AFSP/JED's Mission to Prevent Suicide: A Message From Leaders John MacPhee and Bob Gebbia

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and The Jed Foundation (JED) recently shared their intent to combine and become the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention/The Jed Foundation (AFSP/JED), which would be the nation’s largest nonprofit dedicated to suicide prevention across the lifespan. The merger is expected to be completed by fall of 2026, subject to the approval by the New York State Attorney General. AFSP/JED will have an annual operating budget of approximately $75 million and net assets of roughly $140 million.^1,2

Following this news, the leaders of the respective organizations, John MacPhee of JED and Bob Gebbia of AFSP, sat down with Psychiatric Times to discuss the plans moving forward. Together, they believe the outreach and impact of their combined organization will be stronger and better than ever, making a real difference for anyone whose life has been impacted by suicide.

Following the deal’s closing, MacPhee will lead the combined organization, with Gebbia staying on as the immediate past CEO of the combined organization through his retirement on January 15, 2027, to support the integration. Michael Satow, JED’s chair of the board of directors, and Ray Paul, Jr, AFSP’s national board chair, will become cochairs of AFSP/JED for 1 year from the effective date of the integration. Following the first year, Satow will serve as chair of the board of directors.

AFSP is currently the world’s leading private funder of suicide research, supported by 56,000 volunteer advocates and 73 chapters delivering suicide prevention in communities across all 50 states, and providing support for those affected by suicide. JED is the nation’s leading organization for youth mental health and suicide prevention, and the organization partners with nearly 1500 schools and community-based organizations, serving 10 million youth through The JED Comprehensive Approach to Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention.

This merge will combine the resources of AFSP and JED in the hopes of creating an even stronger, more impactful organization with the joint mission of preventing suicide across the lifespan and bringing hope to those affected by suicide. Ultimately, AFSP/JED will seek to realize the vision of a world without suicide.

You can read the whole story on the merger here.

Mr MacPhee is the CEO of the Jed Foundation.

Mr Gebbia is the CEO of the AFSP.

References

1. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and The Jed Foundation announce intent to merge as equals; becoming the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention across the lifespan. April 21, 2026. Accessed April 22, 2026. https://afsp.org/story/american-foundation-for-suicide-prevention-and-the-jed-foundation-announce-intent

2. Kuntz L. AFSP and JED announce intent to merge and become the largest suicide prevention nonprofit. Psychiatric Times. April 22, 2026. https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/afsp-and-jed-announce-intent-to-merge-and-become-the-largest-suicide-prevention-nonprofit