American Empathy Project

The American Empathy Project is an undertaking by the American Humanist Association. We are hosting a nationwide counter-offensive of defiant empathy through service by putting $100,000 directly into the hands of humanists and our allies to take a stand for our neighbors and for goodness. Beyond the grant program, we’re encouraging humanists across the country to put empathy into action on May 2, whether by joining a volunteer opportunity, hosting their own local project, or doing individual acts of empathy.

We’re living through a crisis of cruelty, with an administration that threatens our neighbors’ safety, leaves kids hungry, diminishes our collective humanity, and seeks to divide us with fear and hate. 

But we won’t let them win! There’s hope in each other and in ourselves. We can make the difference if we stand up and fight together for a more compassionate world.

Yes! We would love to have as many people participate in the American Empathy Project as possible. Opportunities for involvement include signing up to volunteer at an AEP event near you or hosting your own project on May 2. Be sure to sign up using the form above to get more information as AEP events go live and on ways that AHA can potentially help support and promote non-funded projects.

The American Empathy Project is supporting community-wide service projects that promote empathy, fight cruelty, and bring communities together on May 2. This will look different for every organizer and every community, but our six project guides provide inspiration:

• Food over cruelty: Organize a food drive for a local food bank

• Care over cruelty: Coordinate a medical debt jubilee 

• Affirmation over cruelty: Run a clothes drive for trans youth

• Welcoming over cruelty: Conduct a supply drive to support immigrant families

• Conservation over cruelty: Host a community environmental clean up

• Respect over cruelty: Facilitate a “joy drive” for a senior center

Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that states we all have the capacity for good, because caring for each other is in our DNA. Humanists value empathy, fairness, and critical thinking, and we demand the same of our institutions. We humanists embrace our responsibility to do right in our one life – not because we expect to be rewarded or “saved,” but because we have the power to create a better world and future through our actions. 

Learn more about the AHA on our website and check out our Humanism 101 video series.

Our day of action is Saturday, May 2, ahead of the National Day of Reason on May 4. A coordinated day of action sends a unified message and brings people together!

Fill out the form to stay in the loop on how to get involved. You can also donate directly. For additional help, contact empathy@humanist.org.