National Alliance on Mental Illness

What National Alliance on Mental Illness does

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1979 and recognized as the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization. NAMI delivers free support, education, and advocacy services to individuals living with mental illness and their families through a decentralized network of more than 600 local affiliates and state organizations across the United States, staffed primarily by individuals with direct lived experience of mental illness. Core service lines include peer-led support groups, the Living Room walk-in peer crisis support program, Drop-In Centers, Mobile Peer Support vans, and evidence-based training programs such as QPR Suicide Prevention, Mental Health First Aid, Ending the Silence, and the StigmaFree Workplace initiative. The organization also operates national sub-brands including NAMIWalks, Seize the Awkward (in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Ad Council), and the newly launched MindBench.ai platform, which evaluates large language models and AI tools for mental healthcare applications.

NAMI's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue structure combining individual donations and major philanthropic gifts (notably a $30 million gift from MacKenzie Scott in 2022 followed by a $59 million gift in January 2026), corporate partnerships (LG Electronics USA, Molina Healthcare, Neurocrine Biosciences), individual and household membership dues ($40 and $60 annually, with a $5 Open Door student tier), and recommended-donation workplace training fees (e.g., $200/session for QPR, $100/participant for Mental Health First Aid). All direct services to individuals are provided at no cost. The go-to-market motion is community-led, leveraging grassroots volunteer chapters, peer support specialists, public awareness campaigns, NAMIWalks events, and policy advocacy, including active engagement on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Medicaid coverage protections, and disability rights under Olmstead. The organization is governed by a volunteer board of directors with Jeff Fladen serving as president and Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. as CEO.

NAMI pursues an advocacy and ecosystem-buildout strategy that increasingly positions it as a national coordinating body rather than solely a direct service provider. Recent moves include the launch of the National Collaborative for Crisis Systems Innovation with Health Management Associates, sustained investment in AI governance for mental health via MindBench.ai, expansion of student-athlete mental health programming through the NCAA/LG partnership, and active defense of community-based care against DOJ Olmstead reinterpretation and Medicaid work requirements. Revenue recognition is multi-source and diversified across donations, grants, memberships, and corporate sponsorships, with material philanthropic inflows from MacKenzie Scott creating both programmatic opportunity and concentration risk.

Name

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Legal name

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Website

https://namimch.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NAMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, providing free peer support, education, advocacy, and crisis services to individuals and families affected by mental illness through 600+ local affiliates.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) (621330)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services (BPAGAEAH), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

Keywords

• Mental health support
• Peer support services
• Mental health education
• Suicide prevention training
• Mental health advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Crystal Lake

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Grants: NAMI receives major gifts from individual philanthropists such as MacKenzie Scott's $59 million donation, as well as grants from foundations and government sources for mental health programs and advocacy.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with corporations like LG Electronics USA, Molina Healthcare, and Neurocrine Biosciences provide funding for specific programs and initiatives.
3. Membership Dues: Individual memberships at $40/year, household memberships at $60/year, and Open Door student memberships at $5/year provide recurring revenue and support the organization's grassroots network.
4. Workplace Training Donations: Recommended donations for workplace training programs including QPR Suicide Prevention Training ($200/session), Mental Health First Aid ($100/participant), and Mental Health Workshops ($200/session). While donations are suggested, services are ultimately provided at no cost to participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization, providing free support, education, and advocacy services to individuals affected by mental illness and their families. Core offerings include peer-led support groups, evidence-based education and training programs (such as Mental Health First Aid and QPR Suicide Prevention), workplace mental health initiatives, crisis support services like the Living Room program, and policy advocacy. All services are delivered at no cost to participants by trained individuals with lived experience of mental illness.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StigmaFree Workplace: A NAMI initiative sharing workplace mental health best practices and providing resources for employers to support employee mental wellness, including the annual Rest Up Week initiative giving employees a full week of paid time off.
• Seize the Awkward
• NAMIWalks
• Living Room
• MindBench.ai
• National Collaborative for Crisis Systems Innovation

Products and services

• Living Room Program Walk-in peer crisis support service available Monday through Friday 12:30pm - 8:00pm, providing a safe space for individuals in mental health crisis to receive immediate peer support from trained specialists with lived experience.
• Drop-In Center A peer-run space providing ongoing support services to individuals with mental health conditions and family members, offering a community setting for recovery support.
• Mobile Peer Support Program A mobile peer support initiative that brings mental health support services out into the community via a van, partnering with agencies, schools, libraries, workplaces, fairs, and festivals to reach people where they are.
• Workplace Mental Health Program A comprehensive workplace mental health initiative offering trainings including QPR Suicide Prevention Training, Mental Health First Aid Course, Ending the Silence presentations, and Mental Health Workshops on topics like Mental Health in the Workplace and Self-Care & Burnout, plus on-site peer support services.
• Education and Training Programs Free, evidence-based education and training programs for schools, workplaces, churches, and individuals including support groups, classes, and mental health curriculum and resources for all ages.
• MindBench.ai An online platform designed to evaluate large language models and LLM-based tools specifically for mental healthcare applications, offering transparent, objective assessment criteria to evaluate both the technical profile and clinical performance of AI systems used in mental health contexts.
• Behavioral Health Peer Navigator Program A peer mentorship program designed to assist individuals with mental health needs through peer mentorship and community engagement, supported by grants from organizations like Molina Healthcare of Florida.
• NAMI Membership Program Annual membership program with individual ($40/year), household ($60/year), and Open Door student ($5/year) tiers that fund the organization's grassroots network and provide recurring support for the mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8.7 million website visits driven by Seize the Awkward campaign since 2018
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Health Management Associates (HMA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026NAMI and HMA launched the National Collaborative for Crisis Systems Innovation, a national initiative to advance sustainable behavioral health crisis care across the United States. Building on four years of progress since the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched in 2022, the Collaborative will serve as a national hub for public-private coordination to help states and communities build person-centered crisis response systems.
• American Foundation for Suicide PreventioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Partnership in the Seize the Awkward campaign, a national mental health awareness initiative encouraging teens and young adults to check in with friends who may be struggling. Since launching in 2018, the campaign has driven 8.7 million visits to its website and generated $148 million in donated media support.
• Ad CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2026Partnership in the Seize the Awkward campaign with new PSAs created pro bono by Droga5, featuring original music from Lil Silva and Sampha. The campaign depicts informal moments between friends to show that small acts of connection can meaningfully support mental health.
• Droga5minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 May 2026Creative agency that created the Seize the Awkward PSAs pro bono for the campaign partnership between NAMI, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and Ad Council.
• NOSOLOminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 21 January 2026Athletic clothing brand founded by John Toracinta partnered with NAMI for Hockey Talks Night. NOSOLO donates a portion of sales to NAMI and provided limited-edition merchandise signed by Tampa Bay Lightning captain Victor Hedman. Partnership included post-game meetings between Hedman, Toracinta, and NAMI regional representatives through the organization's player ticket program.
• Love, NalaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 December 2025California-based pet food company partnered with NAMI to promote mental health resources through Nala Cat's social media platform with over 10 million followers. The company provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in promotional value through content on pet-related mental health topics including anxiety comfort, pet grieving, sick pets, and lost pets. This is the first formal collaboration between a pet food brand and the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization.
• MindBench.ai Research PartnershipcoreTechnology or Integration · 18 November 2025NAMI partnered with researchers to develop MindBench.ai, an online platform designed to evaluate large language models and LLM-based tools specifically for mental healthcare applications. The platform builds upon the prior MINDapps.org framework, offering transparent, objective assessment criteria to evaluate both technical profile and clinical performance of AI systems used in mental health contexts.
• Legal Action CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2025NAMI and the Legal Action Center jointly developed a report offering guidance for policymakers to prevent Medicaid coverage losses for people with mental health conditions due to new work reporting requirements set to take 2027. The report emphasizes safeguarding mechanisms, reducing administrative barriers, and ensuring continuity of care.
• California Legislation CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 September 2025NAMI joined CALACAP, CACFS, NCYL, and TCP in supporting California SB 531, legislation introduced by Senator Susan Rubio to expand mental health education access to all students across grade levels.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crisis Text Line: 24/7 crisis support via text message, founded in 2013 and serving millions of texters. Comparable to NAMI's promotion of the 988 Lifeline and as a peer-staffed crisis intervention nonprofit with national reach.
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA): National peer-led organization providing support groups, education, and advocacy specifically for people with depression and bipolar disorder. Closely aligned with NAMI's peer-support delivery model and lived-experience staffing approach.
• JED Foundation: National nonprofit focused on emotional health and suicide prevention for teens and young adults, with school and university partnership programs. Overlaps with NAMI on youth and education-linked mental health advocacy.
• The Trevor Project: National nonprofit providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ young people, with a 24/7 digital contact platform. Comparable as a free, donor-funded mental health nonprofit serving a defined population with national reach.
• Active Minds: National nonprofit focused on student mental health through campus chapters, peer-to-peer programs, and advocacy. Directly comparable to NAMI's NAMI on Campus clubs and student-athlete initiatives, especially the LG partnership.
• Born This Way Foundation: Co-founded by Lady Gaga, this nonprofit focuses on youth mental health and kindness through peer support, storytelling, and resource platforms. Overlaps with NAMI on youth and young-adult mental health awareness.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): National nonprofit focused on suicide prevention through research, education, advocacy, and loss support. Co-partner with NAMI on the Seize the Awkward campaign; directly comparable in advocacy and community-based mental health model.
• Mental Health America (MHA): One of the oldest and largest national mental health nonprofits, MHA offers similar support, education, advocacy, and screening tools with affiliated state and local organizations. Direct mission overlap with NAMI as a peer-led mental health advocacy organization.
• Bring Change to Mind: National nonprofit dedicated to ending mental health stigma through youth-led education programs and high-profile ambassador campaigns. Comparable grassroots mental health awareness and education mission to NAMI's StigmaFree and Ending the Silence programs.

Broad incumbents

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA): Federal agency within HHS that leads public mental health and substance use policy, grantmaking, and the 988 Lifeline. Comparable as a national-scale mental health systems actor, but as a government entity rather than a peer nonprofit, and a funder/grantor of NAMI.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/namiccns
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nami-mchenry-county

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

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 National Alliance on Mental Illness