Everyone wants their college application to stand out. Yet it has become increasingly difficult for students to differentiate themselves from their equally motivated peers. In the past few years, many students have turned to a widely implemented solution: starting a nonprofit organization. 

According to Education Next, nonprofits initiated by high schooler students have become increasingly common in recent years. 

While there is nothing inherently wrong with starting a nonprofit in high school, meaningful and sustainable efforts are more likely to succeed when they grow from genuine passion. For instance, many nonprofits address actual social and economic issues in a student’s community. 

One example is Baldwin alum Emily Zhang ‘23, who started her Future for Her nonprofit during her time in the Upper School. Future for Her aims to empower young girls in under-resourced Philadelphia public schools through business and finance lessons.

When asked what it takes for a nonprofit to make a real impact, she credited it to having a genuine purpose in mind. 

“You have to remember that the people that you work with are not just pawns that can be used to get into college,” Zhang said.  

Zhang added that both social media and her college environment create the impression that almost every student has some sort of nonprofit. She admits that in high school, it is unrealistic for students to not have college in mind, even when their efforts are sincerely motivated.

Additionally, nonprofits can be a learning experience for students hoping to go into various fields of interest. This point was emphasized by The Haverford School alum Ethan Chan ‘23 when asked about what it takes to run a nonprofit as a high school student. Chan started a nonprofit, Food4Philly, to help with food insecurity and provide a volunteer opportunity for students.

Chan learned the skills required to run a nonprofit through mentorship and learning from mistakes. He believes that sustaining a nonprofit requires lessons of leadership and communication, as well as having a plan of succession. 

“It’s like watering a plant,” Chan said. “Its survival depends on how deeply the student actually cares about the work and cause.”

Both Zhang and Chan agree that though many of the things students do in high school are for external validation, it does not mean the effort has to be illegitimate.

 If you care about the cause and are willing to put in the effort, then starting a nonprofit can be beneficial for a student and their community. However, if that is not the case, both also agree that college admission committees can tell.

To hear more about the perspective of colleges on this matter, college counselor Ms. Valerie Welsh shared her opinion. 

Welsh believes that there is something more important to colleges than the declaration of having started a nonprofit. What is most important is authentic interest and the impact that has been made. 

Welsh admits there is nothing wrong with the initiative as long as it makes sense for the student to be doing it, which colleges will know.

Additionally, nonprofits are not helpful to anyone when they dissolve right after high school due to a lack of true interest and leadership. This unfortunate outcome is avoidable by making sure that students, like Zhang and Chan, have a clear plan in mind for the future and are willing to put in the work.

Overall, it is crucial that ambitious students think of what they truly care about, and consider whether they are willing to put in the time and effort that running a nonprofit takes.

 When students distinguish themselves from others, they should do it in a way that is meaningful to them because that passion is what makes any initiative worthwhile.