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Rare Impact Fund Request for Proposals (RFP) 2026: $2.5M+ Grants to Strengthen Youth Mental Health Workforce (Up to $500,000)

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The Rare Impact Fund, founded by Selena Gomez, has launched a major Request for Proposals (RFP) 2026 to strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce in the United States.

This funding opportunity will provide $250,000 to $500,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations working to expand access to youth mental health support, workforce development, and community-based care systems.

If your organization is focused on youth mental health, workforce development, or community-based support systems, this is a significant funding opportunity to scale your impact.

About the Rare Impact Fund

The Rare Impact Fund was established to address the global youth mental health crisis by increasing access to:

The Fund is mobilizing $100 million and currently supports 30 nonprofit partners across five continents, focusing on:

The initiative is fiscally sponsored by the Hopewell Fund, a U.S.-based public charity supporting innovative social change projects.

What Is the 2026 Funding Opportunity?

The Rare Impact Fund is investing $2.5 million+ in organizations that strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce.

Grant Details

Funded projects should focus on building a sustainable pipeline of nonclinical mental health providers supporting young people.

Who Are Nonclinical Mental Health Providers?

Nonclinical providers are individuals who support youth mental health without providing formal clinical diagnosis or treatment.

They play a critical role in expanding access to care through community-based, culturally relevant, and stigma-free support.

Examples include:

These professionals:

Why This Funding Matters

The youth mental health crisis is growing rapidly:

There is a critical shortage of licensed clinicians, making nonclinical providers essential to bridging the gap.

However, these roles are often:

This initiative aims to professionalize and strengthen this workforce while improving outcomes for young people.

What Projects Will Be Funded?

The Rare Impact Fund is looking for projects that strengthen the full workforce pipeline, including:

1. Attraction and Recruitment

2. Development and Training

3. Placement and Entry

4. Upskilling and Career Growth

5. Retention and Sustainability

Successful projects should be:

Eligibility Criteria

To apply, organizations must:

Organizations must also commit to:

Priority Considerations

Preference will be given to organizations that demonstrate:

Application Process

The application follows a two-stage process:

Stage 1: Letter of Intent (LOI)

Applicants must submit:

Apply here: https://forms.gle/jeP6kpsLMt6haw9m8

Stage 2: Full Proposal (By Invitation Only)

Top 60 applicants will be invited to submit a detailed proposal including:

Key Dates

Informational Webinar

An applicant webinar will be held to explain:

Organizations must register in advance to attend. A recording will be shared afterward.

What Success Looks Like

The initiative aims to achieve:

For the first time, the Rare Impact Fund is launching a public Request for Proposals, allocating more than $2.5 million in total – including a $500,000 investment from the Enlight Foundation – to strengthen the nonclinical youth mental health workforce. This new grant program will support nonprofits across the workforce talent pipeline, from recruitment and training to retention, with a focus on roles that support young people outside traditional clinical settings. 

This is a high-impact funding opportunity for organizations working at the intersection of:

By strengthening the nonclinical workforce, this initiative has the potential to transform how young people access mental health support at scale.

APPLY NOW 

Explore More Opportunities

For more global grants, fellowships, and funding opportunities:

Visit: https://opportunitiesforyouth.org/?s=grant

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