Resources for Students
Our campus organizing team is dedicated to supporting our student leaders and chapters with a wide array of services, resources, and programs. If you need one-on-one help with your chapter, advice with media relations or writing press releases, ideas for campus or community programs, or legal assistance, we are always here for you.
Please contact us at any time:
organizers@secularstudents.org or 614-441-9588.
Chapter Services
Chapter Leadership Stipend
Student leaders can earn financial support through the SSA Stipend Program. This program provides milestone-based stipends to help new and growing chapters build strong leadership, host events, and stay active throughout the year. Only one leader per chapter receives the stipend—typically, the chapter president.
Every campus is different, but most students can complete the initial milestones within the first few weeks of getting organized. To get started, explore the stipend requirements and sign up for an orientation meeting with a campus organizer.
Request Funds From Your School
Believe it or not, there is free money available from your school for your club activities, conference travel and club events. The key is to find out how the system works and get your request in early. A good place to start is to search your school’s website.
Tabling Supplies, Business Cards & Banners
Free handouts, stickers, business cards, banners, and more. One of our most popular offerings is the "What is an Atheist?" brochure. Complete the order form from our store and your tabling supplies will be on their way to you soon.
FFRF Project Grants
Funding is available to help student chapters offset the costs of events and projects. Upon receiving funding for an event please fill out a follow up report, which can be found here. Made possible by a generous grant from the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
Speakers Bureau
Speakers from the Secular Movement have graciously offered to speak, debate, or perform with discounted (or waived) honorariums for SSA chapters. Find a speaker from our handy list!
Event Planning Toolkit
Successful events are complex systems involving multiple parties, budgets, and bureaucracy. Use our comprehensive toolkit to make sure you're well prepared and don't skip crucial steps on your way to event planning success!
Online Fundraising
You and your chapter can use peer-to-peer crowdsourcing to raise money to use for events, projects, and travel.
Graduation Resources
Celebrate your graduating members and recognize their contributions to your chapter. Chapters can request official SSA Honor Cords for their graduates to wear during commencement.
Roster & List Building Resources
Build an email list for your chapter by sharing a QR Code. Our staff will ensure those students receive the SSA Newsletter, scholarship updates, and national resources. Your chapter will also receive direct access so your leadership team can follow up and keep students engaged on campus.
Resources
New Chapter Starting Kit
The New Chapter Starting Kit provides you with helpful information on how to start a chapter, a Sample Constitution, By-laws, running a meeting, and more. Click the download button to find the documents you'll need to start your chapter off on the right foot.
Chapter Leadership Guide
The Chapter Leadership Guide provides you with helpful information on how to start a chapter, plan your program, run a meeting, deal with leadership transition, and more. Download your guide: one for new leaders and one for experienced student leaders.
How to Host Your First Meeting in 5 Easy Steps
Need help planning out your first meeting? Check out this easy 5 step guide that'll walk you through the process.
Building Communities of Belonging
Creating communities where people are invited into friendship and know they belong and are cared for requires intention and structure. Use our tools and guides for inducting new members and officers
Brag it Up!
We want to hear what your group is doing that you think is awesome! Even seemingly small things can have a huge impact, so don’t be shy. Tell us your story!
Submit your Brag it Up for an opportunity to receive the Excellence in Organizing Award, including a $100 gift card!
Program & Activities Guides
Looking for program ideas? Check out the step-by-step guides on a wide range of events.
SSA Branding & Design Hub
Download the Secular Student Alliance logo (which you can customize), flyers to help promote you chapter, and various national event posters. You can also find great flyer and poster designs that other SSA groups have successfully used and shared!
Secular America Report Card
Grade your elected officials on their support for secular issues! This toolkit and program guide is designed to help you and your SSA chapter move from discussions about secular issues to actually engaging in the political process to make your voice heard.
Sex Ed. Tool Kit
Abstinence-only until marriage (AOUM) sex education and medically inaccurate materials are still the norm in far too many of America’s public schools. Find out how you can challenge AOUM sex education by downloading the American Atheists Sex Ed. Toolkit. Learn what resources and steps you'll need to take to change minds and policy in your local area.
Post-Graduation
Your involvement with the Secular Student Alliance and the secular movement should not end after you graduate. Information on staying involved and links to a variety of national secular organizations.
Legal Assistance
Find out what to do if you think your school is violating the separation of church and state. We take the fair treatment of students very seriously and we will do everything in our power to help you rectify the situation at your school.
YouTube Channel
Check out the videos of the presentations from our conferences and leadership summits since 2009, as well as special events held by our affiliates.
Exploring Secularism - a guide for high school chapters
Download our 15-week guide designed specifically for high school SSA chapters. Each week features a new topic with resources you can engage with and discuss questions that will help you have a fun, engaging conversation.
Young Skeptics Curriculum (elementary school)
Young Skeptics was created to give children (and parents) a positive, dogma-free alternative to religious after school programs.
National Conference
Each summer, the Secular Student Alliance hosts a conference for student leaders across the country with nationally-known speakers, educational sessions and trainings, and panel discussions on relevant social issues.
Internships & Jobs
Check out internships and jobs with organizations in the secular movement.
Webinars
Check out our leadership development training Webinars! Topics include New Leaders Guide, Keys to Growing your Chapter, and Leadership Transitions. Ask your local campus organizer to find out when the next one will take place.