Grants for youth mental health are the focus of the Cigna Group Foundation’s newly launched initiative to support children and teens who are facing difficulties. In response to an ever-changing environment, the foundation has opened its grant program for the year 2026 and is inviting organizations nationwide to apply for grants to provide on-the-ground support for youth mental health needs.
These grants have been created specifically for organizations that work to support children between the ages of five and eighteen in addition to the adults involved in their daily lives (i.e., parents, caregivers, teachers and coaches). Each grant will be funded at the level of $150,000, which reflects a desire to provide a longer and more meaningful effect through fewer and larger grants.
The foundation is especially interested in grant applications that focus on enhancing three areas associated with youth mental health grants: social-emotional learning (SEL) in both school and out-of-school environments; trauma-informed services for young people, which take into consideration the experiences these young people have had; and supports between family and school to create effective partnerships that support both adults and children. To be eligible to apply for these grants, organizations must serve at least one of the 10 target states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas.
As stated by Ellie Polack (President, Cigna Group Foundation), “There is urgency around this issue; and we as a society must provide compassion to children, adolescents, and families…This grant will give youth reasonable access to mental health services; plus, provide parents and caregivers with educational tools/programs, about how to respond skillfully and compassionately.” Thus far, the Foundation has awarded $9 million to fund 3 grant opportunities for youth mental health from 2017-2020; demonstrating that these grant programs will continue to exist beyond one point-in-time and that they are a part of an ongoing long-term response to supporting the next generation.
Source: The Cigna Group Foundation – 2026 Youth Mental Health Grant Program
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