We help people see themselves as changemakers. Through stories, recognition, and community connection, we invite more people to discover that their time, talent, and voice have the power to make a real difference.
At Points of Light, we believe volunteering is one of the most practical ways people can shape the future of their communities. But impact doesn’t happen automatically. Service is most meaningful when it responds to real community needs, creates meaningful roles for volunteers, and is supported by organizations that know how to engage people well.
That is why our work goes beyond encouraging people to serve. We help build the conditions that make volunteering more effective, inclusive, and lasting for everyone.
Our Vision
We envision a world in which every person will discover their power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant, participatory societies.
Our Mission
We inspire, equip, and mobilize people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement.
How We Turn Belief into Action
What Volunteering Achieves
Volunteering works best when it is designed with intention. Strong service experiences are rooted in authentic community need, shaped with care, and supported by organizations that invest in their volunteers. When those conditions are in place, service becomes a force for genuine change.
For individuals, it can build connection, purpose, empathy, skills, and civic responsibility. For nonprofits and community organizations, it strengthens capacity, expands reach, and deepens trust. For companies, it creates meaningful ways for employees to contribute while strengthening culture and community impact. And at the societal level, it helps people develop habits of participation, shared responsibility, and connection across lines of difference.
The Bigger Picture
When more people participate in meaningful, well-designed service, the benefits ripple outward. Individuals feel more connected and capable. Organizations become stronger and more responsive. Communities gain trust, energy, and resilience. And over time, those patterns can help build societies that are more vibrant and inclusive.
That is the bigger belief at the heart of everything that we do. Volunteering is less of an extracurricular and more of a way people experience belonging, share responsibility, and help shape a better future together.
