Start a Chapter FAQ page
Where can I go to look for an advisor?
An advisor can be anyone officially employed as a faculty or staff member at your school. Good places to look for an Active Minds advisor include the psychology department, the campus counseling center, or the health/wellness center since these individuals already have a vested interest in this topic. If they can’t help, they may be…
How do I get started?
If after reviewing our website, you have questions about the chapter registration process, please contact the Chapters Team. If you’re ready to get started, you’ll need to complete our Chapter Registration Form.
How do chapters find funding?
Chapters are usually able to acquire funds through their school’s budgeting and allocations process for student organizations. The process varies campus to campus, but typically involves a chapter submitting a proposal or budget to the student government association, which then decides to award some or all of the requested funds. Chapters also engage in fundraising…
How much should we ask for in a budget?
Chapters’ yearly budgets range from $0-$5,000+ with most falling somewhere between $100 and $600. Start by setting goals for the semester or year ahead and calculating the cost associated with each to estimate how much money will be necessary to accomplish your goals. Aim high, but be realistic and know that quite often a funding…
Does it cost anything to start a chapter of Active Minds?
There are no dues associated with being an Active Minds chapter. That said, all Active Minds chapters are strongly encouraged to join the Active Minds movement by fundraising to support the growth and sustainability of the organization on a national level. Plus, there are cool bonuses! See the Chapter Fundraising page for more information. We…
How many students need to be involved initially?
Three student leaders are required to register as a chapter of Active Minds, at least one of whom cannot be graduating within that school year.
What kind of time commitment is required to run a chapter?
Leading an Active Minds chapter is a moderate time commitment that will likely require a few hours each week for planning and meetings, with more time dedicated around large events or initiatives. One of the most important things to focus on in the early stages of starting a chapter is recruiting a dedicated student leadership…
How long does it take to start a chapter?
Once you have the three students and an advisor lined up, the process includes filling out our chapter registration form and going through the process of being officially recognized on campus as a campus organization. Your chapter will be registered within two weeks of submitting your registration form with Active Minds, however the process to…
What if there’s already a group on my campus that shares similar goals as Active Minds?
If there’s already a mental health education and awareness student group at your school, we encourage you to attend a meeting and find out more about their goals and activities. The ideal environment for starting a chapter is one in which multiple mental health student organizations can collaborate and complement each others’ efforts rather than…
Do I have to have a mental illness to get involved with Active Minds?
No. Inclusivity is a core value of Active Minds chapters, which are open to all students on a campus. You do not have to have a mental illness to get involved with Active Minds. You just have to care about this issue and want to make a difference on your campus.
Active Minds is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization promoting mental health awareness and education for young adults.