Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Mental Health Leadership Initiative Inc

EIN 46-5714524 · Foxboro, MA

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair68 out of 100GovernanceGood70 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE KENNEDY FORUM (TKF) MISSION IS TO ALIGN STAKEHOLDERS TO ADVANCE POLICIES AND GOALS THAT AFFECT SYSTEMIC CHANGE. OUR VISION IS TO ENSURE MENTAL HEALTH AS ESSENTIAL HEALTH.DURING 2024, TKF CONTINUED TO MEASURE AND ADVANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 90-90-90 BY 2033 INITIATIVE - A NATIONAL EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT BY 2033: - 90% OF INDIVIDUALS ARE SCREENED FOR MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS, - 90% OF THOSE IDENTIFIED RECEIVE EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENT, AND - 90% OF THOSE IN TREATMENT ACHIEVE RECOVERY OR IMPROVED OUTCOMES.THIS INITIATIVE REPRESENTS A STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR NATIONAL ALIGNMENT AROUND MEASURABLE PARITY AND ACCESS GOALS.

Income
$6.1 million
Spending
$6.0 million
Spent on programs
86%
Reserves
2.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 100%
Employees
27
Volunteers
0
Highest pay
$403,346, president/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

Fair: 68 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.1 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 16% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    86% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 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

Good: 70 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (mental health, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    1 of 3 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

    0 of 10

    Did not give 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 (3)
  1. $2.5 million spent. PARTNERSHIPS: THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO LEVERAGE ITS ELEVATED REACH AND ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS INDUSTRIES TO UNITE ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN A VISION AND PLAN FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE PROGRESS IN THE U.S.(CONTINUED ON SCH O)(CONTINUED FROM 990 PAGE 2 - PARTNERSHIPS) - ALIGNMENT FOR PROGRESS 2024 CONFERENCE: THE 2024 ALIGNMENT FOR PROGRESS (A4P) CONFERENCE BROUGHT TOGETHER A PROMINENT ROSTER OF NATIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING 11 MEMBERS OF THE CEO ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH WHO ANNOUNCED A UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENT OF THE 90-90-90 GOALS. MORE THAN 400 ATTENDEES JOINED US, WITH 86% OF A4P RESPONDENTS AGREEING THAT THE GATHERING FILLS A VITAL ROLE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH ECOSYSTEM. - CEO ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH: TKF PRESIDENT & CEO, REBECCA O. BAGLEY, WAS NAMED CHAIR OF THE CEO ALLIANCE FOR MENTAL HEALTH. IN HER ROLE, BAGLEY LED THE GROUP IN DEFINING SIX SHARED PRIORITIES AMONG 15 LEADING MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS: PRIORITIZING PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION; ENSURING ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY; BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE; HARNESSING INNOVATION; EMBRACING DISCOVERY; AND ENHANCING TRANSPARENCY TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES. THE UNIFIED PRIORITIES WERE DELIVERED TO CONGRESS, MARKING AN UNPRECEDENTED SHOW OF SECTOR ALIGNMENT. - SCHOOL-BASED INDUSTRY COUNCIL AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH SUITE: TKF COLLABORATED WITH MORE THAN 50 ORGANIZATIONS TO RELEASE A SUITE OF YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES FOCUSED ON SOLVING URGENT AND COMPLEX YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS, CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH INDUSTRY COUNCIL. ADDITIONALLY, CO-FOUNDER AMY L. KENNEDY CONTRIBUTED TO A NEW REPORT PUBLISHED BY THE BIPARTISAN POLICY CENTER THAT HELPS DELIVER A ROAD MAP TO BETTER CARE FOR YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES. - MOVEMENT BUILDING IN YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH: IN RESPONSE TO THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS, WE PARTICIPATED IN THE YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH & ADDICTION WORKSHOP, COHOSTED BY THE KENNEDY FORUM, MCKINSEY HEALTH INSTITUTE, AND THE MORGAN STANLEY CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE. WE GATHERED 45+ OF THE NATION'S LEADING ORGANIZATIONS WHO DEAL WITH YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS FOR THE DISTINCT ISSUES FACING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND GET AHEAD OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS BY OFFERING PROACTIVE SOLUTIONS. - 90-90-90 MEASUREMENT SNAPSHOTS: IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KPMG, WE DEVELOPED SNAPSHOTS OF OUR FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK IN SCREENING, TREATMENT, AND RECOVERY TO REACH OUR 90-90-90 GOALS.
  2. $1.5 million spent. POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION: - NATIONAL STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS: TKF CO-FOUNDER PATRICK J. KENNEDY AND TKF PRESIDENT & CEO REBECCA O. BAGLEY SHARE A CURATED, SORTABLE LIST OF NATIONAL STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE HILL TO ENSURE THE VISIBILITY AND PASSAGE OF KEY MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION. (CONTINUED ON SCH O) (CONTINUED FROM 990 PAGE 2 - POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND PROMOTION) - CALIFORNIA SB 855: AS A RESULT OF A THREE-YEAR EFFORT LEADING A STATE PARITY COALITION OF CONSUMERS, PROVIDERS, AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE ADVOCATES, THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGED HEALTH CARE ISSUED FINAL REGULATIONS ON OUR PARITY BILL, SB 855, REFLECTING MANY OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION. TKF ALSO LED THIS SAME COALITION IN A LETTER URGING THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE TO ADOPT ITS COMPREHENSIVE PARITY AND 988 REGULATIONS. - ILLINOIS HEALTH CARE PROTECTION ACT: THE KENNEDY FORUM HAS PROVIDED YEARS-LONG ADVOCACY IN THE STATE TO ADVANCE KEY MENTAL HEALTH LEGISLATION, HELPING TO SET THE STAGE FOR THE LANDMARK HEALTHCARE PROTECTION ACT, SIGNED BY GOV. PRITZKER IN 2024. - CONNECTICUT AND VIRGINIA: THE KENNEDY FORUM SERVED AS EXPERT POLICY RESOURCES, PROVIDING TESTIMONY AND MODEL LANGUAGE ON KEY MENTAL HEALTH BILLS AND ISSUES. - POLICY IN NATIONAL MEDIA: AS PART OF THE RELEASE OF CO-FOUNDER PATRICK J. KENNEDY'S SECOND BEST-SELLING BOOK "PROFILES IN MENTAL HEALTH COURAGE", WE HIGHLIGHTED POLICY VIA NATIONAL MEDIA OUTLETS, INCLUDING MEET THE PRESS, GOOD MORNING AMERICA, CBS SUNDAY MORNING, AND OTHERS. OUR CO-FOUNDER AMY L. KENNEDY ALSO DISCUSSED KEY YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH POLICY ISSUES IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE.
  3. $1.2 million spent. PARITY IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE:THE KENNEDY FORUM HAS DEFINITIVELY LED THE WAY IN ENSURING THAT THE PROMISE OF PARITY IS TRANSFORMED INTO PRACTICE, THROUGH GROUNDBREAKING POLICY AND GOLD-STANDARD REGULATION.(CONTINUED ON SCH O) (CONTINUED FROM 990 PAGE 2 - PARITY IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPROVING MENTAL HEALTH COVERAGE) - FEDERAL PARITY RULE: IN AN IMMENSE STEP FOR PARITY PROGRESS, THE WHITE HOUSE ADMINISTRATION'S 2024 FINAL PARITY RULE REFLECTED TKF'S CORE RECOMMENDATIONS - NEARLY 90% OF THE 9,700 PUBLIC COMMENTS REFERENCED TKF'S LANGUAGE, HIGHLIGHTING OUR INFLUENCE ON THE LAW. - STATE PARITY WORKGROUP: WE SUCCESSFULLY RELAUNCHED THE STATE PARITY WORKGROUP WITH MORE THAN 250 MEMBERS ACROSS 30 STATES, DIRECTLY GUIDING THE REGULATORS AND LEADERS RESPONSIBLE FOR PARITY ENFORCEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION. - STATE PARITY GOLD STANDARDS: WE BEGAN RELEASING A SUITE OF "STATE PARITY GOLD STANDARDS" WHICH DEFINE AND RIGOROUSLY OUTLINE PARITY STANDARDS. EACH MODULE CAN BE EASILY UTILIZED TO IMPROVE MULTIPLE POINTS OF PARITY IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT. THESE GOLD STANDARDS HAVE BEEN VIEWED BY THOUSANDS. - MENTAL HEALTH PARITY DATA: WE LED THE WAY IN ENABLING RADICAL TRANSPARENCY IN PARITY, OBTAINING FUNDING FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS TO COMPLETE A GAME-CHANGING OPEN-SOURCE DATA TOOL. ALONGSIDE FOUNDING STRATEGIC PARTNERS, THIRD HORIZON STRATEGIES AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, WE VISUALIZE INSURANCE DATA POINTS AFFECTING PROVIDERS AND PATIENTS.

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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 2015.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 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.