Zendo Project: Peer Support and Compassionate Care

Dear Zendo Community, As our third year as a nonprofit comes to a close, I'm filled with gratitude for how far we've come together. In 2025, we didn't just expand our reach—we transformed our impact. We trained over 1000 people, provided more than 220 scholarships, and supported nearly 500 individuals. We also did something no other organization is doing: we proved it works. Through Zendo Lab, we presented our first peer-reviewed research at the American Public Health Association conference, demonstrating that our training creates measurable, lasting change. We've been able to do this because community members like you believed in a different way forward. Thank you. The need has never been more urgent. Every 11 minutes someone dies by suicide. Emergency departments are overwhelmed. Mental health professionals are burning out. Communities watch their loved ones suffer without knowing how to help. But here's what we know: there is a solution. We've spent 13 years perfecting it, and now we're proving it through thoughtful research. We're teaching people to become emotional paramedics—equipped to support others through crisis with confidence and compassion. Making an impact when the world feels like it's unraveling can feel impossible, but every person we train creates ripples of compassionate response that can transform entire communities. Which is why I'm asking you to join me in making a gift to support Zendo Project's Year-End Giving Campaign. We've set an ambitious goal of $250,000, which will allow us to scale our proven model into the systems that need it most. With your support we will: Launch and pilot our EPR (Emergency Psychological Response) training in three crisis care systems (in Colorado, Oregon, and California) with research documenting outcomes that will accelerate nationwide adoption Complete our groundbreaking embedded medical pilot with Stadium Medical , proving the efficacy of peer support at major events Fund Zendo Lab's research infrastructure, ensuring every program generates evidence that drives policy change and field transformation Double our scholarship fund , ensuring no one is turned away from our courses due to cost Publish peer-reviewed findings that establish Zendo as the thought leader in compassionate crisis response We're not just another training organization. We combine direct service with research, proving what works and building the evidence base that healthcare systems, universities, and communities need to adopt these life-saving practices. Everyone, at some point, will be called on to support a loved one, friend, or stranger during emotional crisis. Together, we can ensure they're prepared. Your support doesn't just teach compassion—it funds the research that makes compassionate crisis response the new standard of care. Here's how you can help: Donate Today: Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Every dollar helps—whether it's 5, $25, $250, or more. Your support prepares someone to meet emotional distress with presence and funds the research that proves this model saves lives. Share Our Campaign: Spread the word! Share this email and our mission. Every person who learns about this work brings us closer to a world where no one faces crisis alone. Thank you for standing with us as we rewrite how society responds to emotional crisis. Each gift doesn't just fund a program—it builds the foundation for compassionate infrastructure as fundamental as any other emergency response, backed by evidence that drives real change. Through, not down. Chelsea Rose Executive Director Zendo Project P.S. Have an idea to support our mission? I'd love to hear from you! Please reach out to me at chelsea@zendoproject.org.

The rapidly changing psychedelic movement has exposed a critical need for evidence-based harm reduction education and services. You can help us create a psychedelic movement that is grounded in safe psychedelic exploration and compassionate, culturally competent care. Millions of people will use psychedelics this year, many of them for the first time. It's our mission to pave the way for a safer, more compassionate psychedelic movement, and we invite you to be a vital part of this transformative journey. Your generosity will enable us to expand our reach and offer crucial psychedelic peer support training to the public, giving individuals the skills to navigate these experiences with care and responsibility. Additionally, with your help, Zendo Project can bring its team to more events in 2024, delivering compassionate care to those in need while offering hundreds of volunteers valuable hands-on learning experiences that aren’t available anywhere else. Since transitioning to a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 2022 after a decade of incubation as a MAPS initiative, Zendo Project is poised for revitalization, aiming to reignite education programs, amplify peer support at events, and influence harm reduction policy. This monumental task isn't one we can accomplish alone. It's through the support of individuals like you who share our vision of fostering a future where compassionate community care thrives. Your contribution is not just a donation; it's an investment in a movement that prioritizes safety, education, and empathy. We are immensely grateful for your belief in our mission. Your support is a testament to the power of community and the shared commitment to making a positive difference. Thank you for standing alongside us as we shape a landscape of responsible and caring psychedelic exploration.