How to Get Involved With or Support The Trevor Project

You can support The Trevor Project in four main ways: fundraise through a birthday or social media campaign, advocate for policy change, volunteer as a trained crisis counselor, or apply for a staff role. The right path depends on how much time you can give, whether you want direct contact with young people, and whether you prefer peer-to-peer fundraising or public advocacy. The organization also accepts donations and directs anyone in crisis to its 24/7 call, text, and chat support.

Start With the Path That Matches Your Time and Comfort Level

The Trevor Project describes itself as a suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ young people, providing information and support 24/7 year-round. Its involvement options differ sharply in commitment, so pick based on what you can sustain.

Fundraise: Use an Occasion You Already Have

The site's framing is deliberately low-lift: "Donate your birthday, or just your social channels to gather friends and loved ones in support of your cause." That means you don't need to organize an event from scratch. A birthday pledge or a social post asking for support is enough to start.

Steps:

1. Choose your occasion — a birthday is the example the organization gives, but any social moment works.
2. Set up your fundraiser through the "Fundraise Now" entry point on the site.
3. Share it with friends and family and ask them to give in support of the cause.

Expected result: A peer-to-peer campaign that routes donations to The Trevor Project. Common snag: The homepage does not publish campaign templates, minimum goals, or fee details, so check the fundraiser setup page for specifics before you announce a target.

Advocate: Join State-Level Efforts

The organization states it has "initiatives happening in all 50 states to change hearts, minds and laws in support of LGBTQ+ young lives." This is the path for someone who wants to influence policy and public opinion rather than provide direct services.

Steps:

1. Go to the "Advocate for change" section and select "Learn More."
2. Review the initiatives listed for your state.
3. Pick the action that fits — the site does not enumerate specific tactics on the homepage, so the initiative page is where you confirm what participation looks like.

Expected result: Enrollment in a campaign or action list. Common snag: State-level initiatives vary, so what's available in one state may not exist in another; confirm before committing.

Volunteer: Train as a Crisis Counselor

The site calls volunteer support teams "the most vital force behind everything we do" and points to opportunities to "become a trained counselor for The Trevor Project." This is the highest-commitment option and the only one that puts you in direct support conversations.

Steps:

1. Open the "Volunteer Now" link.
2. Review the counselor training opportunity and its requirements.
3. Apply and complete training before taking on support shifts.

Expected result: Eligibility to serve on a volunteer support team after training. Common snag: Training is a prerequisite, not an optional extra — you cannot start supporting young people before completing it. The homepage does not list training length, schedule, or location requirements, so verify those on the volunteer page.

Work There or Give Directly

• Jobs: The organization says it is "always looking for talented, dedicated, and kind people" and invites candidates to view open roles. Use "See Jobs" to check current openings; availability changes, so treat the listing as the source of truth.
• Donations: The site's mission framing invites support for "all young LGBTQ+ lives," and fundraising pages accept gifts. The homepage does not publish donation tiers, recurring options, or tax details — confirm those at the point of giving.

If You Need Help Rather Than Want to Give It

Support runs both directions. The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round, and its counselors can be reached by call, text, or chat "anytime you need support." The site's own words: "If you are thinking about suicide, or feeling lonely, we're here to listen."

The resource center is organized by topic, including Resources for Talking About Suicide, LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources, and LGBTQ+ Community Resources, plus featured material on Friends & Family Support Systems for LGBTQ+ Youth, Facts About Suicide, and Support for LGBTQ+ Self-Harm Recovery. These are useful if you are supporting someone else rather than seeking services yourself.

A Note on Evidence and Research

If you want to understand the population before committing, the organization publishes its own research. Project SPARK, described as its first longitudinal study, followed 1,689 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13–24 across the U.S. across five waves of data over two years, and the two-year findings are available to read on the site. Reading the report is a low-commitment way to decide whether fundraising, advocacy, or volunteering fits what you care about.

Quick Decision Guide

• Have a birthday or an audience? Fundraise.
• Care most about laws and public opinion? Advocate through your state's initiatives.
• Want direct contact and can complete training? Volunteer as a counselor.
• Want paid work? Check open roles.
• Want to give without organizing anything? Donate.
• Need support yourself or for someone else? Call, text, or chat with a counselor, or start in the resource center.