Host your own Grateful Gathering

Welcome! We’re delighted that you’re interested in hosting a Grateful Gathering. We look forward to answering your questions and helping you get started.

Hosting a Grateful Gathering will transform you. The energy you put into preparing and facilitating will come back to you many fold. Whether there are four of you, or fourteen, or forty, you will experience the power of grateful living revealing itself.
Lisa V., Grateful Gathering Host, United States

How it Works

Who Can Host?

We welcome anyone passionate about deep conversations that yield greater meaning, purpose, and joy in life and who would like to set the stage for others to do the same. We have a simple and inclusive registration process for all interested hosts. View more frequently asked questions below.

Host Training

The Grateful Gathering Host Training is a three-week program with weekly live sessions that can be accessed in real time or at your convenience. This series includes:

Introduction to our organization’s mission and our vision for Grateful Gatherings
Examination of the core principles, practices, and outcomes of Grateful Living
Key Logistics — from accessing the monthly resources to connecting with other hosts
Facilitation guidelines and strategies
Host responsibilities and agreements
Support, camaraderie, play, joy, and connection!

Ready to get started? The next host orientation and training series begins January 21, 2025. The live, online training sessions take place:

Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EST
Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EST
Tuesday, February 4, 2025, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. EST

Ongoing Resources and Support

In addition to the training, we provide:

Robust monthly resources, rooted in spiritual wisdom, scholarship, and research
A digital toolkit of resources for hosting and group facilitation
Quarterly online host meetings
Access to our Community Platform where you can connect with other hosts and the Grateful Living team

Interested in becoming a host? Our next training begins January 21, 2025. Fill out the form below to register.

If you already have a Grateful Living profile, please use the same email to register for the host training.

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Name*

First Last

Email*

Address*

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Phone Number

Phone Number – International

What drew you to this opportunity to host a Grateful Gathering, and what most excites or inspires you about it?*

Are you familiar with our organization or is this your first exploration? If applicable, what program did you enjoy the most?*

How did you learn about the Grateful Gatherings host training?

I learned about it directly from Grateful Living

It was recommended by someone I know

I saw it posted on a volunteer website

Do you have experience with group facilitation or will this be a new endeavor for you?*

If you are planning to co-host your Grateful Gathering, please share the name of your co-host here. They must also complete this registration form and indicate you as their co-host. You may add a co-host at a later date, but all co-hosts must complete the training.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us as part of your registration?

Logistics*

I understand that the training takes place in three live sessions January 21 – February 4, 2025.

I understand that recordings of the live sessions are available if I’m unable to attend the live sessions.

I understand that completion of the training is a requirement for launching my Grateful Gathering.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the time commitment for hosting?

Hosting a one to two-hour Gathering each month; length of time can vary depending on whether you host online, in person, at home, at work, etc.

One to two hours of preparation in advance of your Gathering to review all of the materials for the month, prepare your agenda, set the stage, and maintain communication with the participants in your group.

Can I co-host a Grateful Gathering with a friend or colleague?

Yes. Many people host on their own and many have a co-host. All co-hosts must complete the training, whether joining you from the start or at a later date.

Can anyone join the Gathering I host?

This is up to you. You can host a closed Gathering with an invited circle of friends, family, or colleagues, or you can open your Gathering to people in your community or beyond, if hosting online. We provide support for this in the training.

Where should I host my Gathering?

Grateful Gatherings take place online and in homes, workplaces, spiritual organizations, libraries, parks, and by the beach! You choose where to host your Gathering so that it sets the stage for the vibrant and engaging dynamic you want. It’s also fine to rotate your location.

Do I figure out the monthly agenda on my own?

We provide robust resources every month and offer a lot of guidance and suggestions for your agenda, but we encourage you to host your Gathering in the way that is most energizing and joyful for you and your participants.

Are there facilitation guidelines and support systems in place?

Yes! In addition to the three-session training, we provide ongoing resources for all hosts, including facilitation strategies, tips for navigating difficult conversations, and easy interaction with the Grateful Living team and other hosts.

What if I’m excited about hosting but have a conflict with the training schedule?

We require that all hosts complete the three-session training, and we also know that life is full and complicated. We will record and share all sessions so that you may watch at your convenience.

What if I live in a time zone that makes it difficult to attend the live training sessions?

Please join us anyway! We will share the session recordings directly with you each week and host two live, online check-ins during the three-week training. The check-ins are not a repeat of the recorded sessions but an opportunity to connect with one another and share questions.

What are the training sessions like?

They take place online, and we’ve designed them to be a vibrant mix of essential information, connection, and joy. They include plenty of interaction, reflection, practice, and opportunity to get to know other hosts as well as our team.

Is there a fee for the training?

No. We offer the training at no cost so that it is accessible to all. Our only expectation is that participants enter the training with the intention of launching a group upon completion.

May I charge a fee to participate in the Grateful Gathering I host?

Grateful Gatherings must be offered free of charge. If you decide to pool resources with your participants to provide refreshments or rent a venue, that’s a decision your group can make together, but hosts may not charge for participation.

Is there a time commitment in terms of how long a host is expected to lead a group after completing the training?

Our hope is that each new group takes on a vibrancy and energy that serves as the fuel for ongoing connection, but there is not a requirement on our end. Some of our current groups have been meeting monthly since the program was originally launched five years ago!