Section 1: Certifying Organization Qualifications & Responsibilities

Certifying Organizations are PVSA’s partners in identifying and recognizing honorees for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Only approved Certifying Organizations can certify honorees’ eligibility for PVSA and order awards, and they are thus charged with the responsibility to help uphold the program’s criteria and integrity of the Award.

Certifying Organizations must be established and operating in the United States, its territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Northern Mariana Islands), or on overseas U.S. military and state installations. Additionally, Certifying Organizations must receive or facilitate volunteer service.

The following entity types are eligible to become Certifying Organizations if they meet the threshold requirements above:

• Nonprofit or community-based organizations
• Civic, fraternal or service groups
• Faith-based institutions
• Businesses
• Schools or institutions of higher learning
• National Service programs
• Membership and trade organizations
• Federal, state, and local government agencies
• U.S. military and state entities abroad (i.e., U.S. military bases and U.S. embassies)