MacKenzie Scott Donates $20M to Active Minds to Combat Youth Mental Health Crisis

The donation, announced Thursday, is the largest single gift in Active Minds' 20-year history. The organization, headquartered in Washington, D.C., works with high school and college students to reduce stigma and encourage open conversations about mental health.

Active Minds plans to use the funds to expand its peer-to-peer support programs, train more student advocates, and develop new resources for campuses serving underrepresented communities. The organization said the gift will also help it reach younger students, including those in middle school, as mental health challenges often emerge before college.

Scott, who has given away billions since signing the Giving Pledge in 2019, has made a practice of donating large sums to nonprofits with few restrictions. Her gifts often focus on organizations addressing systemic inequities, including mental health, education, and social justice.

Active Minds founder Alison Malmon said the donation will accelerate the group's mission to change the conversation around mental health and ensure that every young person feels supported. The organization currently has chapters at more than 800 colleges and universities, as well as a growing network of high school programs.

The gift comes amid rising concern about mental health among young people, with recent surveys showing increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts among adolescents and young adults. Active Minds said the funding will allow it to respond more quickly to emerging needs and expand its reach to communities that have historically had less access to mental health resources.