There are executives who fundraise, and then there are leaders who turn urgency into action. The Trevor Project CEO Jaymes Black is being recognized for doing exactly that after landing a spot on TIME100 Philanthropy 2026.
The annual list honors figures shaping the future of giving and social impact, but Black’s inclusion arrives during a particularly high-stakes moment for LGBTQ+ youth advocacy in the United States.
In a statement shared by The Trevor Project, the organization framed the recognition as bigger than one individual. Instead, it described Black as “the architect of impact,” crediting their leadership with helping transform the nonprofit from a crisis response organization into what it called “essential public health infrastructure required to end the suicide crisis.”
That mission became even more urgent this past year after the federal administration terminated the 988 LGBTQ+ specialized lifeline. According to the organization, the move created a $25 million annual funding gap for services supporting queer and trans youth in crisis.
Rather than scaling back, The Trevor Project launched its Emergency Lifeline Campaign. The initiative mobilized nearly 30,000 donors and raised more than $20 million to keep services operational.
A Recognition Rooted In Community
Black addressed the honor directly in a message posted to LinkedIn, making it clear they viewed the milestone as collective recognition rather than a personal victory.
“This one is for you,” Black wrote.
“For the young person who called us at 2 a.m., not knowing if anyone would answer. For the one who texted because they couldn’t say the words out loud.”
The message continued by spotlighting LGBTQ+ youth who sought support through Trevor’s services, including those impacted by the organization’s 2022 expansion into México.
“It always has been for you. It always will be,” Black added.
The post also praised staff members and board leadership for continuing operations under mounting political pressure.
“To my team: I see you,” Black wrote. “I see the way you innovate under pressure, refusing to settle for ‘good enough’ as lives are on the line.”
A Historic Donation Helped Expand Trevor’s Reach
The organization’s momentum also drew support from billionaire philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, whose $45 million donation marked the largest single gift in The Trevor Project’s 28-year history.
According to the organization, the contribution reflected confidence in Trevor’s long-term strategy and Black’s vision for scaling services to reach more LGBTQ+ young people globally.
Black described their role as “a bridge between philanthropic capital and the life-saving work our team performs every day.”
That framing reflects a growing shift in how nonprofit leadership is viewed. Increasingly, advocacy organizations are being asked not only to respond to emergencies, but also to operate as durable systems capable of surviving political shifts, funding cuts, and rising demand for care.
“We Are Not Going Anywhere”
While the TIME100 distinction celebrates philanthropy, Black’s statement repeatedly returned to the young people Trevor serves.
“And to our youth: We are not going anywhere,” they wrote. “We have a duty to remain in place until this crisis ends.”
The Trevor Project has long served as one of the nation’s most visible LGBTQ+ mental health organizations, offering crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for queer and trans youth. Black’s recognition now places that work on one of philanthropy’s largest stages.
For LGBTQ+ young people watching from the sidelines, especially those wondering whether support systems will continue showing up for them, the message behind the honor was unmistakable: people are still fighting for their future.
