Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards 2026

Morgan Stanley, a prominent global financial services firm, created the Alliance for Children’s Mental Health to tackle the rising crisis in youth mental health. The Alliance seeks to connect capital with innovative nonprofit ideas that can transform mental health care for children and adolescents in the United States. A central initiative of this effort is the Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards program, which provides funding, visibility, capacity-building, and learning opportunities to selected nonprofit organizations. The Children’s Mental Health Innovation Awards program invites applications from U.S.-based public charities with a 501(c)(3) designation and an annual total revenue under $5 million. It focuses on identifying and supporting novel, impactful approaches to addressing mental illness among children and young adults. The program features two award categories: the general Innovation Awards, which offer $100,000 to each selected organization, and the Next Gen Innovation Awards, which provide $25,000 to $50,000 for organizations founded or led by individuals under 32 years old and that have been operational for at least two years. The funding scope includes seeding grants to support early-stage ideas or models that have the potential for broad impact in the children’s mental health space. In addition to financial support, awardees gain increased visibility and recognition, opportunities to learn from peer organizations, and access to a Leadership Learning Series, which offers expert-led leadership training. These components are designed to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of the awarded organizations’ initiatives. For the 2026 cohort, applications must be submitted by July 7, 2025. An informational briefing session is scheduled for May 27, 2025, allowing interested applicants to learn more about the program and ask questions. A detailed FAQ is also available to guide applicants through the eligibility and submission process. Selected winners for 2025 include organizations such as Bring Change to Mind, Doc Wayne, Koko, Trek Medics International, and We Rise International, reflecting the range and creativity of initiatives the award seeks to uplift. These organizations serve as exemplars of how targeted investments can support innovative, community-centered mental health interventions. Applicants can find more information and access the application through Morgan Stanley’s official platform. While Morgan Stanley funds and supports the program, it does not imply sponsorship or endorsement of third-party organizations or the content found on external websites linked through the application process.