Support the Center for Mindful Self-Compassion's Mid-Year Fundraiser
Join a Global Movement of Kindness and Compassionate Connection
More than 7,000 research studies show the efficacy of self-compassion. The Center for Mindful Self-Compassion (CMSC) is living proof that self-compassion changes lives and communities. We’ve trained over 3,000 teachers in Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), impacting the lives of more than 200,000 people in 90+ countries—and the need keeps growing. Every month, more individuals apply for scholarships to bring MSC to their own lives and communities.
A Free Retreat for All—Made Possible by Your Generosity
“Renewal: Standing Strong, Staying Kind, Finding Joy in Uncertain Times”
Saturday, July 26, 2025 — 8:00 am - 11:00 am Pacific & 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Pacific
Our Mid-Year Fundraiser to Keep Self-Compassion Free and Accessible Worldwide
This full-day online retreat is our gift to the global community—a time to reconnect with yourself, others, and the healing power of self-compassion. Whether you attend one session or all six, you’ll experience guided practices from CMSC Co-Founders Kristin Neff and Chris Germer and a global team of MSC teachers—offered completely free of charge.
🌅 Morning Session
• 8:00 AM – Welcome & Opening Practice – Lisa Baylis & Elijah Zimmerman
• 8:15 AM – Drawing on Fierce and Tender Self-Compassion – Kristin Neff
• 9:00 AM – Staying Strong and Kind through Our Compassion Voice – Susan Gitau
• 10:00 AM – Finding Emotional Resilience Through Self-Compassion – Mila de Koning
🌇 Afternoon Session
• 4:00 PM – Welcome & Opening Practice – Natalie Bell & Elijah Zimmerman
• 4:15 PM – Keeping an Open Heart in Scary Times – Chris Germer
• 5:00 PM – Renew Your View: Remembering Everything That’s Going Right! – Angelike Dexter
• 6:00 PM – Cultivating Inner Balance and Steadiness in Difficult Times – Ben Weinstein
This retreat is free to all—and sustained by donations from people like you.
Your support helps fund:
- Technology and staffing to deliver live and replay access
- Scholarships to extend one-year replay access to those with financial need
- Free Circles of Practice sessions offered 7 days a week across time zones
Haven’t registered yet? Click here to register for our free 2025 Mid-Year Renewal Retreat
(Registration includes live access and a free 7-day replay link to all sessions.)
Help Us Raise $35,000 to Keep Self-Compassion Accessible to All
This retreat also serves as our Mid-Year Fundraiser, with a goal of raising $35,000 to continue offering programs like this one—at no cost to those who need it most. When you give, you’re supporting a community rooted in kindness, shared humanity, and healing.
You’ll also receive thank-you gifts when you give, including extended retreat access and other meaningful benefits.
Choose Your Gift Level
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$10 — Live Access Gift
- Helps cover Zoom and platform costs to keep this live retreat free for all
- Everyone who registers receives seven days of free streaming access—your gift helps us sustain that and keep future events free
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$25 — Live Access + One-Year Streaming Replay Access + Replay Scholarship Pass
- One-year streaming access to all six sessions of this Renewal Retreat (after your free seven-day window)
- One scholarship pass to cover someone else’s one-year access to this year's retreat
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$50 — Renewal Pass
- All benefits of the $25 Gift including one-year streaming access to 2025 Mid-Year Renewal Retreat
- One-year access to the 2024 International Self-Compassion Day Retreat (or an additional year if you donated and received it last year)—12 hours of talks, meditations and practice
- Additional scholarship pass for one-year replay access to someone in need (2 total)
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$100 — MSC Champion Pass
- All benefits of the $50 Renewal Pass
- Additional one-year access to the 2025 Year-End Renewal Retreat (18 hours of talks, meditations, and practices by MSC Teachers)
- Two additional scholarship passes for one-year replay access to someone in need (4 total)
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$250 — Educator Pass
- Everything in the $100 Champion Pass
- Access to the Fall 2025 four-part Teacher Learning Series (four 2-hour workshops on social change, creative arts, forgiveness, and marketing). $345 retail value. Offer available only until the end of the retreat day July 26th.
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$500 — Visionary Pass
- All benefits of the $250 Educator Pass
- Two additional one-year retreat access scholarship passes (sponsor six year-long passes)
- Your name (or organization) listed as a Retreat Sponsor on our website and opening slide
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$1,000 — Patron Pass
- All benefits of the $500 Visionary Pass
- Four additional scholarship passes (10 total)
- Feature mention in our monthly newsletter, highlighting your support
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$5,000— Legacy Pass
- All benefits of the $1,000 Patron Pass
- Ten additional scholarship passes (20 total)
- Private 60-minute Circles of Practice session for you and 50 of your friends or organization of your choice with a senior MSC teacher (transferable as a gift, valid for one year)
- Prominent recognition as a Major Sponsor on our website, retreat materials, and annual report
- A custom MSC meditation by an MSC teacher dedicated in your name, shared with the community
Thank you for being part of this self-compassion movement.
Please scroll back up to make your donation today.
What You Made Possible in 2024
Because of your generosity last year:
- Over 750 people joined our first-ever International Self-Compassion Day, raising $32,000+
- 1,165 free Circles of Practice sessions were offered by 50+ volunteer MSC teachers, serving over 50,000 Zoom seats
- 420 scholarships were awarded, removing financial barriers to transformative training
- 70 new MSC teachers were trained, bringing self-compassion to new corners of the globe
One of those teachers is Dr. Susan Gitau, a Kenyan therapist working to address youth suicide and trauma through self-compassion. Susan is a featured speaker at the Mid-Year Renewal Retreat
“My life with self-compassion has never been the same since I took these trainings. Personally, I used to be a very anxious therapist. I learned how to embody self-compassion and presence in my MSC classes and therapy sessions and have found a very great connection between myself and my clients and my African community.” - Susan Gitau
Every Dollar Makes a Difference
We are deeply grateful for every contribution, no matter the size. Your generosity helps CMSC provide life-changing programs, train more teachers, and offer self-compassion tools to individuals, families, and communities around the world—regardless of their financial situation.
To donate online, scroll to the top of the page—or, if you prefer to donate by mail, please send your check payable to Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Inc. to:
Center for Mindful Self-Compassion, Inc.
13740 N Highway 183 Ste L2
Austin, TX 78750
Together, we are building a world where compassion for ourselves and others is the foundation of collective well-being.