AIM Youth Mental Health

What AIM Youth Mental Health does

AIM Youth Mental Health is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2014 and headquartered in Carmel, California, with a secondary office opened in Tempe, Arizona in 2026. The organization operates at the intersection of youth mental health research funding and direct youth engagement, running four primary programs: the Clinical Science Fellowship (postdoctoral grants of $25,000-$50,000 to 3-5 fellows annually at institutions including Harvard, UCLA, Columbia, Northwestern, Stanford, and UCSF), the Ideas Lab (an 8-week Youth Participatory Action Research curriculum engaging 279 student researchers across 71 California schools in 2026 who surveyed nearly 4,000 peers), the Youth Ambassadors leadership program, and the annual Art & Design Challenge for grades 6-12. The 15+ member Scientific Advisory Board from institutions including Yale, Oxford, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and Harvard provides scientific governance and credibility. In 2026 the organization invested in Northwestern's Navi single-session digital intervention research for youth at suicide risk in emergency departments, extending its portfolio into technology-based intervention development.

AIM's revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: individual donations via website (credit card, stock, Donor-Advised Funds), event-based fundraising anchored by the annual Gala ($525,000+ raised in 2025), institutional grants and corporate sponsorships (Kaiser Permanente, Hayward Family Foundation, NEFT Vodka), and marathon charity partnerships (NYC, Big Sur, LA Marathons, with per-runner minimums of $650-$4,000). National partners include NAMI, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, JED Foundation, and Crisis Text Line. The organization holds Charity Navigator 4-star, GuideStar/Candid Platinum Transparency, and GreatNonprofits Top-Rated credentials. Programs are free to youth participants; pricing relates only to charity-athlete fundraising commitments.

Distribution is multi-channel: the aimymh.org website serves as the hub for donations, applications, and newsletter subscriptions; in-person delivery flows through embedded school and community partnerships in California with announced expansion to Arizona (April 2026) and Texas in 2026 and additional states targeted for 2027; content and brand-awareness distribution runs through an organic social presence on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, the youth-led AIM-plified podcast, and an email newsletter with segmented audiences. Headcount is 1-10 employees and Susan Stilwell remains Founder and Board Chair, with Jolie Delja as Executive Director and Sydney Stilwell as Co-founder and Director of Marketing & Research Programs.

Name

AIM Youth Mental Health

Legal name

AIM Youth Mental Health

Website

https://aimymh.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AIM Youth Mental Health is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2014 in Carmel, California that funds youth mental health research via a Clinical Science Fellowship and runs youth-led programs, including the Ideas Lab and Design Challenge, to bridge evidence-based science and youth access to mental health care across California, Arizona (launched April 2026), and Texas (planned 2026).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Services and Research Funding

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Child and Youth Services (624110), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

Keywords

• Youth mental health
• Participatory action research
• Mental health research grants
• Clinical science fellowship
• Youth empowerment programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and recurring donations from individuals via the organization's website donation portal. Donors can give via credit card, stock, or Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). EIN #47-3992060.
2. Annual Gala and Special Events: The 11th Annual AIM Youth Mental Health Gala in 2025 raised over $525,000 from ticket sales, sponsorships, and auction contributions. Additional events include a Carmel Spring Event and marathon fundraising teams.
3. Institutional Grants and Corporate Sponsorships: AIM is funded through institutional grants, corporate sponsors, program fees, and partnerships. Major gala sponsors include Hayward Family Foundation, NEFT Vodka, The Caviar Co., and winery partners. National partners include Kaiser Permanente, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, JED Foundation, and NAMI.
4. Marathon Charity Partnerships: AIM serves as an official charity partner for major marathons (NYC TCS Marathon, Big Sur International Marathon, LA Marathon), raising funds through charity athlete bibs with minimum fundraising commitments ($650–$4,000 per runner).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

AIM Youth Mental Health is a 501c3 nonprofit that funds youth mental health clinical research through postdoctoral fellowships and grants, and runs youth-led participatory programs including the AIM Ideas Lab research curriculum, the AIM for Awareness Art & Design Challenge, and the AIM Youth Ambassadors leadership program. The organization bridges the gap between youth mental health research and real-world access to evidence-based care by finding, funding, and implementing evidence-based treatments while empowering youth as co-researchers. All youth programs are free for participants; the organization is sustained by individual donations, gala events, marathon charity partnerships, and institutional grants.

Product overview

AIM Youth Mental Health is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on bridging youth mental health research and access to care. The core offerings include the AIM Research Impact Fund (comprising the AIM Clinical Science Fellowship and AIM Funded Research grants), the AIM Ideas Lab youth participatory research program, the AIM Youth Ambassadors leadership program featuring the AIM-plified podcast, and the annual AIM for Awareness Art & Design Challenge. The organization also maintains a Youth Mental Health Resources directory and operates youth-focused events including the annual Gala and Spring Event. These programs function as an integrated ecosystem where scientific research informs youth-led programming while youth insights and lived experiences shape research priorities and innovation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AIM Clinical Science Fellowship A postdoctoral fellowship program supporting early-career scientists implementing evidence-based youth mental health innovations including new therapies, diagnostic tools, early interventions, and emerging technologies. Fellows receive $25,000-$50,000 total project budget for 1-year projects and are expected to integrate youth co-researchers through AIM's Ideas Lab. For postdoctoral researchers at universities and hospitals.
• AIM Ideas Lab A Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) program inviting high school students to collaborate over eight weeks to learn scientific research methods, conduct peer-to-peer research projects, and develop evidence-based insights and recommendations for mental health challenges in their communities. Free for participants. In 2026, 279 student researchers from 71 California schools surveyed nearly 4,000 peers.
• AIM for Awareness Art & Design Challenge Annual art and design competition inviting middle and high school students (grades 6-12) to create original artwork exploring hope, belonging, and youth mental health themes. Winners receive cash prizes and recognition at the AIM Awards Reception. Free to enter.
• AIM Youth Ambassadors Leadership program for AIM Ideas Lab alumni providing opportunities to advocate for youth mental health through podcast hosting (AIM-plified), research mentorship with Clinical Science Fellows, panels and conferences, and serving as co-mentors for new Ideas Lab participants. For high school and college-aged youth.
• Youth Mental Health Resources Directory Curated resource directory connecting youth to mental health support including crisis lines (988, Crisis Text Line), peer support (YouthLine), LGBTQ+ support (The Trevor Project), and apps (Headspace for Teens, Calm, Calm Harm). Resources organized by California regions including Bay Area, Monterey County, Central Coast, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Free public resource.
• AIM Funded Research Grants Grant funding for youth mental health research projects spanning anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, equity and access, suicide prevention, and technology and innovation. Includes Clinical Science Fellowships and Implementation & Equity Grants supporting researchers at institutions across the United States. Funds projects with $25,000-$50,000 budgets and multi-year commitments up to $250,000 over 3 years.
• AIM-plified Podcast Youth-led interview series hosted by AIM Youth Ambassadors featuring conversations with researchers, clinicians, and policymakers shaping youth mental health. Episodes available on Spotify and YouTube. Free public content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 279 youth researchers surveyed nearly 4,000 teens in 2026, generating actionable insights on youth mental health
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 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

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• JED Foundation: National nonprofit focused on protecting teen and young adult mental health and preventing suicide, with a strong school partnership model. Directly comparable to AIM's mission of bridging youth mental health research with school-based implementation.
• Child Mind Institute: Independent nonprofit providing children's mental health care, research, and education, including clinician training and family resources. Comparable to AIM in its combined clinical research funding and youth/family-facing education mission.
• The Trevor Project: Leading youth-focused mental health and crisis intervention nonprofit, particularly for LGBTQ+ young people. Comparable to AIM on youth mental health mission, crisis line operation (alongside AIM-listed Crisis Text Line), and digital outreach.
• Active Minds: Youth-led nonprofit that activates peer-to-peer mental health awareness on thousands of high school and college campuses. Closely parallels AIM's youth-led Ideas Lab, Youth Ambassadors, and AIM-plified podcast model.
• Bring Change to Mind: Youth-focused mental health nonprofit dedicated to ending the stigma around mental illness through peer-led school programs and storytelling. Highly comparable to AIM's youth voice, awareness, and school partnership strategy.
• Born This Way Foundation: Youth mental health nonprofit co-founded by Lady Gaga, focused on peer support, kindness, and youth-driven programs. Comparable to AIM in its youth-led programming, mental health awareness campaigns, and event-driven fundraising.
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Largest nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention, including youth-focused research funding and school programs. AIM is a listed national partner of AFSP, and both organizations fund suicide-related youth research and run community awareness events.

Others

• Crisis Text Line: National 24/7 crisis intervention text service for young people and adults, and a listed AIM national partner. Comparable as a youth-facing crisis support resource, and a natural ecosystem partner for AIM's resource directory rather than a direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): Largest grassroots mental health organization in the US, addressing all ages and conditions. Listed as an AIM national partner; both engage in awareness, advocacy, and community education around mental health, including youth-focused programming.
• Mental Health America (MHA): Nation's oldest community-based mental health nonprofit, operating across all ages. AIM partners with MHA (Carter Funkhouser's SSI is embedded on MHA's screening platform), and both address youth mental health within a much broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AIMMentalHealth
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCoBov-MpEPB14BrIWY96m5A
• Facebookfacebook.com/AIMforMentalHealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aimyouthmentalhealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/aimmentalhealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about AIM Youth Mental Health