Starting a "nonprofit" in high school

[Anonymous]

And all the a-holes who come on here to spout about how tests are not equitable, cancel SATs, etc... Isn't crap like this more non-equitable? How many poor kids actually even know to do this or even have parents that know about this?

[Anonymous]

This is very very common in my area. There are a ton of high school (and sometimes middle school) kids running small charity projects. The parents then nominate their children for any and every local and national award to get them recognition for their little projects. Then the parents send an announcement to the local paper about how their child won honorable mention for some award.

The goal is transparent, but FWIW I believe that helping is helping regardless of the motive. I will gladly donate to these causes if I think it's helpful to the community.

Examples of projects:
- Organizing a small food pantry
- Organizing hot meals for the needy (very popular in Sikh Indian groups who are known for feeding the poor)
- Sewing cloth masks for the teachers and first responders
- One family I know sends their teenager to China each summer to teach English and then sends an announcement about it to the local paper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, this started last year and has really accelerated with this year’s senior class. And not just non-profits, but also starting small businesses. Personally don’t like that colleges are rewarding kids starting something and ditching it once apps are done vs. helping established non-profits or learning to work at a typical summer job.

+1 if you actually want to make an impact, dedicating your time and resources to an already functioning, effective non-profit makes a lot more sense than starting up something from scratch to compete for donations to fund your vanity project.

But you learn more starting your own

Starting your own is a very inefficient way to learn. Blind leading the blind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I suspect a lot of these get free legal, accounting, and similar support for free from their parents or friends. It’s the ramped up version of your parents doing your science fair project.

It’s a little disheartening if you are the parent of a nice, smart kid who doesn’t want to play the game. Mine spends a ton of time volunteering on a particular thing which will look really ordinary on her application but because she takes it really seriously and is super invested, it takes a lot of time. Unless we can submit a letter of rec from the adult that runs the project or one of the parents of the kids she helped, I don’t think there’s a way to express the breadth and depth of her commitment.

I would not be concerned. The meaning of this activity to her will shine through. As far as expressing commitment, that will be clear from the hours she spends on this. What is more important is (a) what particular, non-vague actions and initiative she, herself, took, and (b) how those specific actions impacted not only others but her own personal development. What did she learn, how did her perspective change, and can she articulate that in essays. The way the student thinks about their experiences, and how that thinking is conveyed in the app, is far more important than a splashy activity. Teens in general tend to overfocus on achievements and external awards rather than the internal development aspect. That development often makes a student more interesting to be around than outwardly-visible achievements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This could not be any more cynical. The parents of these kids should shut it down.

THe parents of these kids are facilitating it. It's such a sham.

[Anonymous]

I see a lot of soft approvals for these 'charities', likely from parents who are doing it for their kids.

If this scam is OK, what's wrong with claiming on your common app that you did some charity work (e.g. volunteered at a food bank) consistently for 4 years. How will the college AOs even check?

If you are about to jump on me about "teaching kids to lie", etc. just shut it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And all the a-holes who come on here to spout about how tests are not equitable, cancel SATs, etc... Isn't crap like this more non-equitable? How many poor kids actually even know to do this or even have parents that know about this?

+1. Fortunately, I think AOs easily see through these activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And all the a-holes who come on here to spout about how tests are not equitable, cancel SATs, etc... Isn't crap like this more non-equitable? How many poor kids actually even know to do this or even have parents that know about this?

+1 million.

[Anonymous]

Yes we did this. Started early like 9th grade. Not super early. Last kid continued it and frankly using it on resumes for employers still. Had a law firm set up as a non profit. Did actual work to raise money like car washes and gift wrapping. Kids all at Ivies. Others I know are in at Dartmouth etc.

Clearly an angle to distinguish your application. We went to a foreign country over spring break and bought items there with the money to deliver to children ourselves.

I do think it has become a crowded trade. Meaning more and more people doing it.

Really important to get press coverage if you can.

Key is to show something tangible. Apparently level 1 non profits that are started raise like $25,000-$50,000 or accomplish something nationally. We raised around $10,000 but had international impact. We were probably tier 2. Combined with other tier 2 activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school, this started last year and has really accelerated with this year’s senior class. And not just non-profits, but also starting small businesses. Personally don’t like that colleges are rewarding kids starting something and ditching it once apps are done vs. helping established non-profits or learning to work at a typical summer job.

+1 if you actually want to make an impact, dedicating your time and resources to an already functioning, effective non-profit makes a lot more sense than starting up something from scratch to compete for donations to fund your vanity project.

But you learn more starting your own

Learn what? How to fill out paperwork establishing your 501c3? If you actually want to make a difference and learn how to manage an effective organization, you work with an existing non-profit and learn from people with experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes we did this. Started early like 9th grade. Not super early. Last kid continued it and frankly using it on resumes for employers still. Had a law firm set up as a non profit. Did actual work to raise money like car washes and gift wrapping. Kids all at Ivies. Others I know are in at Dartmouth etc.

Clearly an angle to distinguish your application. We went to a foreign country over spring break and bought items there with the money to deliver to children ourselves.

I do think it has become a crowded trade. Meaning more and more people doing it.

Really important to get press coverage if you can.

Key is to show something tangible. Apparently level 1 non profits that are started raise like $25,000-$50,000 or accomplish something nationally. We raised around $10,000 but had international impact. We were probably tier 2. Combined with other tier 2 activities.

Glad it worked out for you family. Legal and travel expenses. In the bolded, emphasis on "we."

[Anonymous]

My older kid is at an Ivy, never did this. My younger one has many years to apply for college. I will never encourage/set up something like this. Shame on AOs who fall for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes we did this. Started early like 9th grade. Not super early. Last kid continued it and frankly using it on resumes for employers still. Had a law firm set up as a non profit. Did actual work to raise money like car washes and gift wrapping. Kids all at Ivies. Others I know are in at Dartmouth etc.

Clearly an angle to distinguish your application. We went to a foreign country over spring break and bought items there with the money to deliver to children ourselves.

I do think it has become a crowded trade. Meaning more and more people doing it.

Really important to get press coverage if you can.

Key is to show something tangible. Apparently level 1 non profits that are started raise like $25,000-$50,000 or accomplish something nationally. We raised around $10,000 but had international impact. We were probably tier 2. Combined with other tier 2 activities.

This is the ticket to ivies if you are MC or above and White or Asian. I don't think AOs care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see a lot of soft approvals for these 'charities', likely from parents who are doing it for their kids.

If this scam is OK, what's wrong with claiming on your common app that you did some charity work (e.g. volunteered at a food bank) consistently for 4 years. How will the college AOs even check?

If you are about to jump on me about "teaching kids to lie", etc. just shut it!

+ 1. My kid doesn't care for charity work. We for sure are doing this in his common app. Minor scam in the grand scheme of DCUM scams.

[Anonymous]

My kid started a neighborhood organization with a friend during the pandemic when schools were virtual and many clubs and activities were cancelled. It wasn't a non profit but they met with town and community officials, wrote by-laws, learned how to run meetings via Roberts Rules of Order and have minutes; they got the club registered as an official town organization so they could apply for grant money and use the town center for meeting space. They organized social media, recruited members, did volunteer work and so on. The process of starting an organization from the ground up was a big learning experience. It was useful as a town organization - I'm not saying it was earth shattering or anything, but they did some things and learned some things. I don't think it would help either co-founder get into an Ivy but it was something they could put on their application and talk about; and it was worthwhile. Both students feel more prepared to start or run an organization in college, I'm sure.