What are the eligibility requirements for individual volunteers?
Volunteer requirements:
- Must be a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States (i.e., green card holder).
- The minimum age is five years old.
- Must complete eligible service within a 12-month period (for annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards) and over a lifetime (for Lifetime Achievement Awards)
Eligible service is unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others with the following exceptions:
- Service through National service programs that provide a stipend (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) may count towards the Lifetime Achievement Award*, but not for the annual Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards)
- Travel stipends, transit/parking passes, membership passes, expense reimbursements, and other nominal volunteer support do not impact service eligibility
Ineligible service includes
- Donating funds
- Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)
- Religious instruction (service performed through a religious organization that does not involve teaching your religion or evangelizing to others about your religion are eligible)
- Conducting worship service
- Proselytizing
- Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service
- Serving only family members