The Cigna Group Foundation is committed to improving youth mental health, especially in the wake of the pandemic, with a specific focus on underserved youth aged 5-18. This initiative is part of the Foundation's broader commitment of $9 million over three years to address mental health challenges related to post-pandemic stress and distress. The Cigna Group Foundation aims to support nonprofits that deliver programs to enhance the social-emotional well-being of youth. These programs target key stakeholders in youth care, including parents, caregivers, educators, and therapists. As mental health issues among youth continue to rise, particularly within disadvantaged communities, the Foundation seeks to foster positive mental health outcomes through a variety of targeted efforts.

In particular, the Foundation is seeking applications for programs aligned with specific goals: increasing the number of caregivers and youth service professionals equipped to support mental health, expanding access to mental health interventions, and fostering social-emotional skills. These goals aim to not only address immediate mental health challenges but to also build long-term resilience within youth and their support networks. The Foundation recognizes that social and emotional health is critical to overcoming larger public health issues like substance abuse and violence. As a result, it is focusing on evidence-informed approaches to youth mental health.

For the 2025 grant cycle, the Cigna Group Foundation is focusing on three main areas: conflict resolution, family-school partnerships, and trauma-focused services. These areas have been chosen based on their alignment with the Foundation's overarching goals of increasing support and improving mental health outcomes for youth. Nonprofits working in these areas are encouraged to apply for funding that will allow them to scale their efforts and demonstrate measurable impact on youth mental health.

Applications for this funding will be accepted through a two-step process. The first step requires organizations to submit a Request for Application (RFA) by March 13, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. If eligible, applicants will then be invited to submit a full application. The full application deadline will be April 9, 2025, at 11:59 pm ET. After the full application submission, grantees will be notified by late May, with funding decisions made shortly thereafter. The grant term will begin on August 1, 2025, and continue for one year.

Nonprofits applying for funding must be registered 501(c)(3) charitable organizations. The application should include a detailed budget narrative specifying eligible expenses, with salaries being allowable for program implementation, but not for fringe benefits, payroll taxes, or general administrative costs. Progress and impact must be tracked, with both a six-month and a final report required at the end of the grant term. The funding for this program ranges from $100,000 to $150,000 per year, depending on the applicant's request and the proposed program's alignment with the goals.

The funding will be distributed to organizations that provide programs in specific states: Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas. National nonprofit organizations may also apply, provided they have an established program delivery model in one or more of these states. The goal is to support projects that create sustainable impact and significantly improve the mental health of youth in these communities.