NASSP Student Service Grants FAQs

Students in the United States aged 13–18 who are current members of National Honor Society (NHS), National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), or a student council with an active National Association of Student Councils (NASC) membership are eligible. Students outside the U.S. are not eligible at this time. 

All student members of NHS, NJHS, or NASC may create accounts. Student accounts are needed to apply for the student service grant; applicants must provide a record of membership and elect to receive communications about upcoming opportunities. All students are welcome to create accounts even if they are not applying for the grant. Students must create an account through the website of their respective program (NHS, NJHS, or NASC). After creating an account, students will need to be verified by their adviser. 

Once a student creates an account, the adviser receives an e-mail notification and instructions to verify the student account. Once verified, the student can login to complete and submit the grant application. Unverified student accounts will not have access to proceed with the application. 

No, the grant program is specifically for youth-led, youth-driven projects. While community partnerships are encouraged, the grant must be awarded to an eligible student leading the project. 

Students can apply to complete a service project on behalf of a chapter or council, but one student must be responsible for completing the grant application, managing grant funds, and completing the reporting requirements. Additionally, this student will share their personal reason for submitting the application as well as their experience in leading projects. Lastly, the adviser and principal will both be asked to complete an acknowledgement form that they met with this student and sharing their confidence level in the student’s ability to complete the project. A student may collaborate with an entire chapter or council, but ultimately there must be a single designated student leader who is motivated and responsible for oversight of the grant.

We encourage collaboration on service projects, and students are welcome to work together. However, only one student may apply for and manage the grant. This applicant will be responsible for agreeing to the grant terms, receiving communications from NASSP, and reporting project outcomes.

Students are still encouraged to collaborate using the project planning tool and meet as a group with their adviser and principal, but one student must act as the primary applicant and project lead. Having one applicant for the grant does not mean that the other student or students are not just as involved, as the grant application is another element of project management that can be split up among involved students.

No, students may only receive one service grant. 

Currently, this grant program is open to students within the United States who are members of NHS, NJHS, or NASC chapters. Students outside the U.S. are not eligible at this time. 

Yes, students whose projects are not accepted may reapply the following year, if they still meet the eligibility requirements. 

If your project is part of a larger effort that extends beyond the grant timeline, you should first determine if there is a clear step of the project that can be completed within the grant timeline. To be eligible, you should be able to identify clear objectives and impact that you can report on during the grant timeline. This project could be one of many similar efforts to move the needle for an ongoing effort, but all grant-funded projects must have their own timeline, goals, budget, and community impact that the grant recipient can report on during the grant timeline. 

Start by identifying an issue or problem to address in your school or community. Define the problem and gather information from those most impacted by it. Consider new approaches, collaboration, innovation, or creative methods to address problems. Outline your solution and determine what success looks like for your project, using SMART objectives to track impact. Utilize the planning tool to help organize your project and present it to your adviser and principal, as well as any peers or community members you plan to engage. 

Applicants must submit a comprehensive service project proposal, including a problem statement, a proposed project to address the problem, a detailed project plan, and a budget. Students will also need to meet with their adviser and school principal, who will need to complete acknowledgment forms as part of the application. If selected, students will also need to complete a final project report. 

To estimate participation and impact, consider the size of your target audience, the number of volunteers needed, and the reach of your project’s activities. Consult with your adviser, local community organizations, or local government to increase the accuracy of your estimates. 

You can involve other students by recruiting volunteers, promoting your project through school events, and encouraging peers to participate in project activities. Engaging others helps strengthen the project’s impact and reach. 

Yes, partnering with a community organization can enhance the impact of your project. Be sure to outline how the organization will be involved in your proposal and ensure their support aligns with the project goals. If your project requires additional support or funding from this organization, please confirm this with the organization before applying. 

Projects that conflict with school policies or promote religious or political activities are not eligible for funding. Additionally, NASSP grants are intended for projects impacting communities within the U.S. 

Your project can be new or a continuation of an existing initiative. If it is part of an existing or ongoing initiative, you will need to clearly demonstrate how the grant will enhance the project’s impact and sustainability. Additionally, the project must stand on its own in terms of its timeline, goals, budget, and community impact. 

The grant program is designed to support impactful, youth-driven service projects, regardless of the community’s size or population. We understand that community needs and potential impact can look different depending on factors like location, population, and demographic makeup. Our scoring rubric considers not only the number of people impacted but also the meaningfulness and relevance of the project to your specific community, whatever its size.

Grant applications are reviewed by a committee based on several factors, including the project’s potential community impact, the feasibility of implementation, and the leadership demonstrated by the student. Applications are scored on a rubric, with grants awarded based on availability of funds. 

Grants are available in increments of $200, $400, $600, $800, or $1,000, depending on the scope and needs of your project. 

You will need to provide a project budget that matches your requested funding amount. If your project has additional costs not covered by the grant, you only need to include items in your budget that align with the requested grant amount. If your estimated costs fall between two amounts, we recommend adjusting your projections or considering how you can more closely align your budget with an available grant size. 

If your project exceeds the maximum grant size, you will need to secure additional funding from other sources. Your application should detail how you plan to raise or access these additional funds (e.g., crowdfunding, donations, or sponsorships). For the purposes of the grant, only include items in your budget up to your requested grant size. 

Our grants are structured to support a range of project sizes and funding needs, so additional outside funding does not automatically affect a project’s eligibility. Projects with larger budgets or those requiring additional funding are welcome to apply, but applicants will be asked how they’ll secure the additional funds. As part of our review process, we want to ensure that each project is realistic and achievable within its projected timeline.

If selected, the grant funding will be sent to your school. Your school principal will enter this information as part of a principal acknowledgement form in the grant application. Funds cannot be sent directly to the student applicant or adviser. 

Students should work with their school to ensure they have access to the grant funds. Each school may use its own process for accountability. The program adviser should provide support for a student in accessing these funds from the school to ensure they are used according to the project budget. 

Any unused funds should be reported in the final project report and returned to NASSP. If you receive a grant, your school will be notified how to return unused funds. 

Students are required to submit a final project report. In the report, students will report on their success in reaching project objectives, confirm and elaborate on community impact and youth engagement, provide details on how funds were used, and discuss challenges. Additionally, students will be asked to share photos and media from planning through completion of the project. 

If your project changes, you will have the flexibility to adapt, as long as it remains close to its original scope and scale. If your project will dramatically change or can no longer be completed as originally described, you can contact NASSP to discuss your options, but you may not use funds other than to fulfill your original project objectives. Significant changes will require NASSP approval to ensure that the project still aligns with the original objectives and grant guidelines. 

Your adviser should be actively involved in reviewing your project, providing guidance and support as needed. Complete the project planning tool and discuss it with your adviser. Your adviser will be asked to complete an acknowledgement form as part of the grant application, which includes their assessment of the feasibility and impact of your project. Your adviser will also help ensure that you have access to grant funds when needed and can help you ensure the project is completed according to plan. 

You must meet with your school principal to inform them of your project. We recommend scheduling a meeting and bringing a completed project planning tool. This will ensure the school is aware of and supportive of your initiative. Your school principal will be asked to complete an acknowledgement form as part of the grant application, which includes providing basic information about your school, confirming that your school will oversee the distribution of funds, and providing their assessment of the feasibility and impact of your project. 

The involvement of your NHS, NJHS, or NASC chapter or council is encouraged. The grant applicant should be responsible for the execution of the project and use of grant funds, but having the support and participation of peers strengthens the project’s impact and reach.