Powered by partnership: Lessons from Pinterest Impact Fund on youth emotional wellbeing
May 28, 2026
It’s possible for young people to feel supported, connected and hopeful in a digital age. The Pinterest Impact Fund backs the people and organizations making that real on the ground.
From social media to AI, rapid advances in technology are reshaping daily life faster than protections, norms or regulations can keep up. Our world is more digitally connected than ever, yet many people feel increasingly isolated. Challenges around identity and belonging are driving a growing need for emotional wellbeing support, while the systems designed to meet that need remain fragmented and underfunded.
The Pinterest Impact Fund is working towards a world where everyone feels safe, seen, and celebrated in every part of their lives—both on and offline. That means expanding what emotional wellbeing support looks through investments in organizations on the ground, working to advance youth mental health and wellbeing.
Our approach: investing in joyful, community-rooted wellbeing
We recognize that emotional wellbeing is multi-faceted, and can be supported in ways that are joyful and affirmative. Community environments and relationships create spaces where people connect, build identity, express themselves, and find belonging.
This perspective informs how we invest. We prioritize organizations that are:
Community-rooted and culturally grounded
Designing innovative, non-clinical approaches to wellbeing
Reaching young people in ways that feel relevant, accessible, and trusted
Many of our Impact Partners are early in their growth and deeply embedded in the communities they serve. They are often led and staffed by people who reflect those communities—particularly those that have been historically underrepresented—bringing lived experience that strengthens their ability to design culturally resonant solutions. This proximity enables them to build solutions in ways traditional systems cannot.
Our goal is to support and strengthen what these organizations already do, and help them innovate. We do this through:
Trust-based, flexible funding that allows partners to adapt and innovate as needs within their communities emerge
A focus on emerging and scaling organizations with high potential
Investment in organizational capacity and ecosystem participation, not just programs
Support for ecosystem connection across the ecosystem, so partners can learn from and collaborate with one another
Through this approach, we aim to help Impact Partners strengthen their foundations, grow their impact and contribute to a broader, more responsive emotional wellbeing ecosystem.
What we’re seeing: growing reach, real outcomes and a strained system
Since 2021, Pinterest Impact Fund has invested more than $40M through our Impact Partners to support youth emotional wellbeing around the world. Nearly 90% of those reached are youth (ages 13-26).1 With Gen Z as our fastest-growing audience on Pinterest,2 this work is core to both our mission and to our business.
We are also seeing encouraging indicators of impact1:
76% of program beneficiaries report increased connectedness and belonging
67% report positive behavioral or emotional changes
80% of Impact Partners are collaborating within the emotional wellbeing network
At the same time, many partners are operating within a fragmented and increasingly strained emotional wellbeing ecosystem, where organizations often struggle to secure sustained funding. More than half of organizations (56%) describe their current financial health as “surviving,” while 17% report “staying afloat,” and only 28% say they are “thriving.”1
Partners cite insufficient funding, limited internal capacity, gaps in infrastructure, and broader sector-wide uncertainty as persistent barriers to sustainability. Impact is growing, but the system is strained.
What enables impact: trust, learning and long-term capacity
Pinterest is committed to building intentional, trust-based relationships that center partners’ knowledge and expertise. This shows up through ongoing engagement and learning, including regular check-ins and initiatives like Pinterest Impact Lab, which supports leadership and organizational capacity.
The majority of partners are on track or exceeding goals, with many reporting increased strategic clarity. Many have been able to unlock additional funding, signaling growing momentum and sustainability.
Impact Partners themselves say it best:
“
The funding approach is grounded in trust and a genuine commitment to advancing emotional wellbeing, which has allowed us to design and test new ideas that traditional funding models often cannot accommodate…The approach recognizes that the mental health landscape is evolving and that early investment in creative, technology-enabled solutions is essential.”
Tyler Juel, Head of Partnerships & Marketing, batyr
“
The most significant change from this grant has been our ability to reach people with trusted and credible mental health resources. We’ve trained about 1500 young people to deliver mental health resources to 15 colleges, giving the young people themselves the capacity to do that peer-to-peer support.”
Fiona Halton, Head of Public & High Value Fundraising, Mental Health Foundation UK
Partners bring deep, on-the-ground expertise that also informs Pinterest’s platform and policies. For example, Mental Health Foundation participates in a content escalation process to help identify and report harmful content, contributing to a safer and more supportive online environment.
Looking ahead: advancing the movement for wellbeing in a digital age
At Pinterest, we’re committed to doing our part by continuing to partner, invest in, and learn from our Impact Partners, while applying these insights to create a safer, more supportive experience for everyone.
