SecularHelp is a non-profit organization committed to evidence-based compassion, critical thinking, inclusivity, and ethical action. Centered on empowering people to find purpose and meaning in life while fostering secular practices and supporting secular groups and individuals with values based on secular humanism.[1]
SecularHelp began as Atheist Alliance and was established in 1991, incorporated August 1992,[2] as an alliance of four American-based local atheist groups.[3] Over time Atheist Alliance expanded, adding both local, regional groups and international groups as members. The organization changed its name to Atheist Alliance International in 2001. In 2010 and 2011, members approved the division of the American and international segments of AAI into separate organizations to accommodate each group's different strategic interests.[4][5][6] The American group of AAI was named Atheist Alliance of America (AAoA)[7], and the international federation reused the existing Atheist Alliance International name while forming a new foundation.
Since 2011, the Atheist Alliance of America has been a separate entity, and in 2018, the organization dissolved all prior agreements and ties with Atheist Alliance International in order to adopt an international scope.[8] In 2022 the organization was rebranded as SecularHelp.
Organization structure
As of 2025, the Board of Directors, led by President Mark W. Gura, are Derek Colanduno, Joanna Wills, Darek Dalas, Michelle W. Gura.
Annual conventions are held at Dragon Con in conjunction with Skeptrack.
Mark Edward at SkeptrackKylie Sturgess Podcast Panel at Skeptrack 2011
During the years that the organization was under the banners of the Atheist Alliance of America and Atheist Alliance International (pre-2011), it hosted several conferences.
The 2014 conference was held in Seattle.[20][21] Some of the speakers included David Fitzgerald, Steven Pinker, Rebecca Goldstein, Richard Haynes and Richard Carrier. There was a last-minute change in speakers when one of the speakers, author Horus Gilgamesh (pen name) of the "Awkward Moments Not Found in Your Average Children's Bible" blog, received a death threat to his home address before the convention. Subsequently, he decided not to attend the conference.[22]
Beginning in 2003, the Atheist Alliance of America, in conjunction with the Richard Dawkins Foundation, would bestow the Richard Dawkins Award annually "to honor an outstanding atheist whose contributions raise public awareness of the nontheist life stance; who, through writings, media, the arts, film, and/or the stage, advocates increased scientific knowledge; who, through work or by example, teaches acceptance of the nontheist philosophy".[24]
2018 Richard Dawkins Award Trophy Given to Stephen Fry
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