Five Psychedelic Nonprofits to Support this Giving Season
It’s been a tumultuous year for the psychedelic industry. Just a year and a half ago, 16,000 of us gathered in Denver, Colorado at the 2023 Psychedelic Science (PS23) conference to share our knowledge, expertise, and experience of psychedelic medicines. There was a tinge of lightness and hope in the air. We looked to the future with certainty, and we supported MAPS wholeheartedly in their fundraising efforts to create legal, responsible, evidence-based pathways to psychedelics.
I am particularly attuned to the needs of nonprofits in the psychedelic space. I currently serve as Director of Partnerships for Thank You Life, a 501c3 organization that provides supplemental funds for legal psychedelic therapy to individuals and groups in the United States. I pay attention when a group like MAPS makes an appeal for support.
To commemorate one of the largest gatherings of psychedelic people since the Human Be-In, Rick Doblin implored all attendees during his final closing address at PS23 to donate what we can – any amount – to MAPS. I was moved to see the majority of people in the crowd taking out their phones to donate in support of a united cause. I can’t say for certain how much money they raised in this single ask, but no doubt it was significant.
Since then, the industry has seen a rise and fall of various proportions. Following the Psychedelic Science conference, investment and donations to other nonprofits in the psychedelic space significantly dropped. While PS23 attracted major attention and funding, much of it went to a single source, leaving smaller, lesser-known organizations struggling to maintain financial support.
Nevertheless, MAPS has not had it easy. When the FDA denied approval in August for the Lykos Therapeutics application for MDMA-assisted therapy, which MAPS spent years researching, funding for both organizations decreased and staff members were laid off. Meanwhile, the disparity between organizations in need of support and those with funding continues to grow. Conscious capitalism and monetization within the industry seems dominant, and yet, successful organizations struggle to reach a stable, prosperous state.
With this in mind, I invite you to learn about and contribute to a psychedelic nonprofit listed alphabetically below, several of whom have spent years building psychedelic culture and services. Smaller nonprofits play a vital role in preserving the values of accessibility and ethical stewardship and often work directly with underserved populations, providing critical services that larger organizations may overlook.
While Giving Tuesday is now past, your tax-deductible contributions to these organizations before the end of the year can have a significant impact. Donations to these organizations will help them continue to carry out their mission, while helping people directly in your community. Let us not forget the little guys amidst this growing industry!
DanceSafe – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes health, safety, and fulfilling experiences for people who use drugs and their communities. Founded in 1998, DanceSafe offers drug checking services at raves and nightlife events across the U.S., along with non-judgmental information about drug use, consent, and more.
DanceSafe envisions a world free of systemic oppression and drug prohibition, where all people have the cognitive liberty, bodily autonomy, and resources to thrive.
Erowid Center – a 501(c)(3) member-supported nonprofit that creates access to reliable, non-judgmental information about psychoactive plants, chemicals, and related issues. Since 1995, they have worked with academic, medical, and experiential experts to develop and publish new resources and improve access to already existing literature. Erowid strives to ensure that these resources are maintained and preserved as a historical record for the future.
Erowid Center envisions a world where people treat psychoactives with respect and awareness; where people work together to collect and share knowledge in ways that strengthen their understanding of themselves and provide insight into the complex choices faced by individuals and societies alike.
Thank You Life – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to eliminate the financial barriers to psychedelic-assisted therapy and expand access to those in need. Founded in 2022, their vision is to catalyze a healing movement where psychedelic therapy helps members of systematically marginalized populations process their traumas and find lasting relief from debilitating mental health conditions.
Thank You Life envisions a world where humans can heal through legal, affordable, and regulated psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Women’s Visionary Council – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to expand the inclusion of women and elders in critical discussions about mental health and community wellness. Founded in 2008, the WVC is the first nonprofit for psychedelic women. They advocate for larger representation of women in the psychedelic-assisted therapy landscape, on topics ranging from ethics and safety to cultural traditions.
The WVC envisions a world where the work of women and elders in psychedelic communities are provided equal attention and resources to support the transfer of intergenerational wisdom.
Zendo Project – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit on a mission to provide professional harm reduction education to communities and organizations, and peer support services at events to help transform difficult psychedelic experiences into opportunities for learning and growth.
Zendo Project envisions a world where communities are educated, resourced, and engaged in applying harm reduction principles to support individuals exploring psychedelic states; recognizing that challenging experiences can be opportunities for self-exploration and healing.
Unable to donate at this time? Find A Psychedelic Community Near You and Volunteer! And remember this wise advice…
“It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and long term will follow.” – Dalai Lama
“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.” – Maya Angelou
Disclaimer: Ryder Nicholas is the Director of Partnerships for Thank You Life and Lucid News Editorial Director Annie Oak Harrison is a founding board member of the Women’s Visionary Council and consults for the Zendo Project.