Foundation Beyond Belief

Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization^[1] founded in 2009 in Georgia by Dale McGowan. McGowan envisioned a way for secularists and humanists to give to charity by "passing the tithing plate."

As of 2020, the organization's mission is to "end poverty and hunger, promote good health and well-being, and foster employment opportunities and economic empowerment in ways that exemplify humanist values."^[2] Through secular giving and volunteering, the organization serves men, women, children, and entire communities across the U.S. and around the world.

Dale McGowan served as Executive Director of Foundation Beyond Belief from 2009 to 2015. In 2015, Noelle George took over leadership of the organization.^[3] In 2020, Tiffany S. Ho replaced George.

History[]

Foundation beyond belief was founded in 2009, with its IRS Ruling year in 2010.^[4]

The American Cancer Society was criticized in 2011 for turning down participation from Foundation Beyond Belief in its Relay For Life "National Team" program.^[5][6] Foundation Beyond Belief later sponsored the Reason Rally in both 2012 ^[7] and 2016.^[8]

The Minnesota Atheists partnered with Foundation Beyond Belief in 2014 for the third atheist-themed St. Paul Saints game. It became the first game the secularized Mr. Paul Aints team won, which took 11 innings to do, and the last "Mr. Paul Aints" game to be played at Midway Stadium.^[9]

On Saturday, August 8, 2015, the Minnesota Atheists teamed up with Foundation Beyond Belief to hold the fourth consecutive year of atheist-sponsored minor league baseball at the new home of the St. Paul Saints, CHS Field. As in previous years, the St. Paul Saints were secularized to the "Mr. Paul Aints" and the rebranded player jerseys were auctioned off during the game.^[10] A shoe drive benefiting Soles4Souls was incorporated into the event (promoted as "Leave Your Soles at the Gate"). The team beat the Winnipeg Goldeyes 7-4 in front of 8,500 fans at CHS Field which brought the record of the Mr. Paul Aints to 2 wins and 2 losses. The Mr. Paul Aints won again in 2016, but lost in 2017 bringing their record to 3 games won and 3 games lost.^[11]

Programs and Initiatives[]

Grantmaking[]

Since 2009, Foundation Beyond Belief has raised more than $3.4 million for philanthropic causes worldwide.^[12] Through the Humanist Grants program, the organization awarded over $1.5 million to 177 humanist nonprofits over 11 years. Each fiscal quarter, FBB selected four organizations to support, in the categories of Poverty and Health, Human Rights, Education, and Natural World.^[13]

In 2020, the Humanist Grants program was replaced by the Compassionate Impact Grant, which awards $150,000 over three years to a single humanist organization that is led by and targets historically underserved communities. In addition to awarding a grant, FBB partners with the organization to provide volunteer matching.

In addition to grants awarded through the Humanist Grants and Compassionate Impact Grant programs, FBB has provided smaller grants to organizations with causes ranging from poverty, hunger, water access, homelessness, climate change, education, vocational training, and human rights - amongst others.

Volunteer Network[]

Foundation Beyond Belief supports "secular groups in doing service activities in their local communities with their Beyond Belief Network."^[14] The network is made up of 150 teams throughout the U.S. and the world. FBB provides grants and other support to these teams, sponsoring events in local communities.

Disaster Recovery[]

In 2014, the American Humanist Association (AHA) and Foundation Beyond Belief (FBB) merged their respective charitable programs Humanist Charities (established in 2005) and Humanist Crisis Response (established in 2011). AHA's Executive Director Roy Speckhardt commented that, “This merger is a positive move that will grow the relief efforts of the humanist community. The result will be more money directed to charitable activities, dispelling the false claim that nonbelievers don't give to charity.”^[15]

Now Foundation Beyond Belief's Disaster Recovery ^[16] program, this effort serves as a focal point for the humanist response to major natural disasters and complex humanitarian crises all over the world. The program coordinates financial support as well as trained humanist volunteers to help impacted communities. The Disaster Recovery program is sustained through the ongoing partnership between FBB and AHA, and ensures that community efforts are centralized and efficient.

Between 2014 and 2018, Humanist Disaster Recovery has raised over $250,000 for victims of the Syrian Refugee Crisis, Refugee Children of the U.S. Border, Tropical Cyclone Sam, and the Nepal and Ecuadoran Earthquakes, Hurricane Matthew in Haiti, and Hurricanes Irma and Maria.^[17] In addition to grants for recovery efforts, volunteers have also helped to rebuild homes and schools in the following locations: Columbia, South Carolina after the effects of Hurricane Joaquin,^[18] Denham Springs, Louisiana and Houston, Texas after flooding from Hurricane Harvey.^[19]

Humanist Service Corps[]

In 2013, Foundation Beyond Belief launched the Pathfinders Project, a project to determine the viability of a long term Humanist Service Corps. The project launched with 4 pathfinders: Conor Robinson, Wendy Webber, Ben Blanchard, and Michelle Huey. Over the course of a year, the team worked with several organizations across the world, including in Cambodia, Uganda, Ghana, Haiti, Ecuador, Colombia, and Guatemala.^[20] Upon returning to the United States, the members of the Pathfinders continued their work of promoting humanist service, including speaking about the project to gain new members for future years.^[21]

In 2015, the Humanist Service Corps officially launched, with the members serving in a camp for accused witches in Ghana. The team consisted of Naduah Wheeler, Christian Hayden, Matan Gold, and Rebecca Czekalski.^[22] The team continued in 2016, with Cleopatra Blacke and Wendy Webber taking over administrative duties, and leading a team consisting of Baako Alhassan, Lukeman Domba, George Gold, Warren Alan Tidwell, and Jude Lane.^[23]

As of 2017, the Humanist Service Corps consists of Yvonne Nyahe serving as a Ghana Coordinator, Conor Robinson serving as HSC Director, and a team consisting of Hannah Emily Austin, Sharon Racho, and Hibbatullah Wumpini.^[24]

See also[]

• Hemant Mehta
• List of secularist organizations
• American Humanist Association
• Minnesota Atheists
• Greta Christina
• Skepticon
• Secular Coalition for America
• Reason Rally

References[]

External links[]

• Foundation Beyond Belief website