Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) - Opportunity Grants

Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) - Opportunity Grants is sponsored by JustFund (in collaboration with an external advisory committee). The Youth Mental Health Fund is a culturally affirming initiative focused on expanding access to community-based mental health care for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 10-24.

[](https://help. justfund. us/) # Liberated Capital - Youth Mental Health Fund - Anchor Grants 2025 Established in 2018, Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP) is committed to bringing truth, healing, and repair to our global community.

Reparative Philanthropy, our signature framework, is at the heart of our work and aims to transform wealth into collective wellbeing. DWP operates through three key strategies: sector transformation, storytelling and culture, and reparative giving. Our work has radically transformed the philanthropic sector and has facilitated the distribution of nearly $1 billion for truth, healing, and reparative efforts.

Liberated Capital, DWP’s fund and donor community, has directly granted over $23 million to support economic solidarity, wellbeing, and earth and climate efforts primarily led by communities most impacted. Decolonizing Wealth Project is excited to launch a new culturally responsive care fund focused on supporting and expanding mental health care for youth in the United States, prioritizing access for LGBTQ+ youth and youth of color.

The fund will redistribute a minimum of $15 million in grants over three years starting in 2025.

Suicide is the leading cause of death for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders ages 10-24, and the second leading cause of death for young Black or African Americans (CDC, 2023; NAMI, 2023; ACAMH, 2023) and nearly half of all LBGTQ youth considered suicide, and 60% of those who sought mental health support were not able to access it (The Trevor Project, 2022).

**One of the most significant barriers to supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth mental health is the lack of access to culturally responsive care. ** Youth of historically marginalized identities are in dire need of access to mental health providers who actively implement culturally responsive practices and care in affirming spaces that honor their identities.

Culture also carries unique protective factors, and centering these strengths will ensure healing for both young people and society.

**A Community-Aligned Fund that Centers Marginalized Youth** In collaboration with an external advisory committee composed of youth leaders and experts and practitioners in the field of adolescent mental health, DWP is launching the Youth Mental Health Fund (YMHF) - a culturally affirming initiative focused on expanding access to community-based mental health care for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ youth between the ages of 10-24.

In addition to supporting community-based programs and partnerships, YMHF will also fund work to shift narratives around care and programs that offer culturally grounded healing experiences that center the unique needs and strengths of marginalized youth living at the intersections. The YMHF fund will invest at least $15 million in grants over the next 3 years, for a minimum of $5 million annually.

Alongside grantmaking, DWP will invest in capacity-building opportunities for grantee partners and elevate critical issues undergirding the Fund through communications and field-building efforts. **You can also find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the 2025 Youth Mental Health Fundhere. ** * Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations and Federally Recognized Native American Tribes are eligible.

Non-Federally Recognized Tribes are eligible to apply under a 501(c)(3) organization. Fiscally-sponsored projects under a 501(c)(3) entity are eligible. * Private non-operating foundations and individuals are not eligible.

* U.S.-based organizations only. * We value representative leadership and encourage organizations with leadership from BIPOC, LGBTQ+ communities to apply. * Proposals demonstrating youth engagement and voice in strategy and program development will be prioritized.

Organizations should have a track record of supporting youth from a variety of backgrounds, including BIPOC and LGBTQ+. In this first year of grantmaking, we will use the following approach to grant $5 million: * Grants will have a term of one year, with projects starting in November 2025 and ending in October 2026.

* There are two grant types organizations can apply for: * Anchor Grants: General operating support grants ranging from $100,000-$250,000 for youth mental health organizations or projects that have been operating for 5 years or more with organizational budgets over $2,000,000.

* * Opportunity Grants: 1) General operating support grants ranging from $30,000–$100,000 for organizations or projects that have been operating for less than 5 years and/or have budgets under $2M; or 2) Project-specific grants for new innovative solutions, pilots, convenings, one-time special opportunities, etc. _Any organization, regardless of budget size or length of operation, is eligible for a project-specific grant.

_ Note this is the portal for **Anchor Grants,** if you're applying for an opportunity grant please use the other JustFund portal. #### FUND PRIORITIES: CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE CARE Decolonizing Wealth Project seeks to nurture healing, belonging, and empowerment for youth. We will prioritize initiatives that are community-led or engage young people directly in decision-making processes and efforts.

Examples of meaningful youth leadership may be in staffing, youth steering committees, youth boards and processes that generate regular feedback from youth. An external, intergenerational Advisory Committee will review every eligible application.

Applications will be accepted across three priority areas: _**Community-Based Programs**_ * Increasing access to culturally-responsive mental health care by providing services in places where youth live, learn, and play (e.g. in schools, churches, community centers, particularly in rural areas, etc).

(Note: in the case of partnerships between community-based organizations and clinics/health care system units, grants will be awarded to the community-based nonprofit). * Youth-led organizations that provide programs to improve mental wellbeing outcomes, such as peer support, skill-building, and youth advocacy.

These programs should create spaces where youth can connect, share experiences, and learn coping strategies, while advocating for changes in policies and practices that impact their mental well-being. _**Cultural-Based Healing**_ * Innovative culturally relevant delivery models that promote connection to belonging, culture, and improve mental health care.

This may include programs that use creative expression such as: language, movement, art, music, dance, and theater as therapeutic tools to explore identity, process trauma, and build resilience. * Storytelling projects that amplify communal and personal stories of mental health journeys to foster solidarity and representation.

* Heritage-based wellness programs that integrate cultural practices, rituals, and spirituality into mental health approaches for young people. _**Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns**_ * Community-based education programs tailored to equip youth, families, providers, and educators with tools to recognize and address mental health challenges.

* Campaigns that challenge cultural and systemic stigmas around mental health care and identity, and work to expand access to services and support, as well as post-traumatic growth and joy.

* Support for organizations working towards systemic change in mental health services and care delivery to dismantle inequities in mental health care systems impacting youth; Priority given to programs that train youth as advocates for systemic change in mental health policies and systems. * Most funding is general operating support; Some Opportunity Grants may be project-specific.

All funding must be used for charitable purposes in alignment with the goals of the fund. * General operating support funds may be used for advocacy, direct service, or other organizational priorities such as staffing, travel, supplies, etc. * Grant funds may not be used for subsidies or regranting to other organizations. * Qualifying organizations are only eligible for one grant per organization.

**EVALUATION AND LEARNING** Grantees will be expected to provide regular updates on their progress as requested. Selected grantee partners may be invited to participate in convenings to support collaboration, shared learning, and community building. We aim to facilitate a learning community amongst the grantee cohort.

Two informational sessions will be held on June 3, 3:00-4:30, and June 24, 12:00-1:30 EST. June 3rd Registration here: https://us06web. zoom.

us/meeting/register/lqmDtlE4SUWeyopXchgNbw June 24th Registration here: https://us06web. zoom. us/meeting/register/0JVkZy6OQJ-YnWt_kNC7Dw **You can also find Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the 2025 Youth Mental Health Fund here.

** 07/16/2025 3:00 PM PST / 6:00 PM EST Decisions Expected to be Announced: Before you get started, learn more about how the JustFund Common Application™ works. Please ensure that all fields in your profile are up to date. As part of your application, your profile information will also be submitted and dated at time of submission.

### Application Specific Questions * What specific gap or need is your organization filling to provide culturally responsive care, particularly for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and/or youth at the intersections of both? How does your organization define and enact culturally responsive mental health care? * * Please share 3-5 concrete impacts you are hoping to achieve with this funding and for whom, and how you plan to evaluate impact?

* * How are youth or your constituents helping to shape programs or make decisions/involved in the work? * ### Application Specific Attachments * A program or project plan. Please attach a document detailing your program or project or initiative’s goals for the year of funding.

It will need to include how your organization will address the priorities outlined by this fund, and the specific short and long-term goals of your work, and how you plan to achieve these goals. Please also include how are youth or your constituents helping to shape programs or make decisions/involved in the work. * **A budget & budget narrative.

** Please include a budget for the project that describes how the grant dollars will be allocated. A standard budget template is fine. See here for samples.

In your budget narrative, please address the following questions: How will the grant funds be used (e.g. salary, supplies, travel, etc)? What funding is secured or pending for your project? Be specific.

* For **_Anchor Grants_** applicants - please attach a copy of your most recent annual organizational budget. * For **_Opportunity Grants_** applicants - please attach an annual operational budget and a specific project budget (if you request it for a specific project).

* **Note:** If you are a Tribe, please use the appropriate department's budget to determine your grant eligibility (i.e. Anchor vs. Opportunity), and please submit the department's budget. For example, please do not send the full Tribal Government's budget; please submit the Mental Health Department's. * * Applicants will be permitted to submit up to two supplemental attachments related to their proposal.

These could include impact reports, media projects, and/or other storytelling materials that help grant reviewers get a better sense of the scope and impact of your organization and/or project. Please use at least one of the attachments to highlight community engagement.

This could include written testimonials (or links to videos) from constituents, a youth engagement plan, metrics on engagement and retention in services offered, for example. **Email:**rich@decolonizingwealth. com **Website:**https://decolonizingwealth.

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