Mental Health Philanthropy News
Most Recent
“We Forgot the Kids.” Funders Back New Efforts to Support Youth Wellbeing in a Tech-Driven World
Young Futures is marshaling support for funding challenges and a $50 million “philanthropic index fund.”
Bridging Broken Connections: The Benefits of Intergenerational Programs
With social isolation on the rise, Tiffany Benjamin of the Humana Foundation makes a case for a “two-for-one” solution: building ties between older adults and youth.
The Matthew Perry Foundation Zeroes in on Destigmatizing Addiction
Established after the actor’s death in 2023, the foundation is focused on reframing how addiction is talked about and treated. Ade Adeniji reports from its inaugural Summit on Addiction and Recovery.
Philanthropy Can — and Must — Protect Human Connection in the Age of AI
As more and more people turn to machine companionship, what can funders do to build guardrails and prevent the worst harms?
With Federal Support for Alzheimer’s Research Scrambled, Can Funders Fill In?
The future of government funding to study the currently incurable disease has been thrown into a state of flux. How does philanthropic support measure up?
The Elevate Prize Foundation: From Humble Beginnings to “Making Good Famous”
Joseph Deitch discusses his philanthropy and how it aims to build visibility for social sector leaders, in part by just “giving them the ball” and letting them run with it.
7 Questions for Richard Reeves on Boys and Men and Philanthropy
We connected with the writer and social scientist to get his take on shortcomings in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector around boys and men’s issues, and what his institute’s working on.
Climate Mental Health Issues Are on the Rise. But Funding? Still Limited
Who’s backing work at the intersection of climate change and mental health? Precious few, but there are some funders getting behind the intrepid nonprofits tackling this growing issue.
A Major Southeast Funder Dramatically Ups Its Grantmaking — and Announces Its Spend-Down
Tom Lawrence of The Leon Levine Foundation discusses the impact of a huge gift from Levine’s estate and the foundation’s plan to sunset in 50 years.
The Yabukis: A Wealthy Midwestern Couple Focuses on Mental Health, the Arts and More
Gail Yabuki spoke with us about the personal story behind the couple’s mental health giving, why they’re embracing a trust-based approach, and more.
How Philanthropy Is Moving the Needle on an Innovative Approach to Mental Healthcare
Some national and regional funders are stepping up for collaborative care, but there’s still a long way to go.
The Health Foundation Tackling the Nursing Shortage in New York
Mother Cabrini Health Foundation announced a $51 million program to improve patient outcomes in safety-net hospitals.
Inside the American Psychiatric Association Foundation’s Mental Health Funding
As the nation confronts a mental health crisis, here’s a look at how a longstanding player supports the field.
Big New Moves From Edgar Villanueva and the Decolonizing Wealth Project
With racial justice in Trump’s crosshairs, the Decolonizing Wealth Project is doubling down with a megadonor-backed youth mental health fund and a trillion-dollar (yes, trillion) “moonshot” for reparative giving.
Can Tech Lawsuit Settlement Dollars Back Youth Mental Health?
With philanthropy’s support, the Children’s Funding Project and the Afterschool Alliance aim to steer potential tech lawsuit settlement money toward underfunded afterschool and summer programs.
Five Funders Supporting Meditation and Mindfulness for Mental Health
A number of grantmakers support meditation to improve mental wellbeing, including by backing practice among groups like educators, law enforcement officers and healthcare workers.
Project Healthy Minds: A Star Mental Health Nonprofit Draws in Diverse Donors
Since Phil Schermer launched the organization in 2020, it’s gotten the attention of a range of backers like financial exec Jeff Yabuki and the Irsay family, owners of the Indianapolis Colts.
Money Can Buy Happiness — This Oxford Philosopher Says Charities Should Pay Attention
The world’s first review measuring the wellbeing impact that charities create with donors’ money points to a valuable paradigm shift for philanthropy.
Psychedelics Research Needs Coordination. This Funder Collaborative Wants to Help
With more funders interested in the promise of psychedelics as mental health therapies, the Psychedelic Science Funders Collaborative has released a roadmap to guide grantmaking and speed development.
Here’s a Look at Prince Harry’s Charitable Work Over the Years
From royal patronages to establishing the Archewell Foundation, Prince Harry has been involved in philanthropy for years. Here’s an overview — and why he’s in the news over a recent scandal involving his long-time charity.
What’s Next for the David Lynch Foundation? A Q&A with CEO Bob Roth
The recently departed visionary American filmmaker was a longtime proponent and practitioner of transcendental meditation. His foundation plans to continue his legacy of training new practitioners.
Rural Funding Is Hard. Here’s How the Blank Family Foundation Tackles It
The Home Depot cofounder’s Atlanta-based foundation has a long track record with the challenges and opportunities of rural grantmaking in distant Montana.
Meet the Ogunlesis: An Emerging Philanthropic Family to Watch
International billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi and his family have begun establishing a giving footprint in the U.S. Here’s what they’ve supported so far.
How the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health Supports Rural Wellbeing
Based in Texas, the first U.S. foundation devoted solely to mental health has evolved to prioritize upstream factors and community-based collaboratives.
As Charles Koch Looks to His Legacy, Here’s a Look at His Stand Together Foundation
Koch’s billions are making their way through his vast network of nonprofits. We dug into what he’s backing through the Stand Together Foundation.
How the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund Is Connecting the Arts and Health
Leaders from the NYC-based funder walk us through its new report on how arts grantmaking can improve health outcomes.
How Robert Wood Johnson’s Centering Communities in Health Research
The foundation’s ongoing efforts to cultivate community input extend to the research realm, including through a new $20 million partnership with the American Heart Association.
The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation Elevates Nurses to Address Care Gaps
An exception to philanthropy’s nursing blind spot, this foundation is tackling maternal mortality and mental health via “nurse-driven innovations.”
How the David Lynch Foundation Backs Meditation for Mental Health
Launched by the acclaimed director in 2005, the foundation seeks to reduce toxic stress through transcendental meditation. We take a look at its backstory, funding priorities and more.
Treating Anxiety with Art: Inside the Emerging Field of Social Prescribing
Social prescribing uses nonclinical services like arts experiences to improve a patient’s wellbeing. Funding leaders explain how arts and public health grantmakers can advance this promising field.
