About the Global Volunteer Recognition Program
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program™ LLC was founded by Laurel Barrett in 2023 to help volunteers document, celebrate, and share the impact of service.
GVRP is a mission-driven small business based in Colorado Springs, welcoming people who serve locally, remotely, nationally, and globally. Explore membership, earned recognition, leadership education, and service tools that fit your goals.
Our Story and Mission
Created for People Who Choose to Serve
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program was founded in September 2023 after Laurel Barrett saw how often volunteers quietly give their time without receiving meaningful acknowledgment.
GVRP was created to help volunteers maintain a record of their service, connect with recognition opportunities, build leadership skills, and feel part of a community that understands the value of giving back.
Membership and programs are designed for youth volunteers, adults, students, families, pageant titleholders, corporate volunteers, nonprofit supporters, community leaders, remote volunteers, retirees, and others dedicated to making a positive difference.
Recognition
Service deserves to be documented, appreciated, and celebrated with integrity.
Inclusion
Volunteers have different abilities, schedules, causes, locations, and levels of experience.
Leadership
Volunteer service can build confidence, practical skills, and stronger community leaders.
Community
Recognition can connect people, motivate continued service, and inspire others to help.
What the Global Volunteer Recognition Program Does
GVRP provides several ways for volunteers, students, families, leaders, and organizations to participate.
Annual Volunteer Recognition Membership
Annual membership provides a structured calendar recognition year, member materials, volunteer-hour documentation support, project ideas, program updates, and access to designated member recognition opportunities.
Explore Annual MembershipGlobal Volunteer Awards™
Qualifying members may earn Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum recognition after eligible service is documented, reviewed, and verified. Approved digital certificates are included in membership dues; physical items are optional. Public Honor Roll listings require permission.
Explore the Global Volunteer AwardsMember-Exclusive Recognition
Active members can pursue additional recognition for sustained participation, volunteer leadership, project impact, and other qualifying achievements throughout their service journey.
View Member-Exclusive AwardsVolunteer and Student Recognition
GVRP offers both membership-required and public recognition opportunities. Each award has its own eligibility, documentation, review, format, and pricing requirements.
Explore Volunteer RecognitionLeadership Academy Courses
Self-paced education helps volunteers develop practical leadership, communication, inclusion, project-planning, and service skills. Courses are optional and open to members and nonmembers. Completion certificates document education; lessons do not automatically establish eligible volunteer hours.
View Leadership Academy CoursesVolunteer Projects and Opportunities
Flexible remote and community-based projects help volunteers stay engaged, explore new causes, develop skills, and create positive impact throughout the year.
Find Volunteer OpportunitiesStudent Citizenship and Service Recognition
The Global Student Citizenship & Service Award recognizes eligible students based on character, leadership, citizenship, responsibility, service, and positive impact. Membership is not required.
Explore the Student AwardMilitary Community Volunteer Impact Award
Eligible members of the U.S. military community may apply after completing at least 50 qualifying service hours in one calendar year. Military-community eligibility and service must be verified. GVRP membership is not required.
Explore the Military Community AwardVolunteer Voices, Spotlights, and Events
GVRP shares volunteer stories, celebrates community champions, supports annual recognition events, and creates opportunities for service-focused people to be seen and heard.
Read the Volunteer Story GuideVolunteer Companion App
Start a Free digital journal or choose optional Premium features to organize service records. App access is separate from GVRP membership. Keeping a log does not submit or approve an award application.
Explore Free and Premium App AccessVolunteer Achievement Badges
Recognize specific contributions through badges with their own activity and proof requirements. Review the individual listing to understand how to qualify.
Explore Volunteer Achievement BadgesOrganization and Group Recognition
Schools, nonprofits, pageant systems, and teams can explore recognition pathways for their volunteers. Individual eligibility and documentation remain part of the applicable review.
Explore Group RecognitionMember-Exclusive Volunteer Awards
Membership provides access to these recognition pathways for the applicable year. Global Volunteer Awards and milestone digital certificates are included after approval; leadership and project-impact certificates have separate fees. Every award retains its own requirements.
Global Volunteer Awards™
Recognizes qualifying calendar-year service at Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level. The membership year, service year, and requested award year must match. Approved digital recognition is included; physical items are optional purchases.
Review Award RequirementsSustained Commitment Member Milestone Certificate
Recognizes 3, 5, or 10 total GVRP membership years. Years need not be consecutive. A digital certificate is included after eligibility is confirmed; a printed option is available separately.
Explore Member MilestonesExcellence in Volunteer Leadership Award
Recognizes demonstrated leadership, initiative, and service. A formal title and fixed minimum hour total are not required. Membership for the applicable year, supporting information, and approval are required. See the listing for certificate options and fees.
Explore the Leadership AwardVolunteer Project Impact Award
Recognizes an individual member's contribution to a completed project with documented community benefit. There is no fixed minimum project size or hour total. Membership, documentation, and approval are required. See the listing for options and fees.
Explore the Project Impact AwardVolunteer Service GVRP Celebrates
Service can take many forms. For Global Volunteer Awards, the actual work must be unpaid, benefit others, meet the eligibility rules, and be documented and verified. Other programs have separate criteria.
Community Outreach
Local projects, neighborhood support, food assistance, donation drives, and acts that address community needs.
Nonprofit Support
Unpaid service that helps charitable organizations deliver programs, events, resources, and essential assistance.
Remote and Digital Service
Virtual projects, online mentoring, digital mapping, awareness campaigns, research, and skills-based volunteering.
Youth and School Service
Student projects, school initiatives, educational outreach, and families serving the wider community. Service benefiting only relatives is excluded from Global Volunteer Awards.
Advocacy and Awareness
Nonpartisan education, community awareness, accessibility support, and responsible cause-based outreach.
Environment and Animals
Cleanups, conservation, wildlife projects, animal welfare, sustainability, and environmental education.
Disaster and Crisis Support
Preparedness, response, recovery assistance, emergency-support activities, and community resilience.
Leadership and Mentoring
Unpaid mentoring, project coordination, and education that benefit others. Personal study and course completion do not automatically become service hours.
Review eligible service, exclusions, and documentation requirements before submitting hours.
GVRP Impact at a Glance
The published June 2026 snapshot reflects service documented by members across many independent organizations and causes, including projects beyond those organized by GVRP.
June 2026
through June 2026
June 2026
October membership record: As of October 4, 2026, GVRP recorded 291 net annual membership purchases for recognition years 2023-2026. This includes renewals and past-year purchases, so it is a different measure from unique active members.
Read the complete dated Impact Report for historical snapshots and count definitions.
Recent Community Initiatives
These examples distinguish GVRP's contribution from the combined results of community partners.
Giving Tuesday Military
In November and December 2025, GVRP supported volunteer participation, cards, service projects, and sponsorship. Laurel personally created 250 thank-you notes and delivered them to Care and Share on December 12. An organizer's account confirms GVRP's involvement in a wider collaboration that collectively distributed approximately 1,000 meal bags.
Volunteer Recognition Ceremony
On June 12, 2026, GVRP hosted its ceremony at Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center. The published recap records 47 awards and recognitions presented at the event. The ceremony brought volunteers and supporters together to celebrate service.
Read the 2026 Ceremony RecapChip In For Children
GVRP contributed $100 on April 2, 2026, as a sponsor of the July 10 charity golf tournament benefiting Children's Hospital in Colorado Springs. Laurel also volunteered throughout the tournament day. This amount represents GVRP's contribution, separate from her other businesses.
About the Founder, Laurel Barrett
Lifelong Volunteer, Educator, and Community Leader
Laurel Barrett is a fourth-generation Colorado native whose commitment to service began in Girl Scouts. Over the years, she has contributed thousands of hours to community programs, youth mentorship, public-health initiatives, disaster response, nonprofit support, and remote volunteer projects.
Her service history includes multiple President's Volunteer Service Awards and years with more than 500 volunteer hours. Her background spans more than 20 years in healthcare, education, training, project coordination, and community service.
She founded GVRP to help volunteers document their contributions and find meaningful recognition. Laurel was selected as a 2026 Peak of Community Award winner by Collegiate Peaks Bank. Founder honors are recorded separately from GVRP's organizational recognition.
- Founder and Executive Director
- Longstanding volunteer service
- Healthcare and education leader
- Colorado community advocate
- Volunteer recognition champion
Business Award Recognition
These competitive placements are separate from business accreditation and certification.
PRISM Awards, 2025 and 2026
GVRP was a Social Impact Startup of the Year finalist for two consecutive years in the Southern Colorado Impact Group's PRISM Awards.
View the PRISM AwardsBBB Excellence in Business, 2025
GVRP advanced to the finals of BBB of Southern Colorado's 2025 Excellence in Business Award program.
Read the 2025 Finalist AnnouncementMicro Business of the Year, 2026
GVRP was nominated in the Pikes Peak Small Business Week award program, co-hosted by BBB of Southern Colorado. This entry records a nomination.
Explore the Award ProgramExplore GVRP's complete award and credential history, including founder recognition and supporting links.
Trust, Accountability, and Customer Care
GVRP publishes its requirements, policies, business model, and dated impact information so people can understand the program before participating or purchasing.
Founder-Led Customer Service
Laurel Barrett personally oversees customer communication and order follow-up, with a standard of responding to customer emails within 24 hours. Questions requiring supplier contact or verification receive follow-up while a resolution is being worked through.
GVRP reviews order status, retains relevant correspondence, and follows up on unresolved concerns. Contact GVRP for help, or review the Refund Policy and Shipping Policy.
Fair Award Review
The same award requirements apply to members, the founder, and board members. A recipient does not verify their own hours or participate in their own award review.
Other reviewers assess submitted information and contact the volunteer organization when additional verification is needed. Membership or a purchase does not bypass eligibility. Read the service requirements.
Resolving a 2026 Group Order
When an externally supplied student-award order experienced a pin shortage, GVRP followed up with the supplier, kept the customer informed, and offered a partial refund or replacement pins. The customer chose replacements.
Nine pins were provided at no charge, including shipping, and delivered on July 18 before the group's early-August ceremony. The experience also informed GVRP's transition toward student recognition it can administer directly.
Listening and Correcting a Profile
In July 2026, a member identified an inaccurate passage in a GVRP profile. Laurel reviewed the written feedback and corrected the published wording.
The experience reinforced a practical standard: recognition should reflect the person's experience accurately, and correction requests deserve careful follow-through.
BBB Accredited
BBB Accredited since April 16, 2024, with a commitment to maintaining BBB business standards. View the official BBB profile.
BBB4Good Verified
BBB4Good verification reflects review of GVRP's social-good activities as a purpose-driven business. Learn about BBB4Good.
WOSB and EDWOSB
SBA-certified as a Women-Owned Small Business and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business on April 2, 2026. These are business qualifications, separate from competitive awards.
Good Market Approved
GVRP became Good Market Approved in August 2026. View the public Good Market profile.
Colorado Verified Business
Approved as a Colorado Verified Small Business (Tier 1) and Verified Diverse Business on August 5, 2026.
Mission-Driven LLC
GVRP is a for-profit LLC. Earned revenue supports administration, recognition programs, technology, customer service, materials, fulfillment, and continued development.
GVRP Leadership and Volunteer Board
The current 2026 board remains in place through December 31, 2026. Current review practices and the no-self-verification rule support the integrity of earned recognition.
The planned 2027 Volunteer Advisory Board begins January 1, 2027, with an unpaid one-year term focused on awareness, community connections, volunteer storytelling, champion nominations, and recognition events.
Meet Current Leadership and Review the 2027 PlanWhat Annual GVRP Membership Provides
Individual membership is currently $100 per recognition year. The year follows January 1 through December 31; it is not a rolling twelve-month period from the purchase date.
Dues support administration, documentation and review support, communications, technology, customer service, recognition programs, and included member materials.
Membership provides access to recognition pathways. Qualifying service, documentation, review, and applicable requirements remain part of earned award approval.
Compare Membership Years and BenefitsFrequently Asked Questions About GVRP
Learn who GVRP serves, how the program is structured, and what makes its approach to volunteer recognition different.
What is the Global Volunteer Recognition Program?
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program is a mission-driven volunteer recognition community offering annual membership, awards, leadership education, volunteer projects, student recognition, storytelling, community engagement, and recognition events.
Who founded GVRP and when?
Laurel Barrett founded the Global Volunteer Recognition Program in September 2023 after recognizing the need for a welcoming program that helps volunteers document, celebrate, and share their service.
What is the mission of GVRP?
Celebrating the contributions of all volunteers to create a better world.
Is GVRP a nonprofit organization?
No. GVRP is a mission-driven for-profit LLC. Membership dues and product revenue support administration, recognition resources, technology, customer service, program materials, fulfillment, and continued development.
Who can join the Global Volunteer Recognition Program?
GVRP welcomes youth and adult volunteers, students, families, pageant titleholders, corporate volunteers, nonprofit supporters, community leaders, remote volunteers, retirees, and others who contribute time and talent to positive causes. Product-specific rules may apply.
Is GVRP membership competitive?
No. GVRP membership is not competitive. The program celebrates volunteers with different causes, abilities, locations, schedules, backgrounds, and levels of experience.
What types of volunteer service does GVRP recognize?
GVRP may recognize eligible local, remote, national, and global service, including community outreach, nonprofit support, mentoring, youth projects, environmental work, awareness activities, animal welfare, disaster support, digital volunteering, and volunteer leadership. Eligibility and documentation depend on the applicable program.
Does annual membership guarantee a volunteer award?
No. Membership includes its stated services and materials. Eligibility-based recognition requires the applicable service, documentation, and review. Approved digital Global Volunteer Award recognition is included in dues; physical items are optional purchases.
Which GVRP awards require an active membership?
Global Volunteer Awards, the Sustained Commitment Member Milestone Certificate, the Excellence in Volunteer Leadership Award, and the Volunteer Project Impact Award require membership under their published rules. For Global Volunteer Awards, the membership, service, and requested award years must match.
Does GVRP offer recognition that does not require membership?
Yes. Public recognition options include the Global Student Citizenship & Service Award and the Military Community Volunteer Impact Award. Each award has separate eligibility, documentation, review, format, and pricing requirements.
How does GVRP demonstrate trust and accountability?
GVRP publishes award requirements, policies, dated impact information, and customer-support routes. Review practices include no self-verification. BBB Accreditation, BBB4Good Verification, business credentials, and competitive award placements are identified separately.
How can I get started with GVRP?
Visit the Start Here guide to compare annual membership, awards, the volunteer-hour tracking app, Leadership Academy courses, student recognition, and volunteer opportunities.
Does the tracking app submit hours or guarantee an award?
No. The app helps organize records. Members must complete the official Global Volunteer Awards submission process, meet the requirements, and receive approval after review. Free and Premium app access are separate from annual membership.
Is the President's Volunteer Service Award currently available?
The national PVSA program is currently paused. GVRP cannot guarantee a restart date, future eligibility rules, retrospective acceptance of hours, or award availability. Read the current PVSA information.
Every Act of Service Has Value
Whether you serve every week or contribute when you can, your time matters. Join a community built to document service, celebrate volunteers, develop leaders, and inspire continued positive impact.
Page reviewed October 11, 2026. Service and partner figures retain their June 2026 reporting date; the separate membership-purchase record is dated October 4, 2026.