Decolonizing Wealth Project Debuts $20 Million Youth Mental Health Fund to Support Culturally-Responsive Mental Health and Wellness for Youth and Young Adults Across the U.S.

New York, NY (May 20, 2025) — Today, the Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP) announced the launch of the $20 million Liberated Capital Youth Mental Health Fund aimed at improving the mental health and wellness of young people across the United States. This fund represents a bold investment in youth mental health that supports culturally-responsive care for young people navigating intersecting identities and systemic challenges.

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With support from seed funder Pivotal, a network of organizations founded by Melinda French Gates, the fund will grant a minimum of $5 million annually over three years to nonprofit organizations and Tribes offering mental health services tailored to the unique experiences of youth ages 12 to 24. Additional funding will support grantee capacity building and ecosystem infrastructure efforts.

“Young people today are growing up in a world shaped by climate crises, economic instability, and the complex digital landscape of social media, ” said Edgar Villanueva, Founder and CEO of Decolonizing Wealth Project. “Our youth carry a disproportionate share of these burdens, often without access to the care and support they need. This fund is about more than mental health - it’s about investing in culturally grounded care, life-affirming resources, and a future where these young people are not only seen and valued, but fully supported to thrive.”

The Youth Mental Health Fund aims to break down barriers - financial, social, and institutional that have historically limited access to mental health care for marginalized communities. By investing in these services, the fund will unlock a mental health ecosystem where all individuals, regardless of their background or identity, can receive the care they need. Today, young people face unique, intersecting challenges that demand urgent, culturally responsive care. Access to affirming spaces and competent mental health support significantly improves their well-being and life outcomes, helping to counter systemic barriers in education, healthcare, and employment.

The resources offered through the Youth Mental Health Fund build on DWP’s track record of prioritizing healing and wellbeing as an integral component of its reparative philanthropy framework. Designed in collaboration with an intergenerational advisory committee of youth leaders and mental health experts, the fund will:

• Scale access to culturally responsive mental health care for youth
• Shift narratives around what community-centered healing and care can look like
• Invest in community-based organizations that have historically been overlooked by philanthropy

For those interested in applying for funding and resources, please visit: https://decolonizingwealth.com/liberated-capital/ymh.

About the Decolonizing Wealth Project:

Decolonizing Wealth Project (DWP) is committed to bringing truth, healing, and repair to the global community. Established in 2018, and led by Edgar Villanueva, an Indigenous, award-winning author, and expert on wealth, spirituality, and social justice, DWP operates through three key strategies: sector transformation, storytelling and culture, and reparative giving. DWP’s work has radically transformed the philanthropic sector and has facilitated the distribution of over $700 million for social justice efforts. Liberated Capital, DWP’s fund and donor community has granted over $21 million to support economic solidarity, wellbeing, and earth and climate efforts primarily led by Black and Indigenous communities.  

www.decolonizingwealth.com + www.decolonizingwealth.com/liberated-capital

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