Foundation Beyond Belief has two components -- a humanist charitable giving program, and an education and support program for secular parents.

The first task of Ute Mitchell, our Parent Community Coordinator, is taking the pulse of the secular parenting world -- finding out just who we are and what parents need who are raising their kids without religion in a predominantly religious world. I've spent the last four years immersed in this topic -- talking to hundreds of nontheistic parents across the US and elsewhere, reading, analyzing, hanging out on the Parenting Beyond Belief Forum -- but now it's time for something more systematic.

We've created a 5-10 minute survey to get a better sense of who you are and what you need. The first of several, this one focuses on general questions including parents' background and current attitudes, family practices, and specific needs.

The Foundation sincerely thanks its members for being with us this first month. We have now rolled out an improved donation system based in large part on your suggestions. Purchase security has been enhanced and PayPal added; you can change your donation amount and distribution at any time; and international credit cards are now accepted.

Members who joined during January 2010 will be contacted individually to make any needed adjustments.  Thanks for your patience and dedication to a worthy cause!

By Lindsay Loken, Foundation Beyond Belief Charitable Giving Coordinator

A couple of years ago, I remember reading a magazine article about a new parenting resource that was coming out, a book called Parenting Beyond Belief. While my husband and I do not yet have children, someday we hope to raise free-thinking children in a non-theistic setting, so this book was music to my ears in a genre with limited options. After reading Dale McGowan’s book, I wanted more! I then started following Dale on his blog and Facebook. When I heard about Dale starting Foundation Beyond Belief, I was ecstatic and thrilled and wanted to be a part of this trailblazing effort. It’s a great honor to be a part of this Foundation as the new Charitable Giving Coordinator.

I have been married to my husband for five years and “dog mom” to our larger-than-life English Mastiff, Olaf, for three years. I’m a student majoring in political science, a yoga instructor, an Arizona desert-dweller who most enjoys hiking in the beautiful Superstition Mountains near our home, and a humanist just looking to live a good life.

In my role as Charitable Giving Coordinator at Foundation Beyond Belief, I want to encourage members to be active participants in the Forums, where the Charity Nominees for each quarter are listed. One of the unique and community-like aspects of Foundation Beyond Belief is that the members have input as to which charities make it onto our charitable giving list each quarter. As a member, I encourage all of you to take a few minutes to research, advocate for, comment on, visit websites of, and just put in your two cents for charities that interest you (or ALL of them, if you have the time!). The Forums section is a great place for all members to contribute their own thoughts and research on the nominees, allowing everyone to have a say in where contributions are distributed.

An easy approach to researching the charities is to pick a topic that interests you. For example, if you are interested in animal advocacy, visit the Animal Protection forum and scroll through the listed nominees. Visit a website or two, come back to the FBB Forum, and leave your comments for that particular nominee—easy as 1-2-3! Or perhaps you have personal experience with one of the nominees—please leave any feedback, good or bad. Your input is valued and appreciated and is what will help make this Foundation great!

Please feel free to contact me via email with any questions or comments.