The non-profit behind The Essence
The Essence is held by a non-profit foundation, set up so the work here doesn't depend on who can afford it, and so what we build can outlast any one of us. This page is the plain version: what the foundation is, and where the money goes.
How we use the funds
Everything the foundation holds goes back into the same thing: keeping this place alive and open. Nothing is taken out as profit. In practice, that means three things.
Access & scholarships
So the work here never depends on who can afford it. Foundation funds and pay-it-forward contributions cover places for people who can only meet a sliding-scale rate, keeping the door open for the next person.
The community & the land
The everyday running of the place: food grown and cooked here, upkeep of the space, and the practices that hold the days together, alongside the longer-term aim of land of our own.
Keeping it sustainable
A modest reserve so the doors stay open between cohorts, and so the community can plan beyond the next month rather than living season to season.
Practical information
- Legal name
- Associação The Essence Community
- Type
- Non-profit association (associação sem fins lucrativos), Portugal
- Registration / NIPC
- 518980545
- Founded
- 2025
If you'd like to support the foundation or have a question about how it works, write to us at connect@the-essence.org.
