The blog explores how retreat centers can align mission and financial sustainability by using a “bright spot” strategy. Program Director Ling Lo encourages centers to shift from focusing on problems to studying their most successful programs and replicating what works—often presenters with strong expertise, niche audiences, and active co-promotion. She offers practical financial guidance, including evaluating program profitability based solely on tuition and aiming for 25–45% profit margins. Participants shared their own bright spots, highlighting offerings rooted in land connection, community-building, and authentic relationships. Ling’s core message: effective programming and smart financial strategy can strengthen both mission and margin.

The blog highlights how intentional onboarding significantly improves retention, productivity, and culture within nonprofit retreat centers. HR expert Tatyana Sanikovich, drawing on years of experience at Esalen Institute, explains that the way new staff are welcomed directly affects their sense of belonging. She notes that strong onboarding can boost retention by 82% and productivity by 70%, while poor onboarding is costly.

Tatyana recommends a 30-60-90 day onboarding framework with consistent check-ins to support alignment and connection. Webinar participants emphasized how simple gestures—like welcome notes or land tours—make a meaningful difference. Many retreat center leaders lack formal HR training, so Tatyana’s core message is to start small and be intentional, treating onboarding as a key culture-building practice.

The author describes arriving at Mount Madonna Center, a place where the land and community create a deeply intentional atmosphere rooted in yoga tradition. There, thirty retreat center leaders gathered for the Retreat Center Collaboration’s annual meeting. Through shared conversations about challenges, leadership, mission, and sustainability—and through shared practices like sitting in the temple—they recognized a unifying truth: retreat centers across traditions face the same essential questions and are part of a larger, interconnected network. The gathering reinforced that collaboration, not competition, strengthens their collective work. The author leaves with a renewed sense of belonging and an invitation for others in the retreat center world to connect, knowing they’re not alone in this sacred work.

Since leaving my role as CEO at Hollyhock, I’ve been working with retreat centers across North America and noticing the same pattern everywhere: successful fundraising isn’t about chasing wealthy donors—it’s about aligning purpose with social impact. Today’s funders are social investors looking for organizations whose work reflects the future they want to build. When retreat centers clearly articulate their purpose and demonstrate it through authentic, values-driven activities, they naturally attract aligned partners rather than chasing dollars. In short: get clear, get coherent, and the right funders will find you.

Adamah, North America’s largest faith-based environmental organization, brings its mission to life through a culture of hospitality rooted in belonging, care, and connection to the earth. Hospitality is practiced by every staff member, showing up in warm greetings, thoughtful responses, and shared responsibility for creating welcoming spaces. By tracking key metrics like RevPAR, Bednights, and Net Promoter Scores, Adamah ensures its guest experience is both mission-aligned and sustainable. Under the leadership of COO Eve Wachhaus—who brings 34 years of hospitality expertise—Adamah’s commitment to HEART-driven service nurtures a community where guests and staff alike feel valued and at home.

Our first “Tea with Tatyana” session tackled one of leadership’s toughest topics: how to compassionately and effectively let someone go. HR expert Tatyana Sanikovich shared her simple but powerful framework—the Three C’s: Clarity, Compassion, and Care—to guide leaders through preparation, the conversation itself, and thoughtful follow-up. She also highlighted the unique complexities of retreat centers, where on-site living blurs personal and professional boundaries, making clear housing agreements and transparent team communication essential. Tatyana will be back on November 4th to explore how strong onboarding practices can prevent problems long before they begin.

When Heather Deeth transitioned from sustainable business into retreat center leadership, she encouraged the sector to embrace solid business practices without compromising mission. She urges leaders to start budgeting from strategic vision—not spreadsheets—and to track needs and insights throughout the year. By evaluating every revenue stream honestly and challenging legacy pricing models, centers can let go of low-margin offerings and set prices that reflect true costs and value. Her forward-looking approach, including weekly financial dashboards, helps retreat centers stay sustainable while staying true to their transformative purpose.

The Retreat Center Collaboration (RCC) evolves in 2025–26, guided by core values. With a new Program Director, concentric support circles foster trust, wisdom & impact.

Retreat leaders met in person after years online, finding rare peer support in shared challenges and inspiration—sparking RCC’s vision for small peer groups.

At RCC, the Listening Circle offers a space of resilience, connection, and active listening—a network of mutual support and genuine dialogue for leaders in complex times.

On this call, the RCC Stewardship Circle gathered with community members to celebrate community and wish farewell to Brenda and Nanci.

Nanci Lee reflects on the gifts and challenges of our time as she steps down from her role on the Stewardship Circle.

Brenda Salgado offers gratitude as she steps down from her role as RHI program director.

On this call, the RCC Stewardship Circle gathered with community members to share updates on the new RCC staffing model, membership, and discuss ways retreat centers can foster cultures of belonging.

Community members joined RHI Director Brenda Salgado for a special Racial Healing Workshop. This call provided an opportunity for participants to ground in body and breath, and to engage in Toltec breath and energy practices to resource themselves for the times ahead.

On this Community Call, participants reflected on the salient challenges of our time, as well as the possibilities we imagine are ahead for ourselves and retreat centers.

RCC community members joined this ninety-minute call to share space, process U.S. election results, and imagine the role of retreat centers going forward.

Community members joined the Racial Healing Initiative for a special 90 minute post-election Community Call. This was a dedicated space for grounding, reflecting, and cultivating collective healing after the U.S. presidential election.

On a recent Community Call, Nanci Lee shared her reflections on reparative land practices and BIPOC circles at Tatamagouche Centre. Participants were invited to discuss their own practices and experiences of radical hospitality in their organizations.

On this Community Call, participants discussed the recent impacts of wildfires and hurricanes on retreat centers in the community. We also explored a disaster scenario as groundwork for future calls on the increasingly-urgent topic of resilience.