The Trevor Project receives $45M from MacKenzie Scott after difficult years and federal funding cuts

The Trevor Project Receives Historic $45 Million Gift from MacKenzie Scott

The Trevor Project, a leading organization providing crisis intervention services for LGBTQ+ youth, has received a transformative $45 million donation from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The organization announced the gift on Monday, describing it as the largest in its history and a critical lifeline following a turbulent period marked by management challenges, staff reductions, and significant funding losses.

“I literally could not believe it and it took some time. I actually gasped,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, recalling the moment they learned of Scott’s generous contribution.

The donation comes at a pivotal time for the organization, which faced a major setback in July when the Trump administration eliminated specific support for gay, transgender, and gender-nonconforming young people through the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This policy change cost The Trevor Project $25 million in federal funding and impacted their ability to serve vulnerable youth through the specialized “Press 3” option, which had been tailored specifically for LGBTQ+ young people.

Prior to losing this funding, The Trevor Project had been serving approximately 500,000 young people annually—half through their independent hotline and half through the now-defunded 988 service. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the service had routed more than 1.5 million contacts between September 2022 and July 2025.

The organization has weathered significant internal challenges in recent years. After experiencing explosive growth—expanding from a $4 million annual budget in 2016 to over $83 million in 2023—The Trevor Project has faced leadership turnover, including the board’s removal of its CEO in 2022, followed by multiple rounds of layoffs. Black noted that the organization’s 2026 budget stands at $47 million, reflecting its downsized operations.

“We are a smaller organization than we were before,” Black acknowledged. “And we will continue to be really intentional and really mindful around growth and what growth really means for the organization.”

Following the loss of federal funding, The Trevor Project launched an emergency fundraising campaign that has raised $20 million to date. Black suggested this demonstration of resilience and community support may have influenced Scott’s decision to make this substantial gift.

“MacKenzie Scott’s folks were clear, like this gift was made for long-term impact,” Black explained, adding that the organization will take time to strategically determine how to utilize the funds for maximum benefit.

Thad Calabrese, a professor at New York University specializing in nonprofit financial management, observed that rapid growth often creates financial challenges for nonprofits. He also noted that instability in government funding has disrupted many organizations’ operational models.

“Academic research has often viewed public funding as very stable, as a signal to donors that you’ve arrived as an organization, but the reality is you are now also open to changing political fortunes,” Calabrese explained.

Scott, whose wealth largely derives from her divorce settlement with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, donated more than $7 billion to various nonprofits in 2025. However, this gift to The Trevor Project was not included among those she disclosed on her website in December. This marks Scott’s second major contribution to the organization, following a $6 million gift in 2020.

Scott has established herself as a distinctive figure in philanthropy by providing large, unrestricted donations to nonprofits, with a particular emphasis on equity and social justice initiatives. Unlike many major donors, she rarely solicits project proposals or accepts applications, with the exception of an open call in 2023.

Research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy has dispelled concerns about organizations misusing Scott’s funds or expanding unsustainably. This positive track record likely reflects the thorough research conducted by Scott’s largely anonymous team before making grants.

In announcing her 2025 donations, Scott wrote about the underestimated potential of “peaceful, non-transactional contribution,” suggesting that perceived vulnerabilities in organizations might actually serve as “a powerful engine for our generosity.”

For The Trevor Project, this historic gift represents more than financial support. Black called it “a powerful validation” of the organization’s mission and impact, describing this period as “our turnaround story.”