Selena Gomez's Philanthropic Journey: Empowering Mental Health and Education

In the world of celebrity philanthropy, Selena Gomez stands out for her commitment to making a tangible difference. Through her Rare Impact Fund, the acclaimed artist and actress channels her passion for societal change into initiatives that significantly impact mental health and education. We take a look at the essence of the Rare Impact Fund (RIF) and its transformative projects.

The Rare Impact Fund: A Mission of Hope

The RIF, initiated by Selena Gomez in 2020, was established alongside the launch of her beauty brand, Rare Beauty, to reduce the stigma associated with mental health and increase access to mental health services, especially among underserved communities. Based in the United States, the fund aims to raise $100 million over the next ten years to support mental health services, education and advocacy for the youth. As part of this effort, 1% of all sales from Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez are donated to the Rare Impact Fund, alongside funds raised from philanthropic foundations, individuals, corporate partners, and the community.

The fund supports various programs:

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): The RIF supports educational programs, training, and wellness activities centred around mental health, providing resources and opportunities to young people in under-resourced communities. An example is their partnership with the Jed Foundation to train educators on suicide prevention, reaching over 800,000 students. 

Selena Gomez's Rare Impact Fund is not just about giving back; it's about breaking down barriers and creating a future where mental health and education are accessible to all.

Communities of Practice & Practitioner Pipelines: The Fund supports programs that empower teachers, other school staff, student peers, families, and other members of young people's support network, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) practitioners serving BIPOC communities. An example is their support for the Black Teacher Project, which provides programming dedicated to Black teachers and addresses their isolation and burnout while providing for the community.

Suicide Prevention and Crisis Support: The Fund has partnered with the Trevor Project, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. The RIF supports organisations that provide crisis support and suicide prevention resources to young people. 

Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy:  Under this project the RIF raise awareness about mental health and advocate for policies that improve access to mental health care for which they have partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), USA’s largest grassroots mental health organisation. 

The College Access Scholarship: Understanding education as a powerful agent of change, the RIF introduced the College Access Scholarship. This initiative is designed to support students facing financial barriers to higher education. The scholarship program collaborates with educational institutions to identify and help deserving students, covering tuition, textbooks, and living expenses. The fund opens up new horizons for aspiring youth by breaking down the financial barriers to education.

Through the College Access Scholarship, the Rare Impact Fund is lighting the way for students, proving that financial constraints should never be an obstacle to education and well-being.

These are just a few of the many programs and projects that the RIF supports.

Since its launch, the RIF has raised $6 million in contributions and has distributed over $3 million in grant support to various organisations worldwide. It has made significant strides towards destigmatising mental health issues. It has also directly impacted 740,000 young people, 10,000 teachers and administrators, and 300 educational systems. Furthermore, it works with five anchor partners, reaching 2 million young people annually.

Selena Gomez's Rare Impact Fund is a beacon of hope, demonstrating the impactful convergence of celebrity influence and philanthropy. Her initiative addresses critical societal issues and inspires others to contribute to a world where everyone can thrive.