Established in 1991, our mission has evolved to address the growing need for evidence-based compassion, personal growth, and rational advocacy. Originating in California, SecularHelp / Secular Helping People Alliance have grown into a global organization dedicated to uniting individuals committed to critical thinking, inclusivity, and ethical action.
We empower people to find purpose and meaning in life while fostering secular practices free from the influence of religious, supernatural, or pseudo-scientific beliefs.
Mark W. Gura is the president of SecularHelp.org and the Association of Mindfulness Meditation and Secular Buddhism (AMMSB.org). As an author, speaker, meditation instructor, and coach, he brings extensive experience from the nonprofit and for-profit sectors. Gura began his career with Fortune 500 companies before transitioning to the nonprofit world, where he champions evidence-based, secular practices designed to foster personal well-being, holistic growth, and meaningful societal change.
Born in Poland and immigrating to the United States at a young age, Gura has over 20 years of experience in mindfulness meditation (Vipassana), a discipline he studied under the guidance of the late S.N. Goenka in India. He integrates mindfulness with practical, science-based strategies to empower individuals and communities.
Passionate about personal empowerment, self-discovery, and exploration, Gura has traveled to nearly 100 countries, drawing inspiration from his global adventures, including sailing and cultural discovery. He is committed to helping individuals find purpose and meaning in life, deepen their secular meditation practice, and create ethical, sustainable legacies. Through his work, Gura offers actionable guidance free from religious, supernatural, or pseudo-scientific beliefs, enabling transformative change on both personal and collective levels.
Mark W. Gura
President and Executive Director
SecularHelp.org was originally incorporated in San Mateo, California, under the name Atheist Alliance, Inc. (AA).”
With the support of John B. Massen and several affiliated organizations, AAoA obtained 501(c)(3) status from the IRS.
SecularHelp.org began publishing its magazine, Secular Nation.
We began hosting US conventions, with the first held in Los Angeles, California. Our website went online in 1997.
Our organization had a half-dozen aliates outside the US and so changed its name from Atheist Alliance, Inc. to “Atheist Alliance International “AAI.”
Our organization initiated the Richard Dawkins Award, named after Richard Dawkins, an English evolutionary biologist. At the time, his work was gaining recognition, and the award aimed to highlight contributions to science and secular thought.
SecularHelp.org began hosting US conventions, with the first held in Los Angeles, California.
We introduced a program of co-hosting conventions with affiliate members, starting with the exceptionally successful 2010 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
In 2011, our organization was known as Atheist Alliance International (AAI), but we rebranded as Atheist Alliance of America (AAoA) to reflect our exclusive focus on secular activities within the United States. Throughout this transition, we retained our original EIN/tax ID with the IRS and redefined our mission to better serve the American secular community.
To maintain an international presence, we established a separate organization under the name Atheist Alliance International (AAI). This new entity operated independently and was granted special consultative status by the United Nations in 2013. However, by 2023, this version of AAI was disbanded, ceased functioning as a nonprofit, and lost its United Nations status.
In 2024, former board members of the now-defunct AAI incorporated new organizations under the same name, each using different EIN and state account numbers. Eventually, the original AAI organization formed in 2011 was reinstated by the California Secretary of State, while the newly created AAI entities became inactive.
Although this re-formed Atheist Alliance International was originally created by Atheist Alliance of America in 2011, it is now a completely independent organization, with no current operational or legal connection to Atheist Alliance of America or SecularHelp.org.
Mark W. Gura, together with the entire board of directors and all but one affiliate, unanimously agreed that SecularHelp.org would be more effective in achieving its goals if decision-making authority resided solely with AAoA’s board of directors rather than its affiliates. This decision granted SecularHelp.org full autonomy.
That same year, SecularHelp adopted a new logo designed by Mark W. Gura and refined its mission to serve as an incubator for secular activists and community organizations. Gura also developed an innovative committee-based platform for SecularHelp.org, enabling the organization to support secular groups in cultivating their talents, passions, and goals to advance secular causes.
With the help of board member Derek Colanduno, SecularHelp.org started to hold its annual convention at DragonCon.com in conjunction with Skeptrack. DragonCon usually draws more than 80,000 participants over Labor Day weekend and is held in Atlanta every year.
SecularHelp.org formally dissolved all its ties and past agreements with Atheist Alliance International, the organization it helped form in 2011, allowing SecularHelp to further its geographic scope and mission internationally.
The Board of Directors, led by President Mark W. Gura, adopted AAoA’s new name “SecularHelp.org,” niche, and mission, reflecting an evolution in focus while staying true to its core values. As an organization, we have always championed rational thinking and the separation of government and religion. Today, we stand out as the only major atheist organization promoting secular spirituality and embracing the principles of 4th Wave Atheism.
We empower individuals to discover purpose and meaning in life, deepen their secular meditation practices, and cultivate ethical, sustainable legacies—free from the influence of religious, supernatural, or pseudo-scientific beliefs. This holistic approach strengthens our commitment to fostering a more thoughtful, compassionate, and rational world.
