Good Soul Foundation

Sometimes, healing begins with a horse.

This story didn’t begin with a nonprofit.

It began with one person carrying invisible wounds.

A young soldier who had experienced deep trauma found himself standing next to a horse. There were no speeches. No therapy room. No pressure to talk. Just the quiet presence of an animal that expected nothing and judged nothing.

Something changed.

For the first time in a long time, he relaxed. His breathing slowed. His mind became quiet. The horse simply stood beside him, and somehow that was enough.

That single moment planted a seed.

What if more people who carry the weight of trauma could experience this?

What if healing didn’t always have to begin inside four walls?

What if nature, animals, community, and compassionate people could become part of the journey?

That question became our mission.

Today, we are building the Good Soul Foundation.

Our vision is simple.

To create a place where soldiers, veterans, survivors of war, first responders, and anyone carrying the burden of trauma can reconnect with themselves, with nature, with animals, and with hope.

Our home sits on three peaceful acres in Malibu.

The main house was destroyed in the recent wildfire, but something beautiful remained.

The land.

The horses.

The donkeys.

The dogs.

The trees.

The quiet.

The feeling that this place still has a purpose.

Instead of walking away, we chose to rebuild it into something even more meaningful.

We are surrounded by incredible people who believe in this vision. Doctors who understand trauma. Specialists in equine-assisted and somatic therapies. Volunteers who give their time with open hearts. Animal lovers. Friends. Families. People who simply want to help another human being find their way back.

Our approach includes equine-assisted therapy, with a focus on gentle, trauma-informed, and somatic-based methods that help individuals reconnect with their bodies, emotions, and sense of safety. Horses play a central role in this process, not as tools, but as partners in healing. Their sensitivity, presence, and honesty create a space where people can begin to regulate, release, and rebuild trust at their own pace.

We also plan to expand our herd over time, including horses that are rescued and given a second chance. In this way, the Good Soul Foundation becomes a place of healing for both people and animals alike. The “good soul” is reflected in both—the person who has been hurt, and the animal who has also found safety and care again.

Our programs are intentionally simple.

Guests spend time with horses and other animals. They walk through nature. They share meals around a fire. They hike together. Sometimes they talk. Sometimes they don’t.

There is no pressure.

Healing happens at its own pace.

Because trauma is not only carried in the mind. It is carried in the body, in the heart, and often in silence.

Our role is not to force healing.

Our role is to create the environment where healing has the opportunity to begin.

This is only the beginning.

Our dream is to welcome people from around the world who have been affected by war, violence, and traumatic experiences. To build programs that combine nature, animals, experienced professionals, and a caring community into something truly life changing.

Every donation helps us rebuild this sanctuary.

It helps us maintain safe and peaceful spaces for participants.

It helps us care for the animals who are already part of this healing environment.

It helps us support the people and professionals who guide these programs.

It helps us keep the foundation running in a way that is stable, ethical, and sustainable.

It also helps cover essential operational needs, including:

* Transportation for participants and animals

* Insurance and liability coverage

* Food and nourishment for guests and staff

* Safety equipment and facility maintenance

* Veterinary care and animal wellness support

* Training and certification for therapeutic specialists

* Emergency preparedness and fire safety systems

* Utilities and infrastructure upkeep

* Program materials and therapeutic tools

* Support for visiting healers and facilitators

* Volunteer coordination and background screening

* Accessibility improvements for guests with injuries or disabilities

* Communication and outreach to reach those in need

* Administrative and legal compliance costs

Most importantly, it gives someone who may have lost hope the chance to discover that they are not alone.

We believe every person deserves the opportunity to reconnect with life.

Sometimes that journey begins with a conversation.

Sometimes it begins with a walk through nature.

And sometimes…

It begins with a horse quietly standing beside someone who needs a friend.

Thank you for believing that healing is possible.

Together, we can build a place where broken hearts become strong again.

Welcome to Good Soul Foundation.

How Your Donation Will Be Used

Our goal is to raise $50,000 to provide a complete healing journey for five participants.

The property where Good Soul operates has been generously donated, eliminating one of the largest expenses and allowing every dollar to go directly toward participant care and program operations.

Independent One-Week Ibogaine Program

Special donated rate of $5,000 per participant (regular price approximately $10,000), including accommodations, meals, and the services provided by the independent treatment facility.

$25,000

Equine-Assisted Therapy and Integration

Preparation before treatment and three additional days of individual and group equine-assisted sessions after participants return from the residential program.

$4,500

Meditation and Healing Facilitators

Meditation, breathwork, trauma-informed support, wellness practitioners, and group facilitation throughout the sanctuary experience.

$4,000

Transportation

Transportation between participants’ homes, the treatment facility, and the Good Soul sanctuary, including fuel and local travel.

$2,000

Vehicle and Driver

Rental of a passenger vehicle and a dedicated driver to safely transport participants throughout the program.

$2,000

Food During the Sanctuary Program

Healthy breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, beverages, and shared community meals during the preparation and post-program integration days.

$2,500

Animal Care

Feed, veterinary care, grooming, tack, maintenance, and daily care for the horses, donkeys, and dogs participating in the healing program.

$2,000

Insurance and Safety

General liability insurance, participant safety supplies, emergency preparedness, and risk management.

$2,000

Program Operations

Administrative support, participant coordination, volunteer coordination, communications, program materials, supplies, and unexpected program expenses.

$4,000

Total Program Budget

$50,000

This budget allows us to safely guide five participants through a complete healing journey—from preparation, through the residential treatment provided by an independent facility, to post-treatment integration with horses, nature, meditation, community, and continued support.

I would also consider adding 10–15% (about $5,000–$7,500) as a contingency reserve. Programs like this almost always have unexpected costs—medical transportation, additional support for a participant, veterinary expenses, or other unforeseen needs. If you do that, your fundraising goal would become $55,000–$57,500, which is often more realistic than aiming for exactly $50,000.