Cigna Foundation Accepting 2025 Youth Mental Health Grant Applications
The Cigna Group Foundation, the philanthropic branch of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), is stepping up efforts to address the growing mental health crisis among young people. As part of a three-year, $9 million commitment that launched in 2024, the Foundation is opening its second year of funding, with $3 million in grants aimed at combating the mental health challenges youth face in the wake of the pandemic. These grants will focus on supporting children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 18, helping to alleviate post-pandemic stress and emotional distress.
The Foundation’s initiative aims to provide funding to organizations that support youth, as well as the adults who care for them, including parents, caregivers, and youth service professionals like educators and mental health therapists. The 2025 grant application period is now open and will close on March 13, 2025, for eligible nonprofits operating in specific regions.
“We understand that the impacts of stress from a post-pandemic world are widespread among our nation’s youth. That’s why The Cigna Group Foundation is dedicated to partnering with trusted nonprofit organizations to provide local resources and services that support youth mental health,” said Melissa Skottegaard, board chair of The Cigna Group Foundation. “We’ve already witnessed the positive changes these collaborations have brought to several communities, where organizations are using the funding to expand or introduce essential youth programs. We are excited to continue this work in the second year of our grants, aiming to make a significant impact on youth mental health.”
For this grant cycle, The Cigna Group Foundation is prioritizing regions with high social determinants of health risks, where it serves a substantial number of customers. These areas include Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. The grants will target key goals, including expanding programs that promote social-emotional skills and overall well-being, providing resources for parents and caregivers to support youth, and improving access to mental health services and interventions.
A report from The Cigna Group’s Evernorth Research Institute highlights a sharp increase in mental health challenges among young people in recent years. Since 2018, the number of youth with mental health conditions has risen by 28%, and those with multiple mental health diagnoses have increased by 48%. More than two-thirds of children and adolescents will experience trauma before they reach 16, and there is growing recognition that a lack of social and emotional skills plays a critical role in many public health issues.
The first year of the program, in 2024, saw the Foundation allocate funding to 28 organizations that work directly with youth in local communities. These grants have helped fund a wide variety of initiatives designed to meet the mental health needs of young people, including:
- Eluna’s Camp Erin: A nationwide grief camp network for children and families. With a $150,000 grant, Eluna is expanding its family camps and developing new workshops and workgroups for caregivers and mental health professionals across multiple states.
- McCall Foundation’s Adolescent Services Program: A $150,000 grant helped expand McCall’s services into Waterbury, Connecticut, where the nonprofit is enhancing access to culturally appropriate care by growing its Spanish-speaking clinical team.
- Mindfulness First’s “Leading with Mindfulness” Program: This $100,000 grant will fund a full-time mindfulness coach for the 2025-2026 school year in Maricopa County, Arizona, teaching mindfulness techniques to students and training teachers to integrate these practices into the classroom.
- Women’s Resource Center’s Child and Youth Advocacy Program: A $150,000 grant is supporting the expansion of programs like Camp PEACE and GameChangers, which help young people process the trauma of witnessing domestic violence and develop healthy relationship skills.
These initiatives reflect the diverse needs of youth and underscore the Foundation’s commitment to addressing mental health challenges in practical, localized ways.
In addition to its grant program, The Cigna Group Foundation is part of a broader initiative to invest over $27 million in grants over three years to nonprofits focused on improving mental health. This includes support for youth, veterans, and efforts to address barriers to health equity.
About The Cigna Group
The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI) is a global health company dedicated to improving health outcomes and fostering vibrant communities. With operations in over 30 countries, The Cigna Group serves more than 189 million customer relationships worldwide through its Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services brands. The company is committed to driving innovation in health solutions and partnering with organizations to create a healthier future for individuals and communities.
