The Nichols Humanitarian Fund, which provides funding in support of Vanderbilt students who plan to pursue humanitarian immersive experiences, is accepting applications for summer 2023. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. CT on Jan. 17.
The Nichols Humanitarian Fund was established in 2006 by the E.C. and Lucile Hamby Nichols Trust, and by Edward C. Nichols Jr., JD’70, and his wife, Janice Nichols. The fund encourages Vanderbilt students to become better citizens of the world and to broaden their thinking by volunteering for humanitarian efforts.
The fund enables students to volunteer for local, domestic or international humanitarian service opportunities by making support available for educational, travel and living expenses during their time of service. The Nichols Humanitarian Fund assists Vanderbilt students by paying expenses associated with their planned humanitarian experiences. Students plan their own summer experiences (a minimum of two weeks) in any location Vanderbilt University will sponsor travel. These experiences can be the basis for a student’s Immersion Vanderbilt project.
Eligibility guidelines
- Financial assistance is provided by the Nichols Humanitarian Fund. Students must demonstrate financial need in order to be considered for assistance.
- Awards given may be less than the amounts requested.
- Eligibility may be dependent on a prior award or scholarship funding.
- Award preference is given to current first-year students, sophomores and juniors.
- Students graduating in spring 2023 are not eligible.
Previous projects include the following:
- Collaborating with Metro Nashville Public Schools to provide school supplies for youth
- Conducting research in the ArtLab at Vanderbilt University
- Creating community-wide workshops in Guam to spread awareness on local health initiatives
- Partnering with women of color in the Bronx to provide equitable doula services
Related resources
- Visit the Nichols Humanitarian Fund website to learn more, including viewing the reflection essays for the 2022 Nichols Humanitarian Fund cohort.
- Contact the Office of Experiential Learning and Immersion Vanderbilt at learning@vanderbilt.edu.