
Total Assets	$29,940	$205,210	$175,270
Liabilities	Sep 1, 2007	Aug 31, 2008	Change
Accounts Payable	$0	$205,657	$205,657
Grants Payable	$0	$0	$0
Deferred Revenue	$0	$0	$0
Loans and Notes	$0	$0	$0
Tax-Exempt Bond Liabilities	$0	$0	$0
Other	$6,580	$0	$(6,580)
Total Liabilities	$6,580	$205,657	$199,077
FUND BALANCE	$23,360	$(447)	$(23,807)

Comments from the organization
SFT has greatly diversifed our funding base over the past 18 months, but despite continued growth, funding remains the largest obstacle for us in reaching our potential.

Nonprofits: Find out how to add to and update your information.

Copyright 2006, Philanthropic Research, Inc. All Rights Reserved. | Policies | Standards for Internet Philanthropy

GuideStar is the registered trademark and operating name of Philanthropic Research, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Any other use, including resale of the information or use for commercial gain, is prohibited, except in accordance with a GuideStar licensing agreement.