Community Leaders Resilience Fund
The Community Leaders Resilience Fund supports those responsible for the health and wellbeing of their communities by reducing financial and logistical barriers to accessing state-legal plant medicine facilitation services.
The CLR Fund was created from the desire to give back to non-profit, governmental, religious, environmental, and other social leaders by helping them address the overwhelm, burnout, and other psycho-spiritual challenges related to uplifting community health. It is also our hope that this work will support community leaders to reinvigorate their work and sense of purpose. In times of great transition and increasing complexity, we believe that supporting community leaders in their psychological and spiritual resilience is vital for ensuring the health and wellbeing of society and our planet.
Scholarships of up to $3,300 per individual will be awarded to those currently in community leadership positions towards accessing state-regulated group facilitation services. Recipients will be connected with vetted service providers, access to mentors for preparation and ongoing integration support, as well as assistance with lodging during the journey week. *Please note, the CLR Fund does not cover the cost of any plant medicine. For more information about the CLR Fund and how to apply, please read the information below.
Apply for the Community Leaders Resilience Fund
Apply here. Please subscribe to our newsletter for the most up to date information about the Community Leaders Resilience Fund application.
If interested in applying for a CLR Fund grant, please read the information below to learn more about the grant including who can apply and what the grant includes. Please also scroll below to read the Frequently Asked Questions section.
The application can take up to an hour to complete, as it includes learning about what is involved to receive plant medicine services in Oregon, as well as, personal, financial, mental health, facilitation, and integration questions.
The application window is open and we recommend applying as soon as you are able. More information about the Community Leaders Resilience Fund is included in the application form itself as well as below in the FAQ section.
Questions about the CLR Fund? You can always contact us at info@sherieckert.org. (If you write to us, please add this address to your contact list and check your spam folder regularly.)
Who can apply for a Community Leaders Resilience Fund grant?
The CLR Fund is open to community leaders who are 21 years or older and who meet the health criteria for participating. While we award grants both to those who have never before taken psychedelics and to those who have had previous experience, the intention of the Fund is to avail access to psilocybin services to those who would otherwise not have access. The CLR Fund offers sliding scale grants to support community leaders who may need more or less financial support to be part of this fund. The Fund is also open for those who don’t have financial need but would like to participate in this cohort model with other leaders, as well as receive the logistical support offered by the Fund (e.g. connection to vetted service provider, lodging, etc.). You do not need to live in Oregon, but for now the psilocybin service must take place in Oregon. In the future, the fund will consider working within other jurisdictions where psilocybin services are legally available such as Colorado and the Netherlands.
What defines a “Community Leader”?
We define “community leaders” as those who spend significant time guiding, supporting, and inspiring others within a specific community toward a common good. These are individuals who are recognized and looked to by their communities or staff for their wisdom and leadership, who often hold positions of influence regarding programs, policy, and culture, and whose work is ultimately responsible for the health, wellbeing, and growth of those communities. This may include, but not limited to: non-profit leaders, religious or spiritual leaders, environmental leaders, and public servants.
If you have any further questions on what qualifies someone as a community leader, please feel free to email us at CLRF@sherieckert.org.
How does the CLR Fund grant work? What is the group/cohort model?
Starting in April 2025, we will begin accepting applications from community leaders who are interested in receiving financial assistance for group psilocybin services within Oregon’s legal and regulated model. The fund will offer grants up to $3,300 per individual (final grant amounts will vary on a per needs basis). The grant is intended to support the cost of two days of group psilocybin facilitation + service center costs, as well as 4-5 days of lodging and light meals following each day of psilocybin facilitation. The grant does not cover the cost of travel, other meal costs, or the cost of psilocybin.
After an applicant is chosen, cohort dates will be selected and applicants will be referred to an appropriate service center for additional screening. Once all screening processes are complete, funds will be directed to the licensed facilitator and/or service center, as well as directly for lodging.
The fund is currently designed to support groups of 4-6 individuals undergoing two days of psilocybin facilitation. Cohorts of leaders from similar backgrounds/communities may either be self-selected or will be grouped by the fund’s reviewers based on appropriateness of fit. We believe the cohort model will foster peer support amongst the group, as well as the opportunity for ongoing community following the psilocybin services. Through receiving psilocybin therapy in a group model, our goal is to help increase the quality of care while also bringing down overall costs for grant recipients. If there is any reason why an applicant would prefer not to participate in this cohort model and would require individual care, there will be a chance to indicate so within the application and such a request will be considered on an as needed basis.
Satori Farms PDX
We are grateful for the partnership and support of Satori Farms PDX and Tori Armbrust who has generously provided psilocybin for the grantees.
Tori founded Satori Farms PDX, the first company, also woman owned, to receive a license to manufacture psilocybin mushrooms in Oregon. Tori is a long-time mushroom enthusiast, cultivator, and educator, and am currently working with many of the new service centers opening under the rollout of Measure 109 by the Oregon’s Psilocybin Services.
More information about the psilocybin as well as, the rules and regulations will be shared upon being awarded a grant.
Our team is deeply grateful for the partnership and support we’ve received from Tori and Satori Farms PDX as they have generously donated Oregon grown, tested, and regulated high quality psilocybin mushrooms for all Community Leaders Resilience Fund grantees.
How can I support the Community Leaders Resilience Fund?
If you are interested in donating to support the Community Leaders Resilience Fund, please contact info@sherieckert.org or you can donate online.
The Community Leaders Resilience Fund is supported through donations, so we aim to offer as many grants as possible based on the donations we’ve received.
In 2026, we plan to expand the CLR Fund to additional states, starting with Colorado. We’ll consider covering additional medicines, as is allowed in Colorado's version of the Oregon Model (state regulated psychedelic therapy model). Through this approach, we’ll help accelerate the path towards expanded access and insurance coverage for psychedelic therapy in state regulated models.
“I really wish [psilocybin services] could be more accessible for people above ground, more financially accessible . . . because it was really the most tremendous gift I think I’ve ever received…people need this because the world is only getting harder to deal with.”
- Environmental leader (two months post-psilocybin session in Oregon)
Frequently Asked Questions
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CLR Fund provides financial and logistical support for community leaders accessing group psilocybin facilitation within Oregon and Colorado’s state legal and regulated model.
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The CLR Fund is open to community leaders who are 21 years or older and who meet the health criteria for participating. We award grants both to those who have never before received or taken psychedelics, and to those who have had previous experience. The CLR Fund offers sliding scale grants to support community leaders who may need more or less financial support to be part of this fund. The Fund is also open for those who don’t have financial need but would like to participate in this cohort model with other leaders, as well as receive the logistical support offered by the Fund (e.g. connection to vetted service provider, lodging, etc.). You do not need to live in Oregon, but for now the psilocybin service must take place in Oregon.
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We define “community leaders” as those who spend significant time guiding, supporting, and inspiring others within a specific community toward a common good. These are individuals who are recognized and looked to by their communities or staff for their wisdom and leadership, who often hold positions of influence regarding programs, policy, and culture, and whose work is ultimately responsible for the health, wellbeing, and growth of those communities. This may include, but not limited to: non-profit leaders, religious or spiritual leaders, environmental leaders, and public servants. (While we recognize their influential role in society, we are currently not accepting business or for-profit leaders).
If you are unsure if you meet the as criteria community leadership feel free to email us at CLRF@sherieckert.org.
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While research reveals a strong safety profile, psilocybin is not for everyone. Some conditions may be disqualifying. You may not be eligible to receive psilocybin therapy, depending in part on the Psilocybin Facilitator or Psilocybin Service Center, if you have a history of certain conditions.
Please be aware that the following conditions or situations may be contraindications to receiving psilocybin services:
Mental health conditions such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, major depressive disorder with psychotic features, psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, mania, delusional disorder, any dissociative disorder, substance-induced psychosis, or severe paranoia
Current drug or alcohol withdrawal symptoms or active/severe drug or alcohol misuse
Cardiovascular conditions such as: poorly controlled high blood pressure, prolonged QTc interval, congestive heart failure, history of cardiac arrest, history of ventricular arrhythmia (V. Fib/V.Tach), presence of AICD (Automatic Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator), coronary artery disease, angina, tachycardia, arrhythmia (e.g. atrial fibrillation), Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome, heart valve disease, artificial heart valve, cardiac hypertrophy, cardiomyopathy, aortic disease, aneurysms
Gastrointestinal conditions such as: moderate to severe liver impairment, gastric outlet obstruction
Dialysis or severe kidney disease
Neurologic conditions such as dementia, cognitive impairment, seizure disorders, epilepsy, history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, cerebral aneurysm
Taking medications such as Lithium, two or more medications affecting your serotonin system (e.g.drug classes such as SSRI, SNRI, SPARI, TCA, and MAO inhibitors), Angle-closure glaucoma
Pregnancy
Tuberculosis, COVID and other highly contagious diseases
1st degree relative (parent, sibling, child) with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or any psychotic or dissociative disorder
If you are living with any of the above conditions or situations, and you are unable to resolve the condition or situation before receiving psilocybin therapy, we recommend that you do not apply for a grant, as there is a high probability that you will not be deemed eligible to receive psilocybin services from a Psilocybin Facilitator or from a Psilocybin Service Center.
Disclaimers:
Please note, legally someone cannot receive psilocybin if they meet any of the following criteria at the time of:
1. If you have been diagnosed with active psychosis
2. If you take lithium or have taken lithium within the past 30 days
3. If you have ideation of harm to yourself or others
We are not making any sort of decision or confirmation that someone should receive psilocybin services. We are determining if an applicant is a good fit to receive a grant from us, so that they have the ability to pursue a licensed facilitator where both the client and facilitator will make the decision whether or not to work together.
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In 2020, voters in Oregon passed Ballot Measure 109, also known as the Oregon Psilocybin Services Act, allowing the "manufacture, delivery, and administration" of psilocybin within licensed service centers, supervised by licensed facilitators. In 2022, Colorado became the second state to establish a legal regulated access program for psilocybin and other related psychoactive plants. While psilocybin is legal for use within the Oregon and Colorado state regulated models, it remains a federally illegal schedule 1 drug within the Controlled Substances Act.
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The Community Leaders Resiliency Fund is a new initiative from the Sheri Eckert Foundation, (SEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. SEF is committed to creating a future where Oregon and Colorado’s evolving psychedelic ecosystem is accessible to participants from diverse backgrounds, financial means, and geographies around the state and country. Learn more about SEF here.
Our Board of Directors is David Bronner, Tom Eckert, and Nathan Howard.
Our team consists of Nathan Howard, Executive Director and Lorena Dame, Director of Operations and Development. We also work with an organization called Magical Teams to support our application process.
Initial funds for the CLRF were provided by the Riverstyx Foundation and the LLS Foundation.
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Please head to the State of Oregon's official website for Oregon Psilocybin Services, which contains many resources about Oregon’s Psilocybin Services model. It also contains sample forms to better understand information you may cover with a licensed facilitator in a preparation session:
Read the OPS Fact Sheet for information about psilocybin services in Oregon.
To learn more about psilocybin, please review the Scientific Literature Review or Cultural and Anthropological Information on the OPS website.
Another comprehensive guide is the Healing Advocacy Fund: Oregon Psilocybin Services Client Guide.
Here is sample of an Intake and screening forms you would complete with a facilitator:
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Starting in April 2025, we will begin accepting applications from community leaders who are interested in receiving financial assistance for group psilocybin services within Oregon’s legal and regulated model. The fund will offer grants up to $3,300 per individual (final grant amounts will vary on a per needs basis). The grant is intended to support the cost of two days of group psilocybin facilitation + service center costs, as well as lodging and light meals following each day of psilocybin facilitation. The grant does not cover the cost of travel or other meal costs. After an applicant is chosen, cohort dates will be selected and applicants will be referred to an appropriate service center for additional screening. Once all screening processes are complete, funds will be directed to the licensed facilitator and/or service center, as well as directly for lodging.
Grants will be awarded to individuals, and the funds will be distributed directly to the facilitator and/or service center that the individual is receiving services from.
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Our goal is to award initial grants in April of 2025 and continue to award grants on a rolling basis over the course of 2025 and 2026. We will communicate with all applicants over email.
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Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis. Selection criteria is primarily based on the applicant's work as a community leader, their financial need, their expressed need for psychological/emotional/spiritual support or burnout, whether they belong to an underserved population (e.g. geography, race, ethnicity, cultural barriers, occupation, physical and/or cognitive ability, age, gender, etc.), and a demonstrated understanding and readiness to receive psilocybin therapy. Each of these three categories are detailed in the application process.
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The fund is currently designed to support groups of 4-6 individuals undergoing two days of psilocybin facilitation. Cohorts of leaders from similar backgrounds/communities may either be self-selected or will be grouped by the fund’s reviewers based on appropriateness of fit. We believe the cohort model will foster peer support amongst the group, as well as the opportunity for ongoing community following the psilocybin services. Through receiving psilocybin therapy in a group model, our goal is to help increase the quality of care while also bringing down overall costs for grant recipients.
*If there is any reason why an applicant would prefer not to participate in this cohort model and would require individual care, there will be a chance to indicate so within the application and such a request will be considered on an as needed basis.
Why group over one-on-one?
In very recent history, group work has become less common, in part due to a western approach to medicine that is driven by the FDA's approach to drug development. For this reason, most people in the United States are less accustomed to group work and less likely to be comfortable with it.
However, psychedelics - especially psilocybin - have a long and successful history of being used in group settings. This includes not just in a clinical context but also in Indigenous cultures going back thousands of years.
Not only does group work save time and money, but studies show that when people feel part of a community, it improves their psychological well-being and connectedness.
We believe this is one of the reasons why people who begin with a preference for individual over group end up strongly preferring group after they experience it. And we know from research and firsthand experience that individuals rarely heal or thrive in isolation.
To learn more about group psychedelic therapy, consider tapping the above hyperlinks or see the below information and videos:
Research: National Library of Medicine - combining psychedelic substances and group psychotherapy may prove beneficial for increasing group connectedness and interpersonal learning, potentially enhancing prosocial behavior with direct opportunities to practice newly acquired knowledge about previously maladaptive behavior patterns.
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Any information you share with us is strictly confidential, and will not be shared with any person, for any reason, without your written (or electronic) permission.
Submission of this information is voluntary and refusal to provide it will not subject you to any adverse treatment.
The Sheri Eckert Foundation will only use, process, and store your personal information for the purpose of reviewing, managing, and executing the Psilocybin Access Fund program. Your information may be used, processed, and stored on IT platforms and accessed by Sheri Eckert Foundation employees and contractors for this purpose.
All workstations and Typeform devices are fully encrypted to guarantee the confidentiality of the information they contain. Typeform's data protection standards are HIPAA compliant.
We do not share, sell, or lease your personal information to third parties for other purposes, unless required by law. (At the time of this update, we have never received a legal request for personal information.)
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All workstations and Typeform devices are fully encrypted to guarantee the confidentiality of the information they contain. Typeform's data protection standards are HIPAA compliant.
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The Sheri Eckert Foundation has partnered with the research team OPEN, an interdisciplinary, community-wide, non-commercial research and evaluation project. This research aims to measure the impact of state legal psychedelic services as well as to contribute to scientific advancement and the development of innovative treatments for issues such as burnout and resilience in community leaders.
If you choose to participate in our research project, which consists of anonymously sharing your experience, the chosen facilitator will provide you with the information and the short survey. You may be financially compensated (in addition to the grant to receive psilocybin services) if you choose to participate in sharing information about your experience.
Remember, research is always voluntary. If you start out thinking you want to be in a study, you can always change your mind at any point. And you can opt into the study later on, you don't have to decide now.
Learn more about the Sheri Eckert Foundation's research partnerships and why your participation could help countless others, here.
