The Trevor Project receives a $45 million donation from MacKenzie Scott

Wired
Wired
2h ago
Billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, which provides crisis services for LGBTQ+ youth, as the organization reported increased outreach and cited high suicide risk in its survey data.
The Trevor Project receives a $45 million donation from MacKenzie Scott
A What happened
MacKenzie Scott donated $45 million to The Trevor Project, a nonprofit that serves LGBTQ+ youth. CEO Jaymes Black called it the organization’s biggest single donation in its 27-year history and said it will support expanded capacity, innovation, and a strategic investment plan to strengthen crisis services and sustainability. The Trump administration shut down counseling services for queer youth through the federally funded 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline that The Trevor Project administered. The Trevor Project reported a 700% increase in calls, chats, and texts following Trump’s 2024 election and cited survey results that about 45% of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24 have considered suicide.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Donation framed as capacity-building for crisis services: Jaymes Black said the gift supports sustainable capacity, expansion to serve more LGBTQ+ youth globally, and innovation to reach people when they need help.

  • 2

    Crisis-service demand reported to spike around political and legal events: The Trevor Project reported increased outreach following Trump’s 2024 election, the inauguration last year, and events including the US v. Skrmetti ruling.

Takeaways

The Trevor Project is planning investments to strengthen and expand its crisis services using MacKenzie Scott’s $45 million donation while reporting elevated demand and high suicide-risk indicators among LGBTQ+ youth.

Topics

Health & Medicine Mental Health Public Health World & Politics Policy & Regulation Human Rights

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