Community service plays a vital role in building a strong college application profile. Colleges want students who not only excel academically but also care about giving back. Starting a nonprofit in high school shows initiative, leadership, and a commitment to social change—qualities that will help you stand out in the admissions process. 

Leading a nonprofit also teaches critical skills like problem-solving and project management. Plus, the impact you make on your community can be significant, whether you’re helping local schools, supporting environmental causes, or providing services to those in need. If you're passionate about a cause and want to take charge, starting a nonprofit may be an excellent option for you. Our blog today will walk you through the steps involved in starting a nonprofit as a high schooler, from setting up a board to understanding the legal implications. 

Getting started—things to consider

Starting a nonprofit in high school can seem daunting, but with the right planning and prioritization, it’s definitely achievable. Here’s how you can go about it:

• Choose your cause: Pick an issue that matters to you—whether it's fighting climate change, raising awareness for mental health, or helping underprivileged communities. You’ll want to choose a cause you care about deeply because you’ll be spending a lot of time on it.

  
  

• Thoroughly research the legal obligations involved: Starting a nonprofit requires you to register your organization, which means understanding local and state regulations. Some states require paperwork to incorporate, while others may also need tax-exempt status through IRS Form 1023. The cost of registering can range between $300-$800 depending on where you live. This is an extremely important step, as a registered nonprofit is eligible for several tax cuts and financial assistance programs!

  
  

• Create a Board: Most nonprofits need a board of directors who can help make decisions and guide the organization. These can be classmates, teachers, or trusted adults in your community. You ideally want to get a broad range of experience and background to make the team as diverse and adaptive as possible.

  
  

• Craft your mission statement: A mission statement is a short description of your organization’s goals and purpose. For example, if you’re starting an after-school tutoring program, your mission could be to "provide accessible academic support to underprivileged students in the local community." A mission statement is not a fluff piece—it’s supposed to encompass your organization’s direction and priorities and acts as a yardstick for measuring your performance.

  
  

• Figure out your costs and funding: Starting and maintaining a nonprofit does require some upfront and ongoing costs. These can include registration fees, event materials, marketing, and legal consultations. Fundraisers, grants, and donations from local businesses or supporters can help cover expenses. You can launch programs such as educational workshops, environmental clean-up drives, or health awareness campaigns. Operationally speaking, this is the most difficult part of getting started, and having a board of directors and proper legal registration will help.

For more detailed information on how to file paperwork, you can check out the National Council of Nonprofits website.

What next?

After you’ve completed the initial steps, the day-to-day operations of running a nonprofit will take effort and planning. Here’s what your typical journey might look like:

• Weekly/monthly meetings: You will need to hold regular meetings with your board to check progress, discuss upcoming events, and manage any challenges.

  
  

• Event planning: Depending on your cause, you might be organizing workshops, fundraisers, or awareness campaigns. Planning such events requires choosing venues, arranging speakers, promoting the event, and coordinating volunteers. Each task needs its own team or persons of responsibility, and actively managing them is also an important part of your daily operations.

  
  

• Fundraising: Securing funds will be an ongoing task. Fundraising can be done by running crowdfunding campaigns, reaching out to local businesses for sponsorships, or hosting events like bake sales or charity runs. These are just a few examples; you’ll have to get creative to secure enough funds. It will also take some time and effort to create a regular flow of funds that you can use for operating expenses.

  
  

• Community collaboration: A big part of a nonprofit’s success depends on partnerships. You’ll need to work with local schools, businesses, or government organizations. For instance, if your nonprofit focuses on environmental sustainability, you might collaborate with city officials for a community clean-up project.

Remember that running a nonprofit is not without difficulties. You may face issues like limited funds, difficulty finding committed volunteers, or managing your school workload alongside your responsibilities. However, overcoming these obstacles is part of the learning process.

Important tips to keep in mind when starting out

Before launching your nonprofit, you’ll need to research local and state laws. Nonprofits are regulated differently depending on where you live, so you’ll need to ensure you comply with any necessary legal requirements. You can start by visiting your state’s website to learn about local guidelines or use resources like the National Council of Nonprofits’ State Associations.

Reaching out to experienced nonprofit leaders in your community or school can be extremely helpful. They can provide insights into managing your organization and navigating legal requirements. You can also look for advisors through your school’s career counselor or local community organizations. Finally, don’t hesitate to contact local businesses, government officials, or organizations for support. They can offer funding, volunteers, or promotional help for your cause.

Pros & cons of starting a nonprofit

Pros:

1. It’s a fantastic way to build real-life skills: Running a nonprofit teaches leadership, communication, time management, and fundraising. These skills are highly valuable and will help you in both college and your future career.

2. A crash course in leadership: As the founder, you’ll be in charge of making major decisions, leading a team, and managing multiple aspects of the organization. This experience can help your college applications stand out.

3. A good way to make a positive impact in your community: The work you do will benefit your community and can create real, lasting change. Whether you're raising money for a cause or providing services, you'll make a difference in people's lives.

4. Enhances your college applications: Having a nonprofit on your resume highlights your commitment, passion, and leadership abilities. Colleges view it as an achievement.

Cons:

1. It’s a time-consuming task: Managing a nonprofit takes a lot of time, especially alongside schoolwork and extracurriculars. Balancing these responsibilities can be challenging and stressful.

2. The financial challenges may be considerable: You’ll need funding to support your initiatives, which can be difficult to secure at first. Hosting fundraisers and applying for grants will be necessary to keep your nonprofit running smoothly.

3. Requires a strong support network: Leading a nonprofit is not a solo task. You’ll need a reliable team and advisors to help you make important decisions and ensure the organization’s success.

Is it worth it?

Starting a nonprofit in high school can be a rewarding and impressive experience, but it’s not the right choice for everyone. If you’re passionate about a cause and have the time and resources to devote to it, it can lead to immense personal growth and significant community impact. However, it also comes with challenges, including the need for fundraising, leadership, and balancing other obligations. If you have a strong support system and are prepared for the commitment, launching a nonprofit could be one of the most rewarding experiences of your high school career.

If you’re looking for an incubator program that helps you establish a developed startup in high school, consider the Young Founders Lab! 

The Young Founders Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X. 

You can access the application link here!

Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.