Matthew Diep: Founder & Lead Consultant at THR!VE
“When you work with THR!VE, you’re not just working with me. You’re gaining access to a carefully curated network of strategists, facilitators, grant writers, and content creators—each bringing deep expertise in nonprofit leadership, social impact, and creative storytelling.”
I founded THR!VE because I believe mission-driven organizations deserve more than just ideas—they need actionable strategies, sustainable funding, and compelling storytelling to create real change. My work sits at the intersection of advocacy, strategy, and creative problem-solving, helping organizations escape the echo chamber and turn bold visions into tangible impact.
As a queer, Vietnamese American and the child of two Vietnam War refugees, my approach is deeply informed by lived experience, resilience, and a commitment to equity. From the start of my career, I’ve worked to reshape systems that shape people’s lives—ensuring those most impacted by social issues have the power to create solutions.
I studied Psychology and Entrepreneurship at UCLA, where I worked alongside top professors in behavioral psychology, social determinants of health, and business strategy at the Anderson School of Business. This foundation allowed me to blend research-driven solutions with real-world implementation—a skill that shaped my leadership across multiple organizations.
In 2018, I founded a nonprofit called Psypher and led a team of volunteers to launch a nationwide mental health education initiative, using art, storytelling, and research to provide culturally responsive workshops to over 1,500 young people. This was where I first learned how program design, community engagement, and policy work intersect.
From 2019-2021 at the Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), I worked alongside incredible leadership to develop and launch three youth mentorship and leadership programs focused on violence prevention and survivor-centered advocacy. These programs continue to run to this day.
From 2021-2024 at Mental Health America of California (MHAC), I earned the role of Director of Programs by leading large-scale statewide initiatives, including:
Securing over $6 million in funding with CEO for programs supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion, behavioral health equity, and youth leadership.
Building partnerships with over 50 community organizations to develop campaigns that have reached hundreds of thousands of people.
Designing and implementing multi-million dollar proposals to engage marginalized community members in behavioral health systems transformation
Across all of these roles, my work has centered on one goal: empowering communities to drive the change they deserve.