Want Your Volunteer Service Recognized?
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program helps volunteers document, celebrate, and share their service through membership, award opportunities, leadership resources, and community recognition.
Become a Member
Explore Awards & Recognition
Volunteers are the heartbeat of communities around the world. Their dedication, time, and passion make lasting impacts, often behind the scenes. With the pause of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Global Volunteer Recognition Program is proud to launch a new way to honor volunteers everywhere: The Global Volunteer Awards™.
This new recognition system celebrates service through a tiered hours-based award program and starting January 2026 themed volunteer challenges. Participation is open to all members, and membership is required to take part. If you need to join or renew your membership click here.
To request you order physical items such as medals or pins click here.
Are Global Volunteer Awards Purchased or Earned?
Global Volunteer Awards are earned through eligible documented volunteer service.
Annual membership gives volunteers access to the submission and review process for the corresponding recognition year. Membership does not automatically guarantee an award level.
Qualifying members may receive a personalized digital award certificate and placement on the official Global Volunteer Awards Honor Roll. Physical medals, pins, printed certificates, and other recognition items are optional keepsakes that may be purchased separately after eligibility requirements are met.
The member must complete the required service and submit the requested documentation before recognition is approved.
Tiered Awards Program
Global Volunteer Awards are based on the total number of verified service hours completed during a full calendar year, from January 1 through December 31. Although service is measured by annual recognition year, submissions are generally reviewed and qualifying awards are issued on a rolling basis throughout the year. The membership year, service year, and requested award year must match.
Annual Award Tiers:
Hours Required to Earn Awards in Each Age Group
| Age Group |
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids (5–10 years old) | 25–49 hours | 50–74 hours | 75–99 hours | 100+ hours |
| Teens (11–15 years old) | 50–99 hours | 100–149 hours | 150–199 hours | 200+ hours |
| Young Adults (16–25 years old) | 100–199 hours | 200–299 hours | 300–399 hours | 400+ hours |
| Adults (26+) | 100–249 hours | 250–499 hours | 500–749 hours | 750+ hours |
All qualifying members receive:
-
A personalized digital certificate
-
A listing on the Global Volunteer Awards Honor Roll
For those who want a physical keepsake, medals, pins, and certificates for each tier are available for purchase.
To submit your hours please click here. Please note that hours will not be accepted via email.
Volunteer Eligibility
- All members of the Global Volunteer Recognition Program are eligible
- Must be at least five years old
- Completes eligible service within a 12-month period
- Hours are measured from January 1st to December 31st of each year. The award year must align with the corresponding year of your membership. For certification of volunteer hours in 2023, a 2023 membership is necessary; likewise, certification for 2024 hours requires a 2024 membership, and so forth.
How To Apply
- Please use this template or purchase access to our Volunteer Hour Tracking App to track your volunteer hours.
- Open the Google Sheets file that you want to copy
- Click "File" on the top toolbar menu
- Click "Make a copy"
- Choose a name for the copied document
- Click "OK".
- To create an editable copy of a Google Sheet
- Please fill out this form to complete the official Global Volunteer Awards service hour submission process after you have finished your eligible volunteer service for the recognition year. Make sure your membership year, service year, documentation, and submission information match.
Eligible Service:
- Unpaid acts of volunteer service benefitting others
Eligible Service does not include:
- Donating funds
- Political lobbying (Non-partisan voter registration is an eligible activity)
- Religious instruction
- Conducting worship service
- Proselytizing
- Volunteer service performed as part of court-ordered community service
- Serving only family members
Can Global Volunteer Recognition Program certify hours from any organization?
Yes. We can certify hours from any organization.
How are hours certified?
We have a board that reviews the hours to make sure that the hours submitted follow the guidelines.
I had a birthday this year? How do I determine my award Age Group?It is the member’s responsibility to submit their volunteer hours for consideration. To ensure you don’t miss important updates, including submission reminders, please make sure you are signed up for our newsletters. We also post regular reminders and updates on our social media channels, so be sure to follow us there as well.
Affordable and Accessible
Digital recognition for the tiered program is included with membership. Physical awards such as medals, pins, and patches are optional add-ons that can be purchased through our online store. Hours will be verified based on logged service, ensuring that every award reflects real community impact.
The Global Volunteer Awards create a sustainable, inspiring way to honor service while offering flexibility for how members choose to celebrate their achievements.
👉 Join the Global Volunteer Recognition Program. Log your hours, participate in challenges, and make your impact visible.