Start a chapter
Founding a chapter means leading an organization at your school, which involves recruiting members, organizing them into project teams, and seeing those projects through to the end of the year. You will have our nonprofit status, funding, and materials behind you, along with people to ask when something goes wrong.
What chapters receive
Every chapter gets the same support from its first week, so a new founder can focus on recruiting a team rather than on paperwork.
- 01
Nonprofit status from the first week
Your chapter operates under our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship, so it can accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants without incorporating or filing anything with the IRS.
- 02
Funding for projects and competitions
Chapters receive micro-grants for materials and hardware, and we pay competition registration fees directly, so a team's budget does not limit what it can attempt.
- 03
A complete launch kit
The kit includes a chapter constitution, a pitch for your faculty advisor, recruitment materials, meeting agendas, and project worksheets, which together cover what you need for a strong first semester.
- 04
Mentorship for your teams
Your teams are paired with researchers, physicians, and graduate students who review their work, advise on methods, and help them through the parts of a project where students usually get stuck.
- 05
Other chapter leaders to learn from
You join a group of student leaders at other schools who share what has worked for recruiting members, running teams, and finishing projects.
- 06
A documented leadership role
You hold the title of Founding Chapter Director, and when you graduate we provide a recommendation letter describing the chapter you built and the projects it completed.
How it works
01 · Email
Send an introduction
Email us with your name, your school, and why you want to start a chapter there. A short paragraph is enough to begin.
02 · Prepare
Receive the launch kit
We send the full Chapter Launch Kit and work with you on recruiting members and approaching a faculty advisor.
03 · Launch
Open your chapter
Hold your first meeting, form project teams, and begin work, with our support throughout your first semester.
What we ask of chapter leaders
Leading a chapter fits alongside a normal school schedule, and it works best when a few things are in place from the beginning. We would rather be clear about them now so that your chapter gets off to a good start.
A faculty advisor
Most schools require one before approving a club, and the launch kit includes materials to help you ask.
One to two hours a week
Enough time to run a meeting and check in with your project teams.
A commitment to finishing
Projects delivered, papers submitted, and programs that take place rather than staying on paper.
Common questions
Anything not answered here can go to healclubs.international@gmail.com.
Do I need to set up my own nonprofit?
No. Your chapter operates under our 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsorship through The Hack Foundation, which lets it accept tax-deductible donations and apply for grants without incorporating separately or applying for federal recognition.
What if my school already has a health club?
That is usually not a problem. Most existing health clubs focus on presentations and awareness events, while a HEAL chapter focuses on projects, so schools tend to treat them as separate activities. We can help you describe the chapter in a way that complements the club that already exists.
How much time does it take?
Plan on about one to two hours a week, which is usually enough to run a meeting, check in with your project teams, and stay in touch with us. The launch kit includes meeting agendas and project worksheets, so you are not building everything from scratch, and the role fits comfortably alongside your other activities.
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Technology is one of four focus areas, and research, competition, and community health projects involve no programming. As a chapter leader your main job is organizing teams and helping them finish, so the technical work belongs to the members who choose it.
What if my school does not approve the chapter?
Let us know, since administrators are usually more willing to approve a proposal that arrives organized and documented. We can provide our fiscal sponsorship agreement, our nonprofit documentation, and a one-page advisor pitch, and we are glad to answer questions from your administration directly.