in 1992, after the passing of her husband, Mrs Sears was encouraged by the Universal House of Justice to expand the four-day Desert Rose Bahá'í school to a permanent institute.

In 1996 Mrs Sears, with the help of many friends, purchased land near Eloy, Arizona for the development of the Desert Rose Bahá'í Institute, which she envisioned as an Institute for education in the arts and agriculture. When the land was purchased, the Round House was the only building on the property. A cottage was constructed for Mrs. Sears that provided both comfortable living space and room where she could work with partners on cataloguing and publishing some of Bill Sears' remaining works while building a library. The following year the Desert Rose Bahá'í Institute was incorporated with Not-for-Profit status.

Since that time a Meeting and Dining Hall was built and a Guest House was constructed near the Sears Cottage was built by David Hadden for use by him and his family. In 2018 this Guest House was converted into and Art Gallery. In 2001 a 16 rental apartment was built to help offset the operating costs. In 2004 the William Sears Pavilion was dedicated. It was designed as a place were people could go to reflect, pray, meditate, or celebrate. More accommodations were built in 2005 in the name of the Guffey Center, honouring two volunteers, Ray and Gloria Guffey.

In 2017 the DRBI was granted a licence to operate a low power (LP) radio station for Eloy Arizona to serve the community. Radio station KURE was licensed to operate on 106.1 FM as part of the Institute.

In 2019 DRBI Board member Dwight Cox initiated an agricultural project to grow organic produce. [DRBI website; Desert Rose Bahá'í Institute - History]

The dedication of the Bahá'í Institute at Ft. Qu'Appelle by Hand of the Cause Tarazu'llah Samandari during a four-day visit to Saskatchewan by him and his son. In honour of the event hand-lettered scroll was made by Barb Wild with the signature of Tarazu'llah Samandari and Mr Samandari penned a rendition of the Greatest Name.
• The facility was two years in the making and was the only Institue of its kind in North America at the time. Its purpose was to become the focus for the teaching of First Nations people. The chalet-type building could accommodate 20 overnight guests on two stories. It had a large assembly hall, a library, a fully-equipped kitchen. [CBN No218 April 1968 p1]
• The dedication was also attended by the Mozart Group. [Facebook posting]