THE NATIONAL SERVICE HONOR AWARD
The National Service Honor was created to recognize and celebrate meaningful volunteer service in communities everywhere. Open to schools, nonprofits, community groups, and individuals, the National Service Honor provides a simple way to acknowledge and honor the impact of volunteers at every level.
General Eligibility Requirements
- Age: Participants must be at least 5 years old.
- Eligible Service: Service must be unpaid and must benefit the community.
- Timeframe: Hours for Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards must be completed within a single 12-month period.
- Certifying Organization: All hours must be verified by a nonprofit organization legally established in the United States or its territories.
- Ineligible Activities: The following do not count toward the award:
• Donating funds or goods
• Political lobbying or partisan activities
• Religious instruction, worship services, or proselytizing
• Court-ordered community service
• Serving only family members
BRIGHT-Specific Eligibility Requirements
1. Service Cycle
Beginning in the future, the service cycle will run from June 1, 2026 to May 31, 2027, and will follow the same schedule in subsequent years to better align with the school calendar.
2. BRIGHT Participation Requirement
At least 20% of the minimum volunteer hours required for each award level must be completed through BRIGHT volunteer projects.
3. Event Participation
Applicants must have participated in three or more BRIGHT-organized events, including but not limited to:
Bottle Drive, Book Drive, Senior Center Musical Performance, Crayon Revival, Hike & Clean, Living Arroyos, Fundraise Drive, Alameda County Fair, Christmas Shoebox Packing, Adopt a Senior for Christmas, and similar BRIGHT initiatives.
4. Verification of External Volunteer Hours
Volunteer hours completed outside of BRIGHT must be clearly documented with event details. The volunteer form must include the signature and contact information of the supervising or authorizing official.
5. Limits on Collection-Based Projects
For collection-related projects—including but not limited to Bottle Drive, Book Drive, and FUNDrive—the maximum number of hours allowed applies to the combined total from all organizations for the same type of project.
Maximum hours that may be counted per year:
- Bottle Donation: up to 30 hours per year
- Book Donation: up to 20 hours per year
- FUNDrive Donation: up to 20 hours per year
- Christmas Shoebox: up to 12 hours per year
Example
1. If a member earns 10 service hours through the BRIGHT Bottle Drive and 10 service hours through another organization for the same type of project, only 20 hours in total may be counted toward the NSHA application.
2. If another BRIGHT member earns 10 service hours through the BRIGHT Bottle Drive and 10 service hours through another organization for the same type of project, a maximum of 20 hours may be counted toward the NSHA application.
BRIGHT reserves the final authority to interpret these guidelines.
Note: The applicant’s age category will be determined based on their actual age on the date the application is submitted.
For more detailed information about award levels and age categories, please visit the NSHA website and NSHA Learning Center.
Disclaimer: BRIGHT is not responsible for any changes to NSHA requirements or age definitions. Please refer to the NSHA website for the most up-to-date information.
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