Youth's Lives Every Day
There is a difference between giving money and shaping a future. While the TIME100 Philanthropy list often highlights personal wealth, this year’s inclusion of The Trevor Project’s CEO, Jaymes Black, celebrates a different, more modern role: the architect of impact. Jaymes has built a powerful engine for philanthropic movement, positioning themselves as the critical conduit between resources and the survival of LGBTQ+ youth. Today, we celebrate this milestone for Jaymes as a leader, and for The Trevor Project as a powerful force building a better world for LGBTQ+ young people.
Under Jaymes’ leadership, The Trevor Project has moved beyond the traditional charity model. We are building the essential public health infrastructure required to end the suicide crisis.
The necessity of this conduit role became undeniably clear this past year. When the federal administration terminated the 988 LGBTQ+ specialized lifeline, Jaymes led the charge to fill the resulting $25 million per year funding gap. The Emergency Lifeline Campaign mobilized nearly 30,000 individual donors, raising more than $20 million to ensure that no young person was left without a place to turn. This campaign proved that with the right leadership, community-driven philanthropy can stand in the gap when public systems fail.
This strategic vision was further validated by a historic $45 million gift from MacKenzie Scott. As the largest single donation in The Trevor Project’s 28-year history, this investment reflects deep confidence in Jaymes’ ability to scale our impact.
To every LGBTQ+ young person watching: this honor from TIME is a message to you. It says that your lives are worth saving, your stories are worth telling, and your futures are worth the most audacious investments we can make. We are no longer just responding to a crisis; we are building a world where you can thrive.
In Community,
The Trevor Project
