Youth's Lives Every Day
A message from Jaymes Black (they/she/he pronouns), CEO of The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is honored to announce that philanthropist MacKenzie Scott has made a transformational $45 million gift, an investment to support the organization’s long-term sustainability and impact for LGBTQ+ young people. This extraordinary contribution — the single largest one-time donation in our 27-year history — comes at a pivotal moment for our organization and the LGBTQ+ young people we serve.
Major gifts of this magnitude are backed by rigorous vetting and thoughtful approaches to philanthropy. A $45 million investment in The Trevor Project reflects deep confidence in our mission, impact, operations, and long-term vision. We were also fortunate to receive a $6 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in 2020, and remain grateful for the continued trust this new donation represents.
A Transformational Gift to Address a Worsening Crisis
While this historic contribution strengthens our ability to plan for long-term sustainability, it does not change the reality that our work is far from finished.
The Trevor Project operates in the U.S. and Mexico, and LGBTQ+ youth across the globe use our safe space social networking site, TrevorSpace. Every year, an estimated 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people in the United States seriously consider suicide. In Mexico, more than half of LGBTQ+ young people reported considering suicide in the past year. Globally, we estimate 40 million LGBTQ+ youth seriously consider suicide each year. Even at our highest reach, The Trevor Project has only been able to serve a fraction of those youth. That means that hundreds of thousands of young people each year still go without the life-saving support they deserve.
This gift is a powerful step toward building on our sustainable capacity — but our organization will continue to face one of the largest public health crises of our time: LGBTQ+ youth suicide. Research shows that LGBTQ+ young people are more than four times as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. The Trevor Project’s latest study found that, sadly, the mental health crisis among LGBTQ+ youth in the U.S. is getting worse, showing increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality for these young people over time. Our organization must continue to innovate and connect with more LGBTQ+ young people in crisis. And that requires ongoing support from those who believe in our mission.
Investing This Gift Responsibly
We are committed to investing this funding with great care. Over the coming months, we will roadmap a strategic and thoughtful investment plan focused on strengthening our core crisis services, improving long-term sustainability, and accelerating our progress toward a world where every LGBTQ+ young person knows they are loved and supported.
We will continue to rely on the generosity of supporters to expand our 24/7 crisis services, build new technology solutions, advance crucial research, and advocate for safer communities. Every donation — regardless of size — directly helps us reach the next young person who needs us.
Moving Forward with Hope
At a time when many LGBTQ+ young people are facing heightened stigma, political hostility, and mental health challenges, MacKenzie Scott’s support sends a powerful message: LGBTQ+ young people matter, and the world is full of people fighting for their safety and well-being.
To everyone who makes this work possible — our staff, volunteers, donors, partners, and community supporters — thank you. This gift strengthens our foundation, but you help build the future. Together, we will continue working toward a world where every LGBTQ+ young person knows they are never alone.
