Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mental Health America Inc

EIN 13-1614906 · Alexandria, VA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthStrong93 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA (MHA) - FOUNDED IN 1909 - IS THE NATION'S LEADING NONPROFIT DEDICATED TO ADVANCING THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN THE U.S. THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY, AND DIRECT SERVICE.WITH A NETWORK OF OVER 130 AFFILIATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, MHA WORKS AT BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND NATIONAL LEVELS TO PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION, RESEARCH, ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC POLICY, AND DIRECT SERVICE. OUR WORK IS INFORMED, DESIGNED, AND LED BY THE LIVED EXPERIENCE OF THOSE MOST AFFECTED.

Income
$12.1 million
Spending
$11.9 million
Spent on programs
83%
Reserves
8.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 81%
Employees
48
Volunteers
64
Highest pay
$454,403, president and ceo

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Strong: 93 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    28 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 8.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 11% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 2% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 1% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    83% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    24 of 24 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (4)
  1. $3.1 million spent. CONSTITUENCY SERVICES: MHA SUPPORTS A NATIONAL AFFILIATE NETWORK MADE UP OF OVER 130 COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICES, PSYCHOSOCIAL SERVICES, AND POLICY AND ADVOCACY IN STATES AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S. BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, GRANT OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONTENT TO AFFILIATES AND SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS, MHA SUPPORTS A NATIONAL EFFORT TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  2. $2.4 million spent. POLICY AND ADVOCACY: MHA ADVOCATES FOR LAWS AND POLICIES THAT PROMOTE AND FOSTER POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH, ENSURE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, EFFECTIVE CARE, AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS AND THEIR FAMILIES. MHA WORKS WITH PARTNERS AND AFFILIATES TO CHAMPION PREVENTION, ENCOURAGE ACCESS TO SCREENING AND EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES, GET MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING IN SCHOOLS, EXPAND ACCESS TO CRISIS RESOURCES, IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND USE OF PEER SPECIALISTS, IMPROVE SERVICES FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS, INTEGRATE RECOVERY FULLY IN CARE, AND MORE.
  3. $2.2 million spent. RESEARCH: MHA IS A LEADER IN CONDUCTING POPULATION HEALTH AND PATIENT-PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS ACROSS THE U.S. DRAWING ON MHA'S DATABASE OF OVER 32 MILLION HEALTH SCREENS THE LARGEST MENTAL HEALTH DATASET EVER COLLECTED FROM A HELP-SEEKING POPULATION MHA DEVELOPS REPORTS TO INFORM PUBLIC POLICY AND DECISION-MAKING, VALIDATE SCREENING TOOLS, CONDUCT RESEARCH ON EVIDENCE-BASED ONLINE INTERVENTIONS, RESEARCH LINKS TO PEERS AND COMMUNITIES, AND PROVIDE A FREE SOURCE OF MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING INFORMATION BY LOCATION AND CONDITION FOR USE BY POLICYMAKERS, OTHER RESEARCHERS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.MHA ALSO ISSUES OTHER REPORTS AND ANALYSES OF MENTAL HEALTH TRENDS AND STATISTICS IN THE U.S. FOR INSTANCE, MHA'S ANNUAL STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH IN AMERICA REPORT PROVIDES A DETAILED SNAPSHOT OF NATIONAL DATA AND STATE-LEVEL RANKINGS ON MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN THE U.S. THROUGH THIS WIDELY-CITED REPORT, MENTAL HEALTH AMERICA OFFERS CRITICAL INSIGHTS TO DRIVE POLICY, IMPROVE CARE, AND SUPPORT PEOPLE LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
  4. $2.2 million spent. PUBLIC EDUCATION: MHA PROVIDES RESOURCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, THEIR SUPPORTERS, AND PROVIDERS THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF TOOLS YEAR-ROUND. MAJOR EDUCATION CAMPAIGNS INCLUDE MENTAL HEALTH MONTH IN MAY, WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY MHA IN 1949. THESE SIGNATURE PROGRAMS OFFER RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, DIRECT EDUCATION FOR INDIVIDUALS IN NEED, MEDIA OUTREACH, WEBINARS, E-TRAINING, AND SOCIAL MEDIA REACHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY.MHA ALSO OFFERS A FREE, ANONYMOUS SCREENING TOOL WHERE OVER 5 MILLION PEOPLE PER YEAR EDUCATE THEMSELVES ON THEIR OWN MENTAL HEALTH AND TAKE RECOVERY STEPS. AND, MHA PROVIDES DIRECT SUPPORT AND RESEARCH-BASED BEST PRACTICES TO OVER 300 EMPLOYERS EACH YEAR THROUGH ITS BELL SEAL PROGRAM, THE NATION'S LEADING PROGRAM RECOGNIZING U.S. EMPLOYERS COMMITTED TO CREATING MENTALLY HEALTHY WORKPLACES. THESE COMPANIES' PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM HELPS TO IMPROVE THE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MILLIONS OF EMPLOYEES ACROSS THE COUNTRY EACH YEAR.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since October 1950.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.