Student Support Foundation (SSF)
Training the Next Generation of Philanthropists
At Plymouth State University, over half of the student body reports being food insecure. The SSF Club there raises money and staffs the college’s food pantry.
“SSF taught me that philanthropy starts in our own community. You don’t have to travel far to make an impact in the lives of others.”
The Student Support Foundation (SSF) was created more than 20 years ago as a way to inspire and empower the next generation of great American philanthropists.
Every year, we grant $4,000 to each participating high school and college SSF club for the students to invest in their school community. With the guidance of a club sponsor, students learn about the needs of their peers and school families, and they collaborate to decide which needs they can afford to support. They learn to raise funds to supplement the grant. They set their club’s budget, find their giving passion, and report back to MFF on their grants and impact.
After more than a million dollars distributed, SSF is even more important today than when we began. Many more students at the high school and college level are experiencing financial stress and the mental health pressures that go along with that uncertainty. More students are working and are responsible for paying for more of their expenses. Some are going hungry or need books and study support.
In 2024-25, we are supporting eight high school and six college clubs in seven states. Their projects range from creating an outdoor "chill space” with benches and flowering plants to funding field trip fees for students who couldn’t afford the cost. One school manages their campus’s free Community Cupboard and hosts open houses to reduce the stigma around food insecurity and gain support from students who can donate their unused meal plan swipes.
If you’re interested in starting an SSF chapter at your school, email ssf@thinkmff.org to learn more. You can read the 2023-2024 SSF annual report here.
SSF Annual Report 2024
Since SSF launched in 2003, the world is a very different place. But what hasn’t changed is the dedication that SSF students have to helping their communities.
The 2023-2024 school year was no exception—students across the country learned, grew and drove transformational change. Read about their lessons and successes in the latest annual report.
