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Young Futures has benefited from growing concern about mental health — in society as a whole and in the philanthrosphere in particular. This concern has been spurred by the widespread mental health crisis, with young people at particular risk. Mindful Philanthropy, which was created to raise awareness of the issue among funders, has worked to do just that by offering research, regular convenings, support and calls to action, but investments still lag behind the urgent need. 

Mindful Philanthropy released yesterday Measuring Success in Mental Health Philanthropy—the capstone report in their four-part Mental Health at the Center series. This landmark report introduces a common set of goal metrics for philanthropy and beyond, offering funders practical tools to assess impact, align strategies, and build accountability across the sector.

Awareness of the mental health crisis may be growing, but help for those who are suffering continues to lag. Barriers to care include inadequate insurance coverage, high out-of-pocket costs, fragmented care, and a shortage of providers. The Trump administration is making a bad situation even worse by eviscerating funding for mental and behavioral care. And while a growing number of funders are making mental health commitments, just 1.7% of philanthropic funding went to mental health as of 2022, according to Mindful Philanthropy.

The Children’s Funding Project’s campaign is an innovative approach to the youth mental health crisis — an issue that has gained increasing attention from philanthropy in recent years. More funders are taking on mental health, with support from Mindful Philanthropy, which has challenged the sector to invest $35 billion in annual mental health funding by the year 2035 “through greater collaboration and bigger and bolder bets.”

“From our perspective, there has been growing and promising research demonstrating the positive benefits of meditation and mindfulness on mental health, which is encouraging to see,” said mental health funding advocacy organization Mindful Philanthropy in a statement to IP. Mindful Philanthropy cited an analysis of Candid’s Foundation Maps showing that giving to meditation has been increasing since 2015, and has anecdotally seen increased interest from issue-driven funders that back meditation to support the mental wellbeing of educators, incarcerated individuals and people grappling with climate anxiety.

Though younger generations have more tools than ever to stay connected, young people report feeling more lonely and isolated than ever, with one study indicating that 73% of those aged 16 to 24 feel alone sometimes or always. In recent years, philanthropic funders have devoted more attention to mental health, especially among youth, although as funder advocacy organization Mindful Philanthropy has argued, those modest gains are far outpaced by the need. Some big donors are stepping up, however, including Melinda French Gates, Arthur Blank, Susan Crown and celebrities like Selena Gomez.

The Bob Woodruff Foundation is another bright spot, supporting mental health for veterans and military children. The Helmsley Charitable Trust has focused on mental health in rural areas; it is also stepping up for rural LGBTQ+ young people. And in 2020, a group of mental health funders launched Mindful Philanthropy to catalyze giving in this area and provide support and resources for funders interested in doing so.

Mental Health Catalyst of the Year, 2024 — Inside Philanthropy

"This effort to galvanize a more forceful philanthropic response to America’s mental health crisis has gained increasing visibility since [Mindful Philanthropy] opened its doors — urging funders to step up and offering research, regular convenings and support to help them do so."

In what it describes as a “first-of-its-kind analysis of philanthropic giving toward mental health, addiction, and wellbeing in the U.S.,” the report, “Mental Health at the Center: U.S. Funding Landscape,” provides an overview of mental health funding from 2015-2022, tracks trends in giving and opportunities to leverage change, and underscores the need for more philanthropic investment. 

“Recent reports from Mindful Philanthropy and the White House have underscored the urgent need for greater investment in maternal and infant mental health, an often-overlooked crisis that affects families and communities for generations.”

Mindful Philanthropy released an unprecedented U.S. Funding Landscape for Mental Health report, offering a comprehensive analysis of philanthropic giving trends in mental health. This first-of-its-kind report provides vital insights into the current state of mental health philanthropy, emphasizing the urgent need for increased investment and strategic collaboration to address the rising mental health crisis in the United States.

A new report from Mindful Philanthropy has examined giving from 2015 to 2022 and found that philanthropic giving for mental health has increased a bit faster than the rate of inflation – but still is a tiny fraction of the overall charitable pie.

Read our interview with Kristen Ward to learn more.

In September 2024, kate spade new york launched the Global Fund for Women’s Mental Health, in partnership with Pinterest, Saks 5th Avenue, and Mindful Philanthropy.

CEO Alyson Niemann speaks with AP’s James Pollard about philanthropic funding for mental health and the efforts that work best to improve youth mental health.

Mindful Philanthropy has challenged funders to take a bigger role and is providing guidance for how to do so.

In 2023, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation announced a $275,000 grant to Mindful Philanthropy to support the organization’s capacity to expand its research and convening, including conducting a national landscape analysis of philanthropic investment in mental health. 

Mindful Philanthropy is calling for all of philanthropy to invest 5x more in mental health by 2035 — to $35 billion annually

Mindful Philanthropy challenges all funders by 2035 to collectively increase the total amount of philanthropic funding dedicated to mental health, addiction, and well-being by five times to $35B annually.

As Mindful Philanthropy organizes to raise awareness, some philanthropies have been stepping up already.

“Mental health has been wildly underfunded and investments like this only reinforce the need to treat mental health as you would any other health condition.” — Jessica Edwards, NAMI’s chief development officer

There are a few funders IP has been tracking that focus giving on the expansion of the mental health care and service workforce.

The country is experiencing a mental health crisis. Young people appear to be at particularly high risk, including young adults.

We have been in a youth mental health crisis. Here are three high-impact approaches you can take.

Mindful in the Field

Even if private dollars can’t replace what’s been lost, philanthropic and medical foundations are stepping up.

“We’re seeing a lot of foundations and funders that are shifting their funding,” said Alyson Niemann, CEO of Mindful Philanthropy, an organization that works with more than 1000 private funders to marshal resources for mental health. This year, in response to federal cuts, “many increased funding to health and well-being, doubling or even 3xing it,” Niemann noted.

Place-Based Philanthropic Collaboration in the US

Coalition for Mental Health Investment, September 2025

Mindful Philanthropy catalyzes impactful funding for mental health, addiction, and well-being, partnering with funders to align bold investments with evidence-based solutions. Their four-part Mental Health at the Center series offers funders a roadmap to guide priorities, track trends and measure success. Through the Bridging States, Building Systems action network, Mindful Philanthropy convenes collaborative leaders to scale place-based models.

One in five U.S. adults lives with a mental illness, yet only a fraction of philanthropic dollars goes toward mental health, addiction, and well-being. Alyson Niemann, CEO of Mindful Philanthropy, joined Conversations on Health Care hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to share how her organization is closing this gap and inspiring bold new investments.

Aspen Ideas: Health 2025 Panels

The Aspen Institute, June 2025

CEO Alyson Niemann joined two panels at the Aspen Institute’s annual conference, Aspen Ideas: Health, speaking with funders and subject matter experts on philanthropy’s role in health and alternative paths to well-being.

How Mindful Philanthropy is Revolutionizing Mental Health Funding

The Business of Giving Podcast, October 2024

CEO Alyson Niemann sits down with The Business of Giving podcast host Denver Frederick to discuss Mindful Philanthropy's role in revolutionizing mental health funding.

Improving Mental Health With Alyson Niemann

The Heart of Giving Podcast, June 2024

CEO Alyson Niemann joins as this week’s guest on the Heart of Giving podcast. Mindful Philanthropy is dedicated to connecting funders and organizations in the mental health and substance abuse spaces, advocating for increased funding, and support for impactful initiatives.

Mental Health Philanthropy Newsletters

  • October 2025

    Collaborative Action Network, New Mindful Team Member, and Funder Spotlight

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  • September 2025

    Special Issue on Field Building Announcements

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  • August 2025

    Watch Youth Mental Health and Aspen Health Videos and Resources

    Read

  • July 2025

    Community Highlight: Mayor Mobolade Interview and Community Portfolio

    Read

  • June 2025

    Watch Aspen Panels, Meditation Giving Trends, and New Guidance Library

    Read

  • May 2025

    2024 Annual Report, Celebrating 5 Years, and Reflecting on Mental Health Month

    Read

  • April 2025

    Highlights from Accelerate 2025, Mental Health Month, and Resources

    Read

  • February 2025

    Black History Month, Super Bowl LIX, and IWD 2025

    Read

  • January 2025

    LA Wildfires, New Website and Team Member, and More

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