What counts as volunteer service
Which activities qualify for a YouthVolunteer record, examples from common settings, and what to keep so your supervisor can verify your hours quickly.
Five checks for any activity
You can submit an activity if it passes all five checks. Our staff review every submission before it is approved.
- Unpaid. Paid work and internships do not count, even at a nonprofit.
- Through an eligible organization. A registered nonprofit, school, library, hospital, government agency, or a faith-based group for non-religious service.
- Supervised by an adult in an official role. That person must work at the organization and be able to confirm your hours. Parents, relatives and other students cannot.
- Not already counted. Hours used for another recognition program, such as a Scouting America award or religious confirmation, cannot be counted again.
- Not required by law. Court-ordered or legally mandated service does not count.
Examples by setting
Every submission still needs your supervisor's verification and our approval.
| Setting | Counts | Does not count |
|---|---|---|
| Food banks and shelters | Sorting donations, packing boxes, serving meals | Shifts you were paid for |
| Schools and libraries | Tutoring younger students, helping run a reading program | Paid tutoring |
| School clubs | Time spent teaching or mentoring junior students, certified by a club officer and the club advisor | Meetings and activities you join as a member |
| Hospitals and care homes | Hours in the facility's volunteer program | Paid work or internships |
| Faith-based groups | Food drives, community clean-ups, tutoring | Religious instruction and worship services |
| Parks and the environment | Clean-ups and trail work run by an organization, with a supervisor | Clean-ups on your own, with no organization or supervisor |
| Government and community programs | City or county volunteer programs | Court-ordered or legally required service |
| Home and family | None | Household chores and helping relatives |
Other common questions
- Does online or remote volunteering count?
- Yes, when it runs through an eligible organization and a supervisor there can confirm your hours, such as tutoring in a nonprofit's virtual program.
- Do hours a school requires for graduation count?
- Yes. Service you complete for a school graduation requirement counts the same as any other qualifying service.
- Does fundraising for a nonprofit count?
- Yes, when you do it for an eligible organization under a supervisor, such as staffing a nonprofit's bake sale or sponsored run. Your hours count, not the amount raised.
- Do unpaid counselor-in-training roles at summer camps count?
- Yes, when the role is unpaid and a camp staff member in an official role confirms your hours.
- Does service outside the United States count?
- Yes. The same checks apply, and your supervisor verifies by email like any other submission.
What to keep while you serve
Collecting these as you go means your supervisor can confirm your hours in minutes.
- The date and length of each shift
- A short description of what you did
- Your supervisor's name, title and email address
- One supporting document: a signed Volunteer Certification Form, a letter on the organization's letterhead stating your hours and duties, or a printed portal log (for example from HandsOn Connect or GivePulse) with an authorized signature. Screenshots are not accepted.
Submit a separate certification for each organization. All approved hours add up on one record.
Ready to submit your hours?
Create a free account and send your first certification to your supervisor.