Impact 2030: Why Investing in Mental Health Literacy is the Future of Education
Key Takeaways
- Ambitious Scaling: Erika’s Lighthouse aims to reach 2.5 million students annually by 2030 through a comprehensive K-12 curriculum.
- Evidence-Based Success: Programs already show an 89% mental health literacy rate among students, with 13% more students able to identify a trusted adult.
- Sustainable Transformation: Major donor support drives a $22.5 million investment over five years to evolve from a “Vision 2025” success into a “2030” cultural transformation.
How is Impact 2030 Transforming Youth Mental Health?
The youth mental health crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with 50% of mental illnesses occurring before age 14. In response, Erika’s Lighthouse has launched Impact 2030, a bold strategic plan to ensure every student has the knowledge and tools to care for their mental health. By evolving our proven models, we are building a world where emotional well-being is as natural and vital as breathing.
What is the “Impact 2030” Strategy?
Impact 2030 is our “launchpad” to accelerate impact beyond our Vision 2025 successes. The strategy focuses on four priority pillars:
- Scaling Reach: Moving from 1 million students reached in 2024 to over 2.5 million annually.
- Expanded Curriculum: Developing a full K-12 suite, including early elementary programs and one-day “upstream” lessons on stress and anxiety.
- Research Excellence: Establishing a best-in-class research center to partner with universities and demonstrate long-term effectiveness.
- Next-Gen Innovation: Preparing for a generative AI-powered future to transform operations and accessibility.
Why Should Major Donors Invest in Mental Health Literacy Now?
Investing in Erika’s Lighthouse is an investment in prevention. Our Tier-1, skills-based programs are designed to reach every student in a school building, not just those already in crisis. For major donors, this offers a unique opportunity to catalyze systemic change across the 49 states where we currently operate.
The Impact of Your Investment
A major gift toward our $22.5 million five-year goal does more than buy curriculum; it builds “Model Schools in Mental Health Excellence”. Your support allows us to:
- Keep Programs Free: Ensure that 100% of our high-quality, peer-to-peer resources remain at zero cost to school districts, removing financial barriers to life-saving education.
- Empower Educators: Provide 1:1 support and training for any educator who is using our platform to create inclusive school cultures.
- Foster Student Agency: Support the 93% of students who believe we should be talking about mental health and the 96% who now recognize the importance of seeking help for a friend in need.
How Can We Achieve a Mentally Healthy Generation by 2030?
The future we are building is not just an improvement—it is a total transformation of our cultural landscape. By weaving mental health skills into the fabric of education, we create a generation fluent in the language of empathy and self-advocacy.
We invite visionaries and partners to join this movement. With 13% more students feeling comfortable talking to a trusted adult after our programs, the data is clear: prevention works. Your passion and investment are the fuel for our “Blast Off” toward 2030.
Questions and Answers
What makes Erika’s Lighthouse different from other mental health non-profits? Erika’s Lighthouse provides a completely free, universal Tier-1 curriculum that is peer-to-peer and “out of the box” ready for educators. Our Four-Pillar Model ensures that classroom education is reinforced by empowerment clubs, family engagement, and staff training.
How does my donation specifically help a student? While our programs are free to schools, it costs Erika’s Lighthouse approximately $2 per student to develop, manage, and support these resources. A major gift scales this reach, moving us closer to our goal of 2.5 million students served annually.
What is a “Peggy Kubert Model School”? It is a recognition awarded to schools committed to mental health prevention and early identification. These schools implement the full suite of Erika’s Lighthouse programs to create a “sanctuary of support” and a beacon of hope for every child.
