Daily Point of Light Award

Nominate Someone Whose Service is Changing Lives

Every day, people show up for their communities in ways that strengthen lives, meet real needs, and inspire others to act. The Daily Point of Light Award recognizes individuals whose volunteer service is creating meaningful change and helps share their stories so more people can see what service makes possible.

About the Daily Point of Light Award

The Daily Point of Light Award is a national volunteer award that celebrates extraordinary everyday service. Points of Light created it to honor individuals who take action to create change in their communities. Recognition goes beyond celebrating one person and helps more people see what is possible and inspires others to serve.

Honor Someone Whose Service Deserves to be Seen

The Daily Point of Light Award is a way to celebrate people whose volunteer service reflects care, commitment, and real community impact. If you know someone who is making a difference through sustained service, this is a chance to recognize their work and help their story reach others.

Who Can Be Nominated

Who Can Be Nominated

  • Volunteers of any age
  • Individuals creating meaningful community impact
  • People whose service shows consistency, leadership, or sustained commitment
  • Changemakers whose work helps others, solves problems, or strengthens community ties

How the Nomination Process Works

  • Step One

    Submit a nomination and share who the volunteer is, what they do, and why their service matters.

  • Step Two

    The Points of Light team reviews submissions and may follow up for additional details if needed.

  • Step Three

    Selected honorees are featured and celebrated, inspiring others to take action and give back.

Eligibility Eligibility

Eligibility

The Daily Point of Light Award is open to legal U.S. residents whose volunteer service is unpaid and not court-ordered. Nominees may receive a nominal stipend or paid time off to volunteer and still be eligible. In most cases, the service should have been ongoing for at least six uninterrupted months, except in disaster relief.

Strong nominations reflect service that responds to a real community need, shows clear impact, and has a path to continue over time.

Criteria

Criteria

Nominations are reviewed using three core criteria:

  • A clear community need and a thoughtful response
  • Demonstrated impact, including outputs or outcomes
  • An innovative or distinctive approach to addressing serious social problems

Nominate a Daily Point of Light

Do you know someone who acts as a point of light in their community each day? Nominate them for a Daily Point of Light Award.

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Daily Point of Light Honorees

Each Daily Point of Light story highlights an individual whose volunteer service is meeting real needs and creating meaningful change. Collectively, these stories show what service looks like in action and how one person’s commitment can motivate more people to make a difference.

Know someone whose service deserves recognition?

Nominate a volunteer for the Daily Point of Light Award and help bring their story to light so it can reach and inspire others to act.

Daily Point of Light Honorees