What is the "President's Volunteer Service Award"?

Americans of all ages are answering the President’s Call to Service by volunteering and making a difference in their communities.  The President’s Volunteer Service Award, an initiative of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, honors America’s volunteers and encourages even more Americans to get involved.  DOE has become a Certifying Organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, enabling us to directly grant President’s Awards for the community service efforts of DOE employees, contractors, and members of the general public.

The award is available to individuals of all ages, as well as families and groups who have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours served over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.  The awards honor those Americans who have made serving a central part of their lives.

What will I receive?

As an award recipient, you will receive:

• A personalized certificate of achievement;
• A congratulatory letter from the President of the United States;
• A congratulatory letter from the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation; and
• An official President's Award pin. (Bronze, silver or gold, depending on the level of service.)

How Many Hours of Service are Required for an Award?

There are three levels and four categories of the Award, varying by age and hours of service completed within any consecutive 12-month period.

Are There Other Levels of Award?

Yes! In addition to the awards outlined above, individuals who complete 4,000 hours or more of volunteer service will be recognized with the President's Call to Service Award.

What are the Applicable Timeframes?

You should keep these timeframes in mind, when applying for a President's Volunteer Service Award:

• Awards are based on the level of service over ANY consecutive 12-month period.  (Your service does NOT need to take place within a calendar or fiscal year.)

• Awards are available for service which took place on or after December 1, 2005.

• Awards will be granted throughout the year, as applications are received.  Anticipated processing for award applications is 8-12 weeks.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

Volunteer activities should be unpaid, should not be performed on paid government or company time, should not include court-ordered community service, and should not include any activities which could reflect negatively on the Department of Energy.  The Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary and the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, maintains final authority to determine what activities are appropriate for recognition by DOE.

Some of the links on this page are subject to the DOE disclaimer.

DOE Coordinators (pdf)

Presidential Service Awards