Thank you!

Thank you for considering starting a fundraiser for the Gay Men's Spiritual Retreat Winter 2025 Campaign. We have a big goal for this year to raise $25,000 so we can continue our tradition of keeping costs low for the summer retreat and provide scholarships to men who cannot afford to join. Every little bit counts this year, and we are grateful for you!

This page will provide some helpful resources how to set up and run a successful fundraiser. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dallas Peters (dallas@gmsr.org) and we are ready to help!

Set Up Fundraising Page

Fundraising Leaderboard

How do I build an individual Fundraising page?

Passionate supporters like you can actively advocate for GMSR, making a real difference and creating a far wider ripple effect.

When someone donates through your individual Peer-to-Peer Fundraising page, the funds are added to the goal of the GMSR Winter campaign to which your page is linked, which then benefits the nonprofit that is driving the campaign.

Register an account

To start a new Peer-to-Peer Fundraising page:

Click the "I Want To Fundraise For This" button .
Select the “Create My Own Page” button under “Fundraising on your own?”
After reading the “How This Works” information, fill out the required details in the “Create Account” box. Be sure to use an email address that you have direct access to. For security reasons, you will need to confirm that email address by acting on an email sent to it. If you run into an error message, see note 2 below.

Customize your page

After signing in, “Personalize This Page” is where you can tailor the page to suit your needs, including showing why GMSR means so much to you and why others should support it. You can return to this page at any time by clicking “Edit Page” at the top right corner of your fundraising page.

Use “Name on Page” to edit how your name appears on the page.
Under “Add A Note”, write a personal note so your network understands the importance of contributing.
Add a fundraising goal for your campaign (in dollars) to the “Your Fundraising Goal” field. We recommend starting with a $250-$500 fundraising goal.
Upload a clear profile picture of your face. Remember that your photo is an important part of your profile. Your family and friends will feel more comfortable donating to your cause when they see and recognize you on the fundraising page.
Consider uploading a Hero Image. Choose between using the default image, uploading your own image or uploading your own video.
Click the “Save” button.
Lastly, bookmark your fundraising page in your browser so you can easily return to it later. Alternatively, you can visit the Campaign Page you’re supporting and click the “Go To My Fundraiser” button at the bottom right.

Tips

Make it person - talk about your experience with GMSR
Add a photo that shows the retreat
Don't be afraid to ask people several times for a donation - people are busy in their lives and they forget; most donations happen after asking 2-3 times!

Reach out to your network

The first rule of fundraising is: always talk about your fundraiser. This is how you convert excitement and goodwill into dollars for your chosen cause’s important mission!

Share word of your fundraiser in two ways:

Click the “Share This Page” button under “Donate”. Then select the icon of a social media site you use. Choosing the email icon allows you to compose an email with the link to your fundraiser.

2) Click the “Copy Link” button under “Donate” to copy the link and paste it into an email, a social media post or anywhere else that accepts links.

Event Graphics + Logos

GMSR History

The Gay Men’s Spiritual Retreat (GMSR) originated in 1991, when Dave Smith asked a friend if he would be interested in starting up a gay men’s retreat in the local mountains outside San Diego. Both men have had a long history of attending retreats and leading camping trips into the wilderness, guiding small groups of gay men on treks throughout the Southwest. Both men have long had a love affair with the outdoors, and wanted to share that with other gay men.

After recruiting several other gay men in early 1992, it was agreed at the outset that their retreat should:

Promote the spiritual growth of gay men.
Be founded on 12-step principles, but open to all gay men, as well as others.
Be non-sectarian, non-religious, and non-judgemental.
Like 12-step programs, avoid coercion in its programming.
Operate at or below cost, in order to keep activities within everyone’s financial reach.

A new retreat was born, which sought and still seeks to enhance the spiritual lives of gay men by sponsoring events and activities that will help participants to examine and improve their spirituality in a manner that seems best to them.

In 1997, Dave met with two respected leaders of the lesbian community, Johnna Helm and Joan Songer, and initiated a joint retreat, named the Lambda Recovery Weekend, designed to serve equal numbers of men and women. That retreat has also prospered, and continues its independent existence today.

In addition to the annual retreats, GMSR umbrellas other non-profit organizations. The GMSR has been a thriving resource in the community because it is supported by the community. While they do receive and invite private donations, the bulk of their support comes from community fundraisers.