Active Minds

What Active Minds does

Active Minds is a Washington, D.C.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2000 by Alison Malmon following her brother Brian's suicide, and is the largest U.S. nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms. The organization operates approximately 600 student-led chapters across U.S. high schools and colleges, has surpassed 1,000 K-12 schools reached, and serves beneficiary segments including K-12 students, college students, LGBTQ+ youth, BIPOC youth, and disaster-impacted communities (such as those affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire). Its core programs comprise the Send Silence Packing traveling exhibit (engaged 1M+ individuals across 350+ communities since 2008), the A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch) peer-support digital experience, the Your Voice is Your Power Resource Hub for Gen Z digital wellbeing, the Speakers Bureau, K-12 Initiatives, the annual Hill Day & Mental Health Conference, and a Workforce Development program.

The underlying technology stack is built around self-serve digital platforms rather than proprietary AI/ML: A.S.K. provides structured peer-conversation guidance; ask.activeminds.org and evokate.app deliver web-based resource access; the Your Voice is Your Power Resource Hub serves as a digital content hub; and the Send Silence Packing exhibit operates as a touring physical-plus-digital awareness asset. The organization has also secured the introduction of its first authored federal legislation, the Campus Lifeline Act (May 2026), mandating printing of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards.

Active Minds' business model is a diversified nonprofit funding mix: individual donations via donorsupport.co, foundation grants (including $5M from Google.org in 2026, $1M from Google in 2026, and participation in ICONIQ Impact's $56M Education & Economic Mobility Co-Lab), corporate sponsorships (notably The Hartford's sponsorship of Send Silence Packing), merchandise sales through the Active Minds Store, and event/conference registration revenue. Programs are provided free of charge to students and schools. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed. The organization holds Candid Platinum Transparency, Great Nonprofits Top-Rated, and Charity Navigator Four-Star ratings for 2025.

Name

Active Minds

Legal name

Active Minds, Inc.

Website

https://activeminds.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Active Minds is the largest U.S. nonprofit mobilizing youth and young adults to transform mental health norms, operating approximately 600 student-led chapters on K-12 and college campuses and delivering peer-support programs, traveling exhibits, and federal policy advocacy including the Campus Lifeline Act.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Advocacy and Education

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs (EDALAFAO)

Keywords

• Youth mental health
• Mental health advocacy
• Peer support programs
• Suicide prevention
• Campus mental health

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors support the nonprofit through the website donation portal.
2. Foundation Grants: Major grants from foundations such as Google.org ($5 million, $1 million), ICONIQ Impact ($56 million Education & Economic Mobility Co-Lab).
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate sponsorships such as The Hartford sponsoring the Send Silence Packing national tour.
4. Product Sales: Merchandise sales through the Active Minds Store (shop.activeminds.org).
5. Event Revenue: Conference registrations and events such as Hill Day & Mental Health Conference 2026.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Active Minds is a nonprofit organization that develops and operates youth mental health programs, including a National Chapter Network of approximately 600 student-led chapters on K-12 and college campuses, the Send Silence Packing traveling exhibit, the A.S.K. peer-support digital experience, the Your Voice is Your Power Resource Hub, K-12 Initiatives, a Speakers Bureau, and annual advocacy events such as the Hill Day & Mental Health Conference. Its programs are delivered largely free of charge to students and schools, supported by donations, foundation grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Active Minds operates as a nonprofit organization focused on youth mental health advocacy, offering a portfolio of programs and resources rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings include Send Silence Packing (a traveling mental health exhibit), A.S.K. (a peer support digital experience), the National Chapter Network (600+ student-led campus chapters), and the Your Voice is Your Power Resource Hub. These programs work together to mobilize youth and young adults to transform mental health norms through peer support, education, advocacy, and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Your Voice is Your Power: A resource hub for young leaders passionate about creating change and supporting mental health in their communities.
• Send Silence Packing
• A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch)
• Student Advisory Committee

Products and services

• Send Silence Packing A nationally recognized immersive traveling exhibit featuring 100 backpacks that represent personal stories of loss, survival, and healing from mental health struggles. Has engaged over one million individuals across 350-plus communities since 2008 through national tour visits to college campuses and community spaces. Sponsored nationally by The Hartford.
• National Chapter Network Network of approximately 600 student-led mental health advocacy groups on high school and college campuses nationwide. The chapter model has surpassed 1,000 K-12 schools reached and serves as the primary grassroots distribution channel for Active Minds programs, peer support, and advocacy.
• A.S.K. (Acknowledge, Support, Keep-in-Touch) A digital experience and peer support model that empowers students to have genuine conversations about mental health with their peers, providing practical guidance to recognize warning signs and respond with care.
• Your Voice is Your Power Resource Hub A digital resource hub for young leaders passionate about creating change and supporting mental health in their communities, providing resources to take action for mental health advocacy, digital wellbeing, and self-advocacy tools.
• Active Minds Speakers Bureau Program featuring trained presenters who share personal mental health journeys and practical strategies to empower students, educators, and communities to recognize signs of distress and build cultures of support.
• K-12 Initiatives Mental health programming and resources specifically designed for K-12 school communities, including youth leadership training and school-based mental health advocacy, which surpassed a goal of reaching 1,000 K-12 schools within 1,000 days ahead of schedule.
• Hill Day & Mental Health Conference Annual national advocacy event bringing hundreds of young adult mental health advocates to Capitol Hill for policy action, training, and direct engagement with lawmakers on mental health legislation including the 988 Lifeline and the Campus Lifeline Act.
• Workforce Development Programs focused on mental health in the workplace and professional development for young adults entering the workforce.
• Active Minds Store Online store at store.activeminds.org offering merchandise including notebooks, sticker packs, and graduation cords to support mental health advocacy and raise awareness.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11% decline in youth suicide deaths following introduction of 988 Lifeline (JAMA study)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Pasadena Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Community partner in the Google.org-funded youth-led mental health initiative, with focus on communities impacted by the 2025 Eaton Fire.
• Eaton Fire CollaborativeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2026Community partner in mental health programming targeting students affected by the 2025 Eaton Fire.
• The HartfordcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 March 2026The Hartford renewed its partnership to sponsor the 2026 national tour of Send Silence Packing, a traveling mental health exhibit engaging over one million individuals since 2008.
• Boston Red SoxflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 May 2025Active Minds is one of six New England nonprofits featured in the Red Sox 'Change Up the Conversation' season-long mental health initiative with monthly partnerships and in-park experiences.
• Doc WayneminorOthers · 1 May 2025Sport-based therapy nonprofit partner in Red Sox Change Up the Conversation initiative.
• KyleCaresminorOthers · 1 May 2025Youth suicide prevention nonprofit partner in Red Sox Change Up the Conversation initiative.
• OUT MetroWestminorOthers · 1 May 2025LGBTQ+ affirming nonprofit partner in Red Sox Change Up the Conversation initiative.
• SamaritansminorOthers · 1 May 2025Suicide prevention nonprofit partner in Red Sox Change Up the Conversation initiative.
• The Jed Foundation (JED)minorOthers · 1 May 2025Youth mental health nonprofit partner in Red Sox Change Up the Conversation initiative.
• ShareWellminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides free peer support subscriptions to youth and young adults ages 18-25 through ShareWell's online peer support community.
• Peer Health ExchangeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvider of selfsea web app co-designed with young people providing safe, inclusive, evidence-based, identity-affirming health resources.
• The Trevor ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLGBTQ+ youth crisis services organization collaborating on suicide prevention resources and advocacy efforts.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a nonprofit focused on gun violence prevention and youth mental wellness through K-12 school-based programs such as Start With Hello and Say Something. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds in school-based mental health programming, K-12 channel, and youth-led prevention content.
• The Trevor Project: The Trevor Project is a 501c3 providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for LGBTQ+ young people. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds as a youth-focused mental health nonprofit, with overlapping programs (peer support, advocacy) and explicit partnership/co-advocacy in Active Minds' data.
• ReachOut USA / ReachOut.com: ReachOut is a youth mental health nonprofit providing peer-support content and resources for teens and young adults in the U.S. and Australia. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds in youth-focused peer mental health content, self-help resources, and online-first delivery model.
• Crisis Text Line: Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 text-based crisis support, with significant youth user share and trained volunteer counselors. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds in youth crisis/mental health services, with overlapping awareness efforts (988 transition) and a shared user base of adolescents and young adults.
• The Jed Foundation (JED): The Jed Foundation is a leading nonprofit focused on protecting emotional health and preventing suicide among teens and young adults, with a particular emphasis on college campus mental health programming. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds in target audience (K-12/college students), nonprofit model, and chapter-equivalent campus programming, and is already a Red Sox 'Change Up the Conversation' partner alongside Active Minds.
• Born This Way Foundation: Co-founded by Lady Gaga and her mother, Born This Way Foundation focuses on youth mental health, kindness, and peer support, with Channel Kindness and Kind Council youth programming. It is a directly comparable peer to Active Minds in mission, youth-led model, and peer-support content.

Emerging players

• DoSomething.org: DoSomething.org is a youth-led nonprofit that mobilizes young people around social issues through campaigns and volunteer action. It is an adjacent peer to Active Minds in mobilizing young advocates around social causes, with some overlap in student-led campaign and volunteer infrastructure but a broader (non-mental-health) thematic scope.
• ShareWell / Peer Health Exchange: ShareWell operates an online community for peer-led mental health conversations and is an active partner of Active Minds providing free peer support subscriptions to youth 18-25. Peer Health Exchange co-designs the selfsea web app with young people. Both are emerging players with overlapping digital peer-support offerings and partnership ties.

Broad incumbents

• Mental Health America: Mental Health America is one of the oldest U.S. community-based mental health nonprofits, addressing the full lifecycle of mental wellness through screening, advocacy, and public education. It is a broad incumbent peer to Active Minds in nonprofit mental health advocacy and education, with broader scope but weaker youth/chapter specificity.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): NAMI is the largest U.S. grassroots mental health nonprofit, providing advocacy, education, support groups, and public awareness across all ages. It is a broad incumbent peer to Active Minds in mental health advocacy and education, with overlapping audiences but a much broader (all-age) scope than Active Minds' youth focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Active Minds