MHFC emerged from a simple truth: no single funder can fix Georgia’s youth mental health crisis alone. What began in 2016 as informal collaboration among grantmakers has grown into a statewide alliance grounded in shared values and aligned action.
Our History
In 2023, we launched a pooled fund in response to a clear gap in the field. Philanthropy needed a way to show up, together, with the coordination, capacity, and credibility to partner meaningfully in system-level change. No single funder could do that alone. But as a collective, we were able to meet the moment and build on the momentum of Georgia’s mental health reforms, deploying over $1.3 million to support workforce development, policy implementation, and trusted community leadership.
Our model blends learning, strategy, and funding to bridge philanthropy and public systems.
But our role isn’t just about giving, it’s about listening, elevating, and aligning. That means:
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Trusting youth and community leaders as partners in change
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Providing flexible, general operating support
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Investing in early care and prevention, especially in underserved areas
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Building the infrastructure that public dollars and policy need to succeed