DMAX FOUNDATION

DMAX FOUNDATION PROVIDES COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH TRUSTING AND INCLUSIVE SPACES, WHERE THEY CAN TELL THE STORIES OF THEIR LIVES, IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES WITHOUT JUDGMENT. OUR MISSION IS "CREATING CONNECTIONS AND CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER TO STRENGTHEN MENTAL HEALTH AND EMOTIONAL WELL- BEING FOR YOUNG PEOPLE." ONE OF DMAX FOUNDATION'S KEY ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2023 WAS TO STRENGTHEN OUR MESSAGING AROUND MENTAL HEALTH EMPOWERMENT AND RESILIENCE. IN THE SPRING OF 2023, THE DMAX FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED 5 NEW CORE VALUES - VULNERABILITY, AUTHENTICITY, TRUTH-TELLING, SOLIDARITY AND RESILIENCE. THESE CORE VALUES HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN CONVEYING OUR BELIEF THAT WITH PROPER PEER SUPPORT, YOUNG ADULTS CAN TELL THE STORIES OF THEIR IDENTITIES AND EXPERIENCES WITH OTHERS AND DEVELOP RESILIENCY. AT DMAX CLUB MEETINGS AND EVENTS, COLLEGE STUDENTS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY'RE REALLY DOING, HOW THEIR FRIENDS ARE DOING, AND HOW THEY CAN SUPPORT EACH OTHER. MEMBERS NOT ONLY SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO EACH OTHER, THEY GO ON TO SERVE THEIR BROADER COLLEGE CAMPUS BY HOSTING LARGER EVENTS TO SPREAD MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS, NORMALIZE MENTAL HEALTH STORYTELLING, AND OVERCOME TABOOS AROUND MENTAL HEALTH. IN 2023, WE IMPLEMENTED ENHANCEMENTS TO PROGRAMMING, RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND OPERATIONS THAT HELPED US ADVANCE OUR MISSION. THESE INCLUDE DEVELOPING OUR NEW ONLINE AND ON-DEMAND DMAX DIGITAL ORIENTATION FOR STUDENT LEADERS OF OUR DMAX CLUBS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. WE ALSO EXPANDED THE NUMBER OF CONVERSATIONAL AND MENTAL HEALTH STORYTELLING RESOURCES FOR YOUNG ADULTS AND REIMAGINED OUR VIRTUAL PROGRAMS TO BE MORE APPEALING TO A YOUNG-ADULT AUDIENCE, SUCH AS OUR DMAX STUDENTS SPEAK VIRTUAL STORYTELLING SERIES. ALL OF THIS SUPPORTED THE ESTABLISHMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY OF DMAX CLUBS ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES. FINALLY, THE FEEDBACK WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING FROM MENTAL HEALTH CHAMPIONS, FUNDERS, AND STUDENTS ALIKE IS THAT OUR INTENTIONAL OUTREACH TO LGBTQ+ FOLK, BLACK/INDIGENOUS/PEOPLE OF COLOR, NEURODIVERGENT INDIVIDUALS, YOUNG WOMEN, AND OTHERS IS EMBODYING CONTEMPORARY NORMS FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION, AS WELL AS POSITIVITY AND EMPOWERMENT. THE ORGANIZATION RECEIVED 9,765 AS IN-KIND SERVICE WHICH WAS NOT INCLUDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF 990 REPORTING.