The Trevor Project, renowned for its hotline catering to youth, received $45 million from billionaire and author [name] at the end of 2025, the organization announced on Monday.
This contribution is the largest in the organization’s history and also a significant boost following years of management upheaval, layoffs, and [an event] over the summer.
“I simply couldn’t believe it and it took a while. I actually let out a gasp,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project, upon being informed of Scott’s donation.
Scott, whose [income] primarily originates from her ex-husband [name]’s founding, donated over [amount] in 2025, but this gift to The Trevor Project was not listed among the donations she revealed on her website in December. Scott had previously given The Trevor Project $6 million in 2020.
In July, the Trump administration ceased providing specific support to gay, [sexually diverse], and gender-nonconforming youth who called the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The nonprofit stated that The Trevor Project was one of the organizations offering that option and lost $25 million in funding.
The Trevor Project continues to operate an independent hotline for LGBTQ+ youth, which Black mentioned reaches approximately 250,000 youths annually, but they also assisted another 250,000 callers via the 988 Press 3 option, which was customized for LGBTQ+ youth.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reported that over [number] were channeled through the service from September 2022 to July 2025.
According to its public tax returns, The Trevor Project has endured years of internal strife after expanding from an organization with an annual budget of around $4 million in 2016 to over $83 million in 2023. The nonprofit’s board ousted its CEO in 2022 and has carried out multiple layoffs, including in July. Black disclosed that the project’s 2026 budget was $47 million.
“We are a smaller organization than we were previously,” Black stated. “And we will remain highly deliberate and cautious regarding growth and what growth truly signifies for the organization.”
Black mentioned that after losing the 988 funding, The Trevor Project initiated an emergency fundraising campaign that has amassed $20 million to date, and they also hope Scott viewed this as evidence that the organization was resolved to persevere and get through this phase.
“MacKenzie Scott’s representatives made it clear that this donation was intended for long-term impact,” Black stated, additionally noting that they would take their time determining how to allocate the funds.
Thad Calabrese, a professor at New York University specializing in nonprofit financial management, stated that it is not unusual for nonprofits that expand rapidly to encounter financial issues. However, he also mentioned that the cuts and general instability have disrupted many organizations’ business models.
“Academic research has typically regarded public funding as very stable, as a sign to donors that you’ve established yourself as an organization, but the reality is that you are now also exposed to shifting political [factors],” he remarked.
He stated that research also fails to clarify whether diversifying an organization’s revenue sources is always a superior financial approach.
“You’re less reliant on a few funders, but on the other hand, if you have numerous diverse revenue streams, do you possess the management capability for that?” Calabrese questioned, speaking in general terms and not addressing The Trevor Project specifically.
Scott has set herself apart among the largest individual donors by making substantial, unrestricted donations to nonprofits, frequently focusing on equity or social justice. Except for [something], she does not request project proposals or accept applications.
Despite the magnitude of her donations, which now often surpass the recipient organization’s annual budget, [it] has been found that concerns about nonprofits misappropriating Scott’s funds or growing unsustainably have largely not materialized. This may be because Scott’s team, whose members are mostly unknown, conducts thorough research on organizations before awarding grants.
In an essay unveiling her 2025 donations, Scott stated, “The potential of peaceful, non-transactional giving has long been undervalued, often due to the belief that it is not financially self-sustaining or that some of its benefits are difficult to track. But what if these perceived liabilities are actually assets? … What if the fact that some of our organizations are vulnerable can itself be a potent driving force for our generosity?”
Black described Scott’s second donation as “a powerful confirmation” of The Trevor Project’s mission and impact, stating, “We’re referring to this as our turnaround tale.”
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