About
The Trevor Project Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit headquartered in West Hollywood, California, whose stated mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people. It operates 24/7 crisis services alongside research, advocacy, peer support, and public education programs, and estimates that 1.8 million LGBTQ+ young people seriously consider suicide each year in the United States.
Mission
"The Trevor Project's mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people." The organization emphasizes that having one accepting adult can decrease the risk of suicide for an LGBTQ+ young person by 40%.
What they do
- Crisis services: free, confidential 24/7 crisis counseling for LGBTQ+ young people via phone, chat, and text.
- Peer support: TrevorSpace, an affirming international online community for LGBTQ+ young people.
- Research: national surveys and peer-reviewed studies on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people, examined through an intersectional lens.
- Advocacy: legislative and educational initiatives, with 30 bills passed in the last 10 years, per the organization.
- Public education: resources for parents, teachers, and allies to understand the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
History
According to Wikipedia, The Trevor Project was founded on March 25, 1998 by Celeste Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, creators of the 1994 Academy Award-winning short film Trevor, about a gay thirteen-year-old boy who attempts suicide after being rejected by friends. When HBO scheduled the film to air in 1998, the filmmakers found no crisis helpline existed for youth like Trevor and created the first nationwide, around-the-clock crisis and suicide prevention helpline for LGBTQ youth. Per IRS records on ProPublica, the organization has been tax-exempt since August 1998.
Scale and impact
The organization reports handling more than 500,000 crisis calls, chats, and texts in the past year. Its press releases note surges in demand, including a 33% increase in crisis contact volume on Inauguration Day 2025, and describe an international presence including services in Mexico.
Financials
Per IRS Form 990 data on ProPublica for the fiscal year ending July 2025, The Trevor Project reported revenue of $85,455,038, expenses of $67,416,524, total assets of $56,547,772, and net assets of $50,894,444. Contributions accounted for roughly 99.4% of revenue.
Governance
Jaymes Black serves as Chief Executive Officer, per the organization's most recent IRS filing summarized by ProPublica.
