Global Volunteer Month

Our social media toolkit makes it easy for you to join the movement. Access the full suite of ready-to-share digital assets.

Use these tools and ideas to support your organization’s volunteer recognition tactics and plan your Global Volunteer Month activities now:

The Daily Point of Light Award honors exceptional volunteers, celebrating the power of the individual to spark change and improve the world. Honorees are formally recognized by Points of Light with a profile story on pointsoflight.org, shared across our social media channels and receive a certificate signed by the president & CEO of Points of Light and Neil Bush, board chair, Points of Light. While nominations are accepted year-round, please submit your nomination by February 23 to be considered for recognition during Global Volunteer Month. Nominate someone who acts as a point of light in their community each day.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes and celebrates Americans making a positive impact as engaged and deeply committed volunteers. Learn more about the history of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and how you can become a Certifying Organization to recognize outstanding volunteers.

Handwritten notes of appreciation, spotlights during events or organization-wide meetings, hosting a volunteer recognition celebration, distributing digital badges for email signatures, and awarding program-branded merchandise are all excellent ways to celebrate employee volunteers or your supporters’ passion for and commitment to volunteering.

Collect and Share Volunteer Stories: ask supporters, employees or constituents to send in volunteer stories, videos and photos during Global Volunteer Month for publishing the remainder of the year. Encourage supporters to inspire others by sharing volunteer stories through their personal social media.

Encourage Participation in Your Volunteer Program: invite supporters, employees or constituents to make a difference in their own community through in-person and virtual volunteering opportunities.

Ask Community Members to Say Thanks: think about the impact that volunteerism and civic engagement has on the communities and causes you serve and provide an opportunity to collect and share those messages with your volunteers.

Internal and External Promotion: plan your communications for two phases, pre-campaign March 1-31 and during the campaign April 1-30 Use the first phase to get your organization’s stakeholders on board, and ready to participate. Don’t forget to identify media partners, plan for social media and create a weekly schedule well in advance.

Join Points of Light Global Network: Find your local Points of Light Global Network affiliate to learn what your community needs and how to get involved.

Volunteer in Person or Virtually in Your Community: Search our database, Points of Light Engage, for virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities that meet critical needs in your community and around the world.

Complete DIY Volunteer Projects: Browse our easy DIY volunteer projects that are perfect for individuals, groups and families to complete in their spare time.

Give a Floor Speech: honor the constituents and organizations making a difference in your community by recognizing them and amplifying the mission of Global Volunteer Month in a floor speech.