The Compassionate Action Conference
Transforming the World Together
Organized by the Charter for Compassion
Live Sessions
- Live Sessions: May 13, 2026 (10 AM - 7 PM PDT/UTC-7) and May 14, 2026 (6 AM - 1 PM PDT/UTC-7)
- Proposal Deadline: April 15, 2026
Recorded sessions will be available during non-live session times.
Conference Description
On May 13-14, 2026 the Charter for Compassion will convene its annual Compassionate Action Conference, a global virtual gathering rooted in one essential truth: compassion becomes transformative when it is lived, shared, and put into action—locally and collectively.
This year’s conference is grounded in a unifying vision:
A Living Framework: Where Pillars Converge
Seven interconnected pathways. One shared commitment. Compassion practiced across systems, cultures, and generations.
The conference brings together the Charter’s seven pillars—Education and Wisdom, Health, Environmental Stewardship, Justice and Integrity, Music and the Arts, Play and Innovation, and Spirituality—not as separate tracks, but as an integrated framework shaping how communities learn, govern, heal, create, and belong. Participants will experience how these pillars intersect in real-world settings, reinforcing compassion as both a moral orientation and a practical strategy for social transformation.
Compassionate Communities: Local Voice, Local Hands
At the heart of the conference is the lived experience of Charter Compassionate Communities around the world. These communities demonstrate that compassion is not passive—it is participatory. It listens. It acts. Through shared stories, case studies, and collaborative dialogue, participants will explore how grassroots leadership, inclusive governance, and community service generate meaningful and lasting change.
Education as Transformation: Compassion Across a Lifetime
The conference affirms education as a cornerstone of compassionate action. From early childhood through higher education and lifelong learning, sessions will highlight how compassionate education nurtures empathy, ethical leadership, and civic responsibility—shaping how individuals and institutions respond to the challenges of our time.
Partners in Action: A Living Ecosystem
With thousands of partners worldwide—educators, artists, health practitioners, faith leaders, youth organizers, and civic innovators—the Charter’s work is sustained through collaboration. The conference offers a vibrant platform for partners to share their work, exchange expertise, and explore new alliances that translate shared values into shared action.
A Shared Commitment to Compassionate Action
More than a convening, the Compassionate Action Conference is a collective call to participation. Across two days of interactive sessions, workshops, and conversations, participants will engage both head and heart—connecting insight with practice, and vision with responsibility.
Together, we are building compassionate communities—
one place, one relationship, one action at a time.
Why Attend the Compassionate Action Conference 2026
The Compassionate Action Conference is a global gathering for people and organizations committed to turning compassion into meaningful action.
Experience a Living Framework
Explore how the Charter’s seven pillars converge in real communities—shaping education, health, justice, environmental stewardship, the arts, spirituality, and innovation.
Learn from the Ground Up
Engage with Compassionate Communities, partners, and practitioners who demonstrate how local voice and shared responsibility create lasting change.
Connect Across Borders and Generations
Build relationships with educators, youth, artists, health professionals, faith leaders, and civic innovators working together worldwide.
Participate Your Way
Live sessions, recordings, and flexible access make participation possible across time zones and schedules.
Accessible to All
A pay-what-you-can model ensures the conference remains inclusive and welcoming.
More than a conference, this is a shared commitment to building compassionate communities—
one place, one relationship, one action at a time.
Who the Conference Is For
The Compassionate Action Conference brings together an intergenerational, cross-sector community committed to translating compassion into action. Participants include:
- Youth and Emerging Leaders seeking voice, agency, and pathways for civic and community engagement
- Educators and Teachers working across early childhood, K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning
- Volunteers and Community Organizers advancing grassroots initiatives and local governance
- Healthcare Providers and Care Practitioners focused on dignity, well-being, and compassionate systems of care
- Business and Organizational Leaders exploring ethical leadership, social responsibility, and community partnership
- Nonprofit and Organization Leaders strengthening impact through collaboration and shared learning
- Faith-Based and Interfaith Institutions engaged in spiritual practice, dialogue, and service
- Funders and Philanthropic Partners interested in sustainable, values-aligned change
- Nonprofit Consultants and Advisors supporting organizations committed to equity and compassion
- Members of the General Public seeking meaningful ways to engage compassionately in personal, civic, and global life
Conference Purpose and Goals
The Compassionate Action Conference serves as a global platform for shared learning, collaboration, and collective commitment. The conference is designed to:
- Share the mission and work of the Charter for Compassion and its global partners
- Highlight how the Charter’s seven pillars—Education and Wisdom, Health, Environmental Stewardship, Justice and Integrity, Music and the Arts, Play and Innovation, and Spirituality—converge in real-world practice
- Foster collaboration across sectors, cultures, and communities
- Provide space for learning and exchanging actionable ideas that support compassionate governance, education, and service
- Encourage the adoption of the Charter’s ethics and principles as guides for decision-making and leadership
Introduce participants to the benefits and opportunities of partnership within the Charter’s global network
Conference Themes
The 2026 conference is grounded in a shared vision of compassion as both a personal practice and a collective responsibility. Core themes woven throughout the program include:
- Be Inspired. Be the Change.
Cultivating courage, hope, and responsibility through compassionate action - Compassion in Action
Moving from principle to practice in communities, institutions, and systems - Interconnectedness and Social Responsibility
Recognizing our shared humanity and mutual dependence - Justice, Equality, and Human Rights
Advancing dignity, inclusion, and peace through compassionate frameworks - Environmental Stewardship
Caring for the Earth as an essential expression of compassion - Personal and Community Transformation
Understanding how inner change and collective action reinforce one another - Lifelong Learning and Educational Innovation
Nurturing compassion across the lifespan and within learning communities - Resources for Compassionate Organizations
Tools, practices, and partnerships that support sustainable impact
Admission & Participation
The Compassionate Action Conference is open to everyone. In keeping with the Charter for Compassion’s commitment to equity and inclusion, the conference follows a pay-what-you-can model. All are welcome to participate—regardless of financial ability.
A suggested admission of $15 helps support the cost of hosting the conference and sustaining the Charter’s global work. For those who are able and wish to offer additional support, the following options are available:
- Patron: $50
- Supporter: $100
Contributions at these levels help ensure that the conference remains accessible to participants around the world.
Media sponsors are also warmly encouraged to participate in amplifying the conference and its global message of compassionate action.
Our Commitment
No one is turned away for lack of funds.
Every contribution—financial or otherwise—helps build compassionate communities,
one place, one relationship, one action at a time.
