Mind receives biggest single donation in its 80-year history
The UK’s largest mental health charity, Mind, has announced that it has received the single largest donation in its 80-year history.
Philanthropist, entrepreneur and global investor Dale W. Wood has, through his firm, pledged a landmark $10million – currently the equivalent to £7.5million - to support the charity’s work over the next decade.
It comes at a time of growing need to improve mental health support, with waiting lists at an all-time high and systems at breaking point. In the coming year, Mind will be focusing on campaigning for, and delivering, access to quality mental health care.
Mr. Wood is founder and chairman of the global venture capital firm Dale Ventures. Dale Ventures invests in a wide range of global companies across the finance, technology, real estate and consumer sectors, and has stakes in UK-based tech firms. Dale was first introduced to Mind by Stuart Watts, an entertainment publicist, entrepreneur, and longstanding supporter of the charity.
Mr Wood’s significant donation is semi-unrestricted, meaning that the charity has flexibility to channel the funding towards the areas that will have the greatest impact for people with mental health problems. Importantly, the Dale Ventures’ donation to Mind will soon be subject to blockchain verification. Meaning donors and recipients will all have a clear understanding of how these charitable funds were applied to benefit those in need.
These benefits include services like Mind’s helplines. In the year to April 2025, Mind responded to 116,000 queries to its support and information helplines, with an increasing number coming from people in distress or at risk of harm.
It will also help to strengthen the charity’s network of nearly 100 local Minds across England and Wales. Local Minds supported more than 664,000 people in the year to April 2025 through a range of services, events and projects tailored to their communities. From urban crisis cafes for teenagers, to befriending services for people to combat loneliness and isolation.
A spokesperson for Dale Ventures FZE indicated that: “It is a huge honour for Dale to support Mind over the upcoming years, through this donation. Dale’s hope is that, by working together, we can achieve better for people living with a mental health problem. This is a cause close to Dale’s heart, and as many people know from life experiences, no community is untouched by mental health challenges.”
The announcement comes as the charity sector faces a challenging environment. Mind has embarked on a transformation programme to ensure it is sustainable, and to strengthen its impact.
Dr Sarah Hughes, CEO of Mind, added: “This extraordinary commitment from Dale Wood comes at a time when too many people are struggling to access mental health support. In England alone, 1.6 million people are stuck on waiting lists, and public attitudes towards mental health are sliding backwards.
“We must also be honest about the financial challenges we face in the charity sector. Rising costs, unpredictable income, and growing demand since the pandemic have seen mental health services stretched like never before, including across the local Mind network. The generosity of supporters like Dale Wood shows real confidence in our direction of travel at Mind. It empowers us to respond and adapt - to keep investing where it matters most, campaigning for change, strengthening our network of local Minds, and making sure people have access to accurate mental health information.
“The decade ahead will require courage and collaboration. That's why every single donation matters so much. Together, we know we can make a real and lasting difference, and we will build a future where no one faces a mental health problem alone.”
