The Quell Foundation
The Quell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces mental health stigma through university scholarships across 480+ institutions, first responder mental wellness training (notably the LAFD department-wide program), and the Lift the Mask documentary series, serving students, first responders, and individuals affected by mental illness nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersNorth Falmouth, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What The Quell Foundation does
The Quell Foundation is a Massachusetts-incorporated 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by Kevin Lynch with the mission of reducing the stigma of mental illness through open dialogue, expanded access to services, scholarships for future mental health professionals, and first responder training. The Foundation operates four primary program verticals: (1) a scholarship program that has awarded over $2.6 million since June 2016 to students attending 480+ colleges and universities across all 50 states; (2) the First Responder Resilience Project (FRRP), a department-wide mental wellness training program for police, fire, EMT, and corrections personnel, with a flagship deployment to all 3,800 Los Angeles Fire Department personnel funded by an August 2025 Unlikely Collaborators grant; (3) the Lift the Mask documentary series and Lift the Mask Film Festival, which use storytelling to humanize mental illness and are screened on campuses and in workplaces nationwide; and (4) the Bridge the Gap Clinical Licensure Grant, a 2026-launched program funding virtual clinical supervision for mental health professionals pursuing licensure. The 2021 merger with Survive First expanded first responder programming, and the Foundation partners with academic institutions including Penn State, Nova Southeastern University, University of Minnesota, University of Washington School of Medicine, and Lynn University on curriculum development and scholarships.
The Foundation is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations, corporate partnerships (CVS Health, Aetna, Deloitte, McKinsey, AmerisourceBergen, CareCentrix, Magellan Health, U.S. Bancorp), foundation grants (Aetna Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Unlikely Collaborators, Arts Foundation of Cape Cod), and event-based fundraising (annual Masquerade Ball, Strength in Motion cycling campaign, Lift the Mask Film Festival). Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation holds the Candid (GuideStar) Platinum Seal of Transparency 2024 and the GreatNonprofits Top-Rated Badge 2023. The organization has no proprietary technology platform; core capabilities center on programmatic delivery, content production (documentary/video), and partnership orchestration. Leadership transitions in 2024-2025 (Amber Chembars Meyerl from Executive Director to President, multiple director-level hires, board expansion) indicate an institutional scaling phase following the founder-led period.
The Quell Foundation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Quell Foundation
- Legal name
- The Quell Foundation, Inc.
- Website
- https://thequellfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Quell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that reduces mental health stigma through university scholarships across 480+ institutions, first responder mental wellness training (notably the LAFD department-wide program), and the Lift the Mask documentary series, serving students, first responders, and individuals affected by mental illness nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Quell Foundation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mental Health Advocacy and Education Services
- NAICS
- Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC)
Keywords
Where The Quell Foundation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- North Falmouth
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Quell Foundation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: The Quell Foundation operates as a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization (Tax ID 47-5127883), incorporated in Massachusetts in 2015. The organization relies on individual donations, corporate sponsorships, and charitable contributions to fund its mental health programs, scholarships, and first responder training initiatives.
- Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations and organizations such as Unlikely Collaborators to fund specific programs like the First Responder Resilience Project. Grants support department-wide mental wellness training programs and expand access to mental health services.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
The Quell Foundation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Quell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers mental health advocacy through scholarships and clinical licensure grants for students pursuing mental health careers, the Lift the Mask documentary series and film festival for storytelling and stigma reduction, and the First Responder Resilience Project providing department-wide mental wellness training. The Foundation operates programs serving individual students, individuals living with mental illness, university partners, fire and police departments, and corporate sponsors across all 50 U.S. states.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- First Responder Resilience Project (FRRP): A program focused on mental wellness training for first responders, including training them to recognize mental health crisis warning signs and creating awareness of the correlation between occupational trauma exposure and suicide rates.
- Lift the Mask Documentary Series
- Lift the Mask Film Festival
- Bridge the Gap Clinical Licensure Grant
Products and services
- Quell Foundation Scholarships for Mental Health Students
- Bridge the Gap Clinical Licensure Grant
- Lift the Mask Documentary Series
Quantifiable outcome
- Over $2.6 million awarded to mental health students since 2016
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Quell Foundation
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Quell Foundation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Quell Foundation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AbleTo, Inc.coreAbleTo is a market leader in providing technology-enabled behavioral health care. Their programs are clinically proven to improve behavioral health and medical outcomes while lowering overall spending for higher-cost, higher-risk members.
- AetnacoreAetna is one of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving an estimated 44.7 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care.
- AmerisourceBergenminorAmerisourceBergen provides pharmaceutical products, value-driving services and business solutions that improve access to care. Ranked #10 on the Fortune 500 with more than $175 billion in annual revenue.
- CareCentrixminorCareCentrix is committed to making the home the center of patient care. With more than 20 years of experience working with payors and providers to create programs that improve quality and lower costs.
- CVS HealthcoreCVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Shaping the future of health through retail health clinics, walk-in medical care, and pharmacy services.
- DeloitteminorDeloitte is a leading global provider of audit and assurance, consulting, financial advisory, risk advisory, tax and related services. Their global network serves four out of five Fortune Global 500 companies.
- innovaTel TelepsychiatryminorinnovaTel is a clinically owned and operated telepsychiatry company founded in 2014 to address the shortage of psychiatric clinicians. Their nationwide network includes psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, and licensed clinical social workers.
- Magellan HealthminorMagellan Health is a Fortune 500 company and a leader in managing the fastest growing, most complex areas of health, including special populations, complete pharmacy benefits and other specialty areas of healthcare.
- McKinsey & CompanyminorMcKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm deeply committed to helping institutions in the private, public, and social sectors achieve lasting success.
- MindoulacoreMindoula is a leading population health management company that scales the human connection through technology to address mind, body, and life challenges. Delivers tech-enabled, team-based, 24/7 support across the continuum of care.
- MOD (MOD Worldwide)minorMOD is a Philadelphia-based entrepreneurially minded content, branding and design agency dedicated to the success of client partners.
- The Mental Health CoalitioncoreThe Mental Health Coalition (MHC) is a collective of organizations working to destigmatize mental health and empower access to vital resources and necessary support for all.
- The Kennedy ForumminorMental health policy and advocacy organization working to advance mental health care access and parity.
- TalkSpaceminorOnline therapy platform providing accessible mental health services through digital channels.
- Jordan Porco FoundationminorMental health foundation focused on suicide prevention and supporting young adults.
- Pennsylvania State UniversitycorePartnership with Penn State's Marriage and Family Therapy program to support mental health education and training.
- Nova Southeastern UniversitycorePartnership with Nova Southeastern University's Equine Therapy program. The Quell Foundation sponsors a program testing the effectiveness of equine therapy at 'Stable Places' for mental health treatment.
- University of MinnesotacorePartnership with the University's Integrated Behavioral Health and Addictions Counseling (IBH/AC) program to support mental health workforce development.
- University of Washington School of MedicinecorePartnership with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. With a substantial gift, The Foundation is funding the expansion of training in collaborative care and telehealth through the development of a population health curriculum focused on the BIPOC community.
- Lynn UniversitycorePartnership with Lynn University's Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. The Foundation donated $50,000 to create mental health scholarships at the university.
- Arts Foundation of Cape CodminorPartnership makes funds available for seniors accepted into arts-related college programs who have a mental health condition or have lost a family member to suicide.
- Tunnel to Towers FoundationcoreTunnel to Towers Foundation, FDNY Foundation and Quell Foundation formed a brand alliance with Tower Beverage USA to support first responders.
- FDNY FoundationcoreFDNY Foundation and Quell Foundation formed a brand alliance with Tower Beverage USA to support first responder mental health initiatives.
- Survive FirstcoreThe Quell Foundation and Survive First merged to provide mental health support to first responders, combining resources and programs.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Quell Foundation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: Largest U.S. nonprofit focused on suicide prevention and mental health, operating awareness campaigns, research funding, and survivor support programs that directly overlap with Quell's mission to reduce suicide and mental health stigma.
- The Trevor Project: Leading nonprofit focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people; shares Quell's combination of awareness storytelling, direct service, and youth-focused education programming.
- Jed Foundation: Nonprofit protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among college students through campus programs; directly comparable to Quell's 480+ university partnerships and student mental health scholarship programs.
- Active Minds: Student-led nonprofit operating campus chapters to promote mental health awareness among young adults; closely mirrors Quell's Lift the Mask Club campus chapter model and university distribution strategy.
- Bring Change to Mind: Co-founded by Glenn Close, this nonprofit uses storytelling, film, and youth programs to end mental health stigma; comparable to Quell's documentary-driven, school- and college-based stigma reduction approach.
- Tunnel to Towers Foundation: Major first-responder and military support nonprofit with which Quell has a formal brand alliance via Tower Beverage USA; directly comparable because of shared first-responder beneficiary focus and national fundraising footprint.
Broad incumbents
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): The largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization providing education, advocacy, and support groups; addresses mental illness stigma and workforce education at a broader scale than Quell and competes for the same donor base.
- Mental Health America: Nation's oldest community-based mental health nonprofit addressing the full spectrum of mental illness through screening, advocacy, and education; a broader incumbent with overlapping mental health awareness mission.
- Brain & Behavior Research Foundation: Major mental health research grantmaking foundation distributing awards to scientists; overlaps with Quell's grantmaking/scholarship distribution model and donor base, though Quell focuses on workforce scholarships rather than research.
Others
- Survive First (merged into Quell): Pre-merger peer focused on first-responder mental health support that merged with Quell in 2023; comparable because it represents Quell's expanded FRRP programmatic DNA and serves the same first-responder beneficiary base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Quell Foundation social profiles
Digital presenceThe Quell Foundation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Quell Foundation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
The Quell Foundation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
The Quell Foundation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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The Quell Foundation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Quell Foundation
What does The Quell Foundation do?
The Quell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers mental health advocacy through scholarships and clinical licensure grants for students pursuing mental health careers, the Lift the Mask documentary series and film festival for storytelling and stigma reduction, and the First Responder Resilience Project providing department-wide mental wellness training. The Foundation operates programs serving individual students, individuals living with mental illness, university partners, fire and police departments, and corporate sponsors across all 50 U.S. states.
Is The Quell Foundation a public or private company?
The Quell Foundation is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Quell Foundation founded?
The Quell Foundation was founded in 2015. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Quell Foundation based?
The Quell Foundation is headquartered in North Falmouth, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Quell Foundation make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grants.
Who are The Quell Foundation's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, The Trevor Project, Jed Foundation, Active Minds, Bring Change to Mind and Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Broad incumbents are National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Mental Health America and Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. Survive First (merged into Quell) is listed as an others.
Does The Quell Foundation have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Quell Foundation.
What industry is The Quell Foundation in?
The Quell Foundation's product category is Mental Health Advocacy and Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAD, Mental Health & Crisis Support Services, with a secondary code of BPAGADAK, Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813212 and its SIC code is 8300.