How to Start a GLSEN Chapter

Thank you for your interest in starting a GLSEN Chapter. The first step to take is to contact the Community Initiatives Department at chapterinfo@glsen.org. They will talk you through the process outlined below including filling out the document linked to the right.

Next steps to take (not necessarily in this order):

• Assemble a small group of people (5-8) who can work together as a steering committee. The group should ideally be people from diverse backgrounds and communities. Key groups that you might want to consider doing outreach to are K-12 students and teachers, and parents. A Chapter's steering committee and board should always aim to reflect the diversity of the community that it serves.

• Conduct an informal assessment of the climate in local schools by talking to teachers, administrators and students.

• Determine what anti-harassment and bullying policies exist at the district, county or state level.

• Organize a meeting for the larger community to spread the word about the Chapter you are trying to build and to attract potential Chapter Board members.

Once you have the steering committee formed to get the Chapter going, fill out the form linked to the right. This form asks you to identify the region you want to serve, programming that you are interested in doing, and more.

After you submit the form you will be assigned a “Chapter Buddy” - a Community Initiatives staff member - who will support your Chapter in its leadership and organizational development and serve as a liasion between it and the national office. At this point, you will be asked to undergo background checks and to fill out the Accreditation form to be officially recognized as a Chapter and to assist you in planning for the coming year.

What then?

New Chapters are eligible for a small grant from the national office to help them start off their organization. After that, Chapters are expected to raise funds on their own. For all income earned, Chapters are expected to pay the national office a 10% program fee, which is used to support the Chapter network and other organizing efforts. Grants, such as the Chapter Initiatives Fund, are made available during the course of each year.

Through their Chapter Buddy, each individual Chapter has access to all of the organization's staff members, services and resources. Chapter Buddies hold at least one phone call per month with their individual Chapters and visit them in-person once a year.

Opportunities for trainings, grants and other forms of support are made available to Chapters throughout the course of the year. Chapters are also provided with individual websites that they can use to promote their activities and receive gifts from donors.

For more information on starting a new Chapter, please contact the Community Initiatives Department at chapterinfo@glsen.org or by calling the New York or DC office.