Grant Funding for Mental Health Organizations
Mental health nonprofit grants fund a wide range of programs: community mental health centers, crisis intervention services, peer support programs, substance use disorder treatment, suicide prevention, school-based mental health services, and mental health advocacy. Federal investment in behavioral health has grown significantly in recent years, driven by the mental health and substance use crisis that accelerated during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. SAMHSA's budget exceeded $7 billion in recent appropriations years, creating substantial grant opportunity for qualified mental health organizations. This guide maps the major funding sources for mental health nonprofits.
Federal Mental Health Grant Programs
SAMHSA — Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
SAMHSA is the primary federal agency for mental health and substance use disorder (SUD) grants. Its major competitive grant programs include:
- Community Mental Health Services Block Grant (MHBG): Formula grants to states that pass through funding to community mental health centers and mental health nonprofits. Contact your state mental health authority to access MHBG-funded opportunities.
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG): Formula grants to states for SUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services.
- Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grants: Competitive grants and Medicaid demonstration programs for organizations providing a comprehensive range of mental health and SUD services.
- Mental Health Awareness Training (MHAT): Grants for organizations to implement Mental Health First Aid and similar training programs in communities.
- Project AWARE: Competitive grants for states and school districts to expand mental health awareness among students and school staff.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline grants: Funding for crisis centers participating in the national 988 network.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
HRSA funds mental health services through the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) program, which requires integration of behavioral health services; the Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program for training mental health providers; and rural health grants that specifically address the shortage of mental health providers in rural areas. HRSA's Mental Health Integration program funds co-location of mental health services in primary care settings.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) fund research grants — not direct service programs — but mental health nonprofits can access NIH funding by partnering with academic medical centers as community-based participatory research partners. NIMH also funds implementation science grants that help community organizations adopt evidence-based mental health interventions.
Department of Justice
DOJ's Bureau of Justice Assistance funds mental health courts, crisis intervention team (CIT) training, and diversion programs through the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP). These grants support collaborations between mental health organizations and criminal justice agencies. OJJDP funds juvenile mental health courts and diversion programs for youth with behavioral health needs.
State Mental Health Funding
Every state has a designated mental health authority that administers SAMHSA block grant pass-throughs and state-appropriated mental health funding. These agencies issue RFPs for community mental health services, crisis intervention, peer support, and prevention programs. The application process varies by state but typically involves registration in the state procurement system and competitive bid responses. State Medicaid programs also fund mental health services through billing mechanisms that function like grants for organizations in Medicaid networks.
Foundation Funding for Mental Health
Private foundation investment in mental health has grown substantially. Key funders include: the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for mental health policy and system change; the Wellcome Trust for mental health research; the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health (Texas-focused); the van Ameringen Foundation for mental health programs nationally; the One Mind Foundation for brain health and mental health research partnerships; and the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute (Texas) for policy and systems work. The Jed Foundation specifically funds youth mental health and suicide prevention at the college level. Many community foundations have added mental health to their priority areas since 2020.
Application Tips for Mental Health Grants
- Evidence-based model documentation: SAMHSA maintains a National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP). Using an evidence-based model listed in NREPP significantly strengthens grant applications and may be required for some competitive programs.
- Credentialing and licensure: Many mental health grant programs require that clinical services be provided by licensed clinicians (LCSWs, LPCs, psychologists). Document your clinical staffing capacity and supervision structure.
- Medicaid billing capacity: Funders want to see that grant funding complements Medicaid revenue rather than substituting for billable services. If your organization is not yet enrolled as a Medicaid provider, pursuing enrollment is a prerequisite for many larger behavioral health grant programs.
- Crisis services alignment: Since the launch of 988, funders are particularly interested in organizations that connect clients to crisis services. Documenting your organization's 988 referral protocols and crisis partnerships strengthens applications.
Find Mental Health Grants with FindGrants
Mental health grant funding is distributed across SAMHSA, HRSA, DOJ, NIH, state mental health authorities, and private foundations. FindGrants.io matches your organization to the most relevant opportunities across all these sources based on your program focus, populations served, and geography. Search for mental health nonprofit grants in minutes — and spend your time on applications, not research.