Program I
Humanity First Student Organizations
HFSOs are the foundation of the Student Division: student-led organizations registered at high schools, universities, and graduate schools across the country.
The Summit 2026 national group photo at Michigan State University.
By the numbers
What the program adds up to.
87
registered HFSOs nationwide
5,300+
meals prepared for neighbors in 2025
19,971
service hours reported in 2025
About Humanity First Student Organizations
Student-led chapters, with 87 registered HFSOs across the nation.
Each HFSO organizes on its own campus and serves its own community: food drives, shelter meal service, supply packing, fundraising for Humanity First programs, and service partnerships with local organizations.
Chapters operate independently and are accountable for their work. Leaders plan a semester of service, report their work to the national team, and represent Humanity First on campus.
How it works
From first step to real work.
- 1
Register the chapter
Every HFSO is registered with its school and with the national team, and renews its Memorandum of Understanding with Humanity First USA at the start of each academic year.
- 2
Plan a semester of service
Chapter boards plan food drives, shelter meal service, supply packing, blood drives, and fundraisers for Humanity First programs, and hold general body meetings one to three times a month.
- 3
Report to the national team
Chapters file the MAIN Update Form each school year, a monthly report, and finance reports twice a semester. Chapters that stay compliant earn an additional $100 in funding.
- 4
Meet the whole network
The HFSO National Call meets on the first Sunday of every month at 8:00 PM ET, and every summer chapter leaders gather in person at the Leadership Summit.
Where chapter work goes
Local service, national programs.
Chapters serve their own neighborhoods and raise support for Humanity First USA's programs worldwide. Every fundraiser is pre-approved through HFSD, so each gift reaches an approved program and is properly tax-receipted. Nine chapters collected eyeglasses for Gift of Sight in 2025, with more than 200 pairs shipped to Humanity First Guyana.
- raised by chapters for Humanity First USA programs in 2025
- $148,317
- raised by chapters for Humanity First USA programs in 2025
- eyeglasses collected for Gift of Sight
- 1,000+
- eyeglasses collected for Gift of Sight
- chapters ran eyeglass drives in 2025
- 9
- chapters ran eyeglass drives in 2025
Questions
Good to know.
- Who can start an HFSO?
- Students at high schools, universities, and graduate and medical schools. An HFSD Outreach Coordinator helps you build a founding team and walks you through registration.
- Does a chapter need its own EIN?
- Yes, before it collects grants or membership dues. The national team can point you to the steps.
- Where does the money a chapter raises go?
- To approved Humanity First USA programs. Fundraising is pre-approved through HFSD so every donation is properly tax-receipted.
- How much time does a chapter take?
- Most chapters meet one to three times a month, plus the national call on the first Sunday of each month. Service events are planned by each board.