Vanderbilt Students for Students, now officially a non-profit organization, has obtained incorporated status after 10 months of work.
VSS began in October 2006 to provide scholarships, tutoring and college preparation for underprivileged local high school students.
After one year the group raised over $2,000 and was able put the leftover funds toward becoming non-profit, which exempts the group from some federal income taxes.
The group has now become an umbrella corporation separate from the university, allowing for expansion to other universities whose branches will work as sub-corporations of Students for Students, said VSS president Rob Whiting, a junior.
Whiting and vice-president Michael Nordlund, also a junior, said they hope to partner other universities, such as Belmont and Lipscomb, with local high schools.
Becoming a non-profit organization also allowed them to accept a $2,500 donation that was promised to the group if it could be tax-deductible.
The non-profit status will help attract future donors and should increase the amount of donations received, Whiting said, adding that he hopes the new status will allow them to apply for more grants.
“This opens up a lot of doors for us and gives us more growing room,” Nordlund said.
VSS
Rob Whiting is an impressive young man. As a donor to VSS I am excited about the last two years as well as the progress. I fully intend to continue my donations.