Thank you for your interest in the Daily Point of Light Award.
Below is additional information regarding eligibility and judging criteria.
Who may apply?
- Any individual, organization, group, family, business or labor union actively engaged in voluntary service* directed at domestic or international problem-solving may apply for a Daily Point of Light Award
- Award nominees must be legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia and consent to be nominated
- All volunteer activities of the Nominee must be unpaid and cannot include court-ordered community service;however, nominees who receive a nominal stipend for their service (such as in connection with a national service program) may be eligible
- To be eligible, the volunteer activity should have lasted for at least six uninterrupted months and should be ongoing
* Employees and members of the board of directors and committees of Points of Light and employees and members of the board of directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service are not eligible to receive the award]
How are the nominees judged?
Daily Point of Light Awards are given to individuals who find innovative ways to meet community needs, efforts which often lead to long-term solutions and impact social problems in their local communities. The following criteria are utilized in reviewing and judging nominations:
- Community needs and solution (30%) — Activity must meet a community need or concern and serve those who are disconnected from the larger community. Is there a long-term solution, or does the effort give the recipient the tools they need to achieve a solution on their own?
- Connections building (20%) — Hands-on service that results in building connections between the community and those who may be isolated from it.
- Ongoing involvement (10%) — To be eligible, an activity should be at least six months in duration. One exception is the category of disaster relief. Nominations that do not meet these criteria may be held for later consideration.
- Impact (30%) — Demonstrated real impact from the activity. How many funds were raised? How many people were impacted by the nominee's service?
- Innovation (10%) — Activity should reflect innovative or unique approaches to solving serious social problems.
* No grants or scholarships are affiliated with the Daily Point of Light Award
You can also dowload our Judging Criteria in a PDF format.
How can I submit a nomination?
To nominate a volunteer, fill out the online nomination form at www.pointsoflight.org/programs/recognition/dpol/nomination