Volunteers cleaning up their local community during National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week 2025

Join us for National Volunteer Week 2025 from April 20th to 26th to #GiveJoy and #GiveTogether with your community through volunteerism and have a chance to win $500.

Join us for National Volunteer Week 2025 from April 20th to 26th to #GiveJoy and #GiveTogether with your community through volunteerism and have a chance to win $500.

Volunteers from Inspiring Minds.

Volunteers make a difference in the lives of countless people every day - so what makes National Volunteer Week (NVW) stand out?

Specific activities focusing on how volunteers make a transformative impact distinguish this week from the rest. That's where we come in… Join in on the GivePulse #GiveJoy and #GiveTogether Challenge this year for National Volunteer Week, April 20 - 26, and show the world your community's impact. We are offering two challenges for all to get involved with for a chance to win $500!

Get Started

#GiveJoy Video Challenge

Open to anyone who wants to #GiveJoy through volunteerism. We invite you to compete for a $500 cash award by submitting a video through social media and tagging us. 

How to enter?

1. Create a video about one of the following topics:

  • A story of impact from volunteering.
  • Involvement and engagement on campus or in your community.
  • Highlight a campus or community partner National Volunteer Week event.
  • Showcasing what volunteers mean to your organization. 

2.  Submit your video

Share your video to social media and submit it by tagging us @GivePulse and using #GiveJoyChallenge to be entered. (We also suggest using #NationalVolunteerWeek and #NVW for additional exposure.)

Award

The award recipients will receive a $500 prize, which will be announced the week of April 14, 2025, via social media, this website, and our bi-monthly newsletter. (subscribe here.) 

Based on the above criteria, the GivePulse team will review and select the top five videos as our winners. 

Requirements

  • Video submissions must have a focused agenda based on one of the above topics.
  • Video submissions must be under two minutes long.
  • Videos can be recorded on any device and uploaded onto social media.
  • Videos that win the challenge need to provide us with an MP4 format with audio and video.
  • Note: Awards will be distributed through the GivePulse platform. All participants must have donations enabled on GivePulse to receive the award. 

Submissions must be made by April 8, 2025, by 11:59 pm EST for a chance to win a $500 award. 

Pledge to Participate

Get Started

#GiveTogether $500 Grant

Open to all official U.S.-based nonprofit organizations. We understand hosting large volunteer events can take a lot of work... and a significant investment. We want to help offset the cost of hosting a National Volunteer Week event and give back to your organization.

How to enter?

We invite you to submit a proposal for a $500 grant here. Included in the survey are questions about your organization, what you are planning for National Volunteer Week, and how a $500 grant would benefit your organization and community. 

Award

Awardees will be notified the week of April 14, 2025. Winners will be announced via social media, this website, and our bi-monthly newsletter (subscribe here.)

Requirements

  • Organizations applying must be 501(c)(3) registered organizations to receive the $500 grant. 
  • Organizations must have a GivePulse group to participate. Create one here. 
  • Your organization must have planned or is planning to host a National Volunteer Week event. 
  • Note: Awards will be distributed through the GivePulse platform. All participants must have donations enabled on GivePulse to receive the grant. 

All submissions must be made by April 8, 2025, by 11:59 pm EST.

Apply Here

Looking for other ways to get involved or additional resources? Check out our nonprofit and volunteer resources below. From adding a group to taking part in volunteer opportunities near you! 

 

National Volunteer Week FAQs

  • When do I need to make my submission?

    #GiveJoy Video Challenge submissions must be made by April 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST. 

     

    #GiveTogether Grant applications must be submitted by April 8, 2025, at 11:59 pm EST. 

  • Who can participate?

    All are encouraged to participate in the #GiveJoy Video Challenge and #GiveTogether Grant!

     

    (Institutions of Higher Education, Nonprofit Organizations, Community Centers, Departments, Students, Volunteers, AmeriCorps Members, etc.) 

  • Who do I contact for additional Information?

    Our team is happy to help answer any questions! Please get in touch with us at nvw@givepulse.com.

  • How will I receive the $500 award?

    Awards will be distributed through the GivePulse platform. All participants must have donations enabled on GivePulse to receive the grant. 

  • Do I need a GivePulse account to participate?

    Yes, please create a free GivePulse account to apply for the #GiveTogether Grant. For #GiveJoy Video participants, a GivePulse group is required to receive the award.

  • Do I need to participate in both challenges?

    No, it is not required to apply to both challenges to participate. Participants can apply to both the #GiveJoy Video Challenge and the #GiveTogether Grant to increase their chances of being selected. 
Inspiring Minds, Austin Creative Reuse, and Milestone Decisions, Inc logos
#GiveJoy & #GiveTogether Award Winners logos
Congratulations to our 2024 

#GiveJoy & #GiveTogether Award Recipients

  • Inspiring Minds
  • Austin Creative Reuse
  • Milestone Decisions, Inc. 
Congratulations to our 2023 

#GiveJoy & #GiveTogether Award Recipients

#GiveTogether Recipients: 

  • Agnes Scott College
  • Town Cats of Morgan Hill 
  • Bigger Vision of Athens 


 #GiveJoy Recipients: 
  • No Boundaries Coalition
  • Phinizy Center for Water Sciences
  • People Helping People Utah
  • Big Dog Ranch Rescue
  • University of the Incarnate Word

Not sure where to begin?

Nonprofit Resource Guide

Webinars

Check out our webinars to learn more about how you can leverage GivePulse software to ignite momentum for your nonprofit, track your progress, and measure the success of your efforts all in one place. Access the Planning a Successful National Volunteer Week for IHEs workshop recording.

Step-by-Step Support

Open Office Hours

Interested in Learning More?

United Way and Volunteer Center staff come together for a group photo to encourage volunteerism in their community.

Not sure where to begin?

Volunteer Resource Guide

Explore the GivePulse Community

Looking to spark change in your community? With millions of users and over 650k groups, there are millions of opportunities to explore with GivePulse. Take a look at our explore page and filter by causes you're interested in, and take action!

Log an Impact

Add an Event!

Volunteers helping clean up their local park during National Volunteer Week

 

Right to use: Any participant who submits a video via this campaign tagging @GivePulse and using #GiveJoyChallenge for their video submission grants GivePulse, Inc. permission to use the content created in promotion of National Volunteer Week and is thereby entering the video campaign for a chance to win a $500 grant. 

 

GivePulse is a platform to help match, track, and assess all forms of community engagement, including volunteerism and fundraising. We are focused on community engagement, building bridges, and making an impact. This campaign aims to promote the use and impact of volunteering with local community partners.