Psychedelic
Nonprofit
Strategy
Mission-driven organisations in the psychedelic space are leading some of the most consequential work. The decisions they make about advocacy strategy, coalition building, and communications shape how quickly and equitably reform happens. We provide the strategic support to make that work more effective.
What We’ve Done
Policy Submissions
Advocacy Campaigns
Coalition Building
Funder Communications
Government Engagement
10+
Years of psychedelic industry experience
12
Clients advised across 12 countries
10+
Experienced contractors across the globe
1M+
Podcast downloads acheived for Drug Science
the challenge
Principled missions require deliberate strategy
Psychedelic nonprofits operate in a field that is simultaneously gaining mainstream legitimacy and remaining politically sensitive, often with limited resources and outsized expectations from funders, policymakers, and the public.
1
Advocacy positioning is high-stakes
The wrong framing, even in a simple public statement, can undermine legislative relationships that took years to build. Communications strategy in this sector is a necessity.
2
Coalition management is complex
The psychedelic reform space encompasses patient advocates, clinicians, harm reductionists, researchers, and commercial interests whose priorities do not always align. Holding that coalition together requires deliberate planning.
3
Funding pressures create mission drift
Foundations and major donors often have specific preferences that can pull an organisation away from its most impactful work if the reationale isn’t clearly articulated.
4
Credibility with policymakers must be demonstrated
Nonprofits that want a seat at the table when regulations are being written need to demonstrate their authority in the field. Credibility is built through track record and strategic positioning, not just good intentions.
Our Work
Organisational strategy for psychedelic advocacy and access
Psilonautica works with psychedelic nonprofits to develop the strategic foundations that allow mission-driven work to operate at scale. Our team includes advisors with direct experience in psychedelic policy development, clinical research governance, and public health advocacy across multiple jurisdictions.
Advocacy Strategy Development
Identifying the policy targets, stakeholder relationships, and communications approach most likely to achieve your reform objectives, built around your specific context and capacity.
Regulatory Engagement Support
Preparing materials, mapping decision-makers, and advising on how to position your organisation credibly with government bodies and regulatory agencies before and during consultations.
Organisational Positioning & Messaging
Helping nonprofits articulate what they do, why it matters, and why they are the right organisation to do it, in language that resonates with funders, policymakers, and the public.
Coalition & Partnership Strategy
Mapping the stakeholder landscape and identifying which relationships will most effectively amplify your organisation’s impact and how to build and maintain them.
Programme Design Review
Assessing whether proposed programmes and initiatives are likely to achieve their stated goals, and identifying structural improvements before launch, when changes are still cheap to make.
Funder Communications
Advising on how to articulate theory of change and programmatic rationale in ways that resonate with foundations and institutional funders without compromising mission integrity.
how we work
Our Approach
Clear, structured engagement from first contact to outcome is the way we work with all clients.
1
You book an introductory call to assess your needs
We understand your mission, strategic challenges, and immediate priorities before committing to scope. No obligation.
2
We send you a plan of how we’d address those needs
A written scope, timeline, and fee structure agreed before any work begins. No surprises.
3
We gather experts and explore your goals
The right advisors for your policy area, jurisdiction, and organisational stage, assembled specifically for your goals.
4
We achieve measurable results
Clear outputs: strategy documents, messaging frameworks, stakeholder maps, or programme reviews, delivered on your schedule.
The Team
Advisors with startup experience
Our startup advisory work draws on direct operational, investment, and regulatory experience across the psychedelic industry.
James Bunn
Founder · Operations & Strategy
Has managed operations and communications for psychedelic nonprofit clients including Drug Science and the Beckley Foundation. Deep experience in building and sustaining mission-driven organisations in the psychedelic space.
Aleksandra Pałaszewska
Editorial & Communications
Cultural Studies MA; managed public health and harm reduction projects at the Polish Drug Policy Network 2020–2024. Experience in nonprofit communications, editorial strategy, and policy-adjacent public engagement.
Dr. Eddie Jacobs
Ethicist · Regulatory Support
Postdoctoral fellow at Johns Hopkins; led development of the Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelics Ethics (HOPE) Consensus Statement. Contributed to regulatory submissions and policy reports across the UK and US.
common questions
What to expect
Questions clients typically raise before engaging us. Ask us anything else directly.
Do you work with organisations outside of the UK?
Yes. Our advisory work spans the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other jurisdictions on a case-by-case basis. Regulatory environments and policy landscapes vary significantly, and our advisors have direct expertise across these markets.
We're a small team with a limited budget. Is Psilonautica right for us?
Organisational size is not a limiting factor. Some of our most useful advisory work has been with small teams at a critical strategic juncture: a policy window opening, a major funding decision, or a communications challenge that needs resolving quickly. We structure engagements proportionate to your capacity.
Do you take on advocacy positions on specific policy issues?
Psilonautica provides strategic and operational counsel. We do not campaign on behalf of clients or take on advocacy roles that could create conflicts between organisations we advise. Our role is to make your advocacy more effective, not to conduct it for you.
What does onboarding look like?
An introductory call to understand your mission, strategic challenges, and immediate priorities. Followed by a written scope, timeline, and fee structure, all agreed before any work begins.
Let's help you ahieve your goals
The organisations that will shape psychedelic policy over the next decade are being built now. If you’re working to expand access, reform regulation, or build the evidence base, we can help you do it more effectively.