Points of Light
Points of Light is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that mobilizes volunteers through digital platforms, a 120-affiliate global network, recognition programs, and corporate social impact services for Fortune 500 clients, nonprofits, and individuals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersAtlanta, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Points of Light does
Points of Light is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 and headquartered in Atlanta, GA, that operates as the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The organization serves three core constituencies: nonprofits and NGOs (via capacity-building, the Service Enterprise certification, and a global network of 120+ affiliates in 250 cities across 32+ countries), corporations (via the Corporate Solutions division designing employee volunteer programs for Fortune 500 clients such as Fidelity, Lowe's, UPS, Comcast, and Target), and individuals (via digital volunteer matching and recognition awards including the Daily Point of Light Award). It runs major recognition franchises such as The Civic 50 (14th year), the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards, and co-manages the President's Volunteer Service Award with AmeriCorps.
The organization's technology layer consists of two consumer-facing volunteer matching platforms — Points of Light Engage and All for Good (100,000+ aggregated volunteer projects) — and a portfolio of programmatic products including the Civic Accelerator for civic ventures, the generationOn youth division, ServiceWorks, and the National Volunteer Strategy framework. Points of Light explicitly positions itself as 'not a technology platform' but as a programmatic partner; it has no public API, no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, and no proprietary model layer, relying instead on human-network mobilization and curated content.
Revenue is generated through three streams: individual and corporate donations, fees for corporate social impact professional services (program design, multi-market events, impact reporting), and foundation/government grants (Caterpillar Foundation, PwC Charitable Foundation, Starbucks Foundation, AmeriCorps). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and corporate engagements are negotiated case-by-case. The organization is governed by a board chaired by Neil Bush (son of founder President George H.W. Bush) and led by President and CEO Jennifer Sirangelo, with ~101-250 employees supporting a programmatic footprint that generated nearly 4 million volunteers, 17M+ annual service hours, and $650M+ in reported community impact in 2024.
Points of Light firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Points of Light
- Legal name
- Points of Light
- Website
- https://pointsoflight.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Points of Light is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that mobilizes volunteers through digital platforms, a 120-affiliate global network, recognition programs, and corporate social impact services for Fortune 500 clients, nonprofits, and individuals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Points of Light industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Volunteer Service and Civic Engagement
- NAICS
- Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good) (BPAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits (BPAGADAI), Disaster Relief & Humanitarian Aid Volunteering (EDAIAGAF), Corporate Foundations & CSR Grantmaking (BPAGAKAC)
Keywords
Where Points of Light is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Atlanta
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Points of Light business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Points of Light receives donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The organization states 'every dollar invested with Points of Light is reinvested into the communities you serve.' The website includes a donate function for individual contributions.
- Corporate Social Impact Services: Points of Light designs and delivers employee volunteer programs for corporate clients. Services include program design, multi-market volunteer events, and impact reporting. Revenue comes from fees for these professional services to companies seeking to engage employees in community service.
- Foundation and Government Grants: The organization receives funding from foundations (e.g., Caterpillar Foundation $2.5M initiative, PwC Charitable Foundation, Starbucks Foundation partnerships) and potentially government grants for national service initiatives.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels9 records
Points of Light product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Points of Light designs, delivers, and scales volunteer service programs across three audiences: corporations seeking employee engagement and CSR impact, nonprofits needing volunteer infrastructure, and individuals looking for service opportunities. Core offerings include Corporate Solutions consulting, the Service Enterprise certification for nonprofits, the Civic 50 corporate recognition program, the Engage and All for Good digital volunteer-matching platforms, signature events and awards, and the Civic Accelerator for civic ventures.
Product overview
Points of Light operates as a nonprofit organization offering a diversified portfolio of volunteer mobilization and civic engagement products and services. The organization functions as a platform-plus-programs model, combining digital platforms (Engage and AllForGood for volunteer opportunity matching), recognition programs (The Civic 50, Daily Point of Light Award, President's Volunteer Service Award, George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards), accelerator programs (Civic Accelerator for civic ventures), youth-focused initiatives (generationOn, ServiceWorks), signature events (Make A Difference Day, Points of Light Conference, Global Volunteer Month), and consulting services (Corporate Solutions, Service Enterprise Program). The National Volunteer Strategy serves as the overarching strategic framework for the organization's Reimagining Service 2035 initiative. The organization does not offer a technology platform with public API access.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- generationOn: Youth service division of Points of Light that provides programs and resources supporting the development of caring, compassionate and capable kids and teens through service
- All for Good
- The Civic 50
- Daily Point of Light Award
- Service Enterprise
- Points of Light Civic Accelerator
Products and services
- Corporate Solutions End-to-end employee volunteer and social impact programs for corporations, including program design, multi-market volunteer events, skills-based volunteering, board service programs, and impact measurement and reporting. Used by Fortune 500 and mid-market companies such as Fidelity, Lowe's, UPS, and Delta.
- Service Enterprise Program Certification program that helps nonprofits and NGOs recruit, train, and manage community volunteers, providing training and resources to build organizational capacity for volunteer engagement.
- The Civic 50 Annual recognition program celebrating corporate social impact, employee volunteering, and community engagement. Open to public and private companies with U.S. operations at no cost to participate, with True Impact as the data partner.
- Points of Light Engage Digital volunteer network platform aggregating volunteer opportunities from sites around the web. Individuals can search for volunteer projects, nonprofits can post and manage event sign-ups, and visitors can start their own projects.
- All for Good Digital hub for volunteerism and community service, aggregating volunteer opportunities from organizations worldwide with more than 100,000 volunteer projects available.
- Points of Light Civic Accelerator First national accelerator program and investment fund focused on civic ventures—for-profit and nonprofit startups that include people as part of the solution to critical social problems. The three-month boot camp-style program equips startups to seek investments and scale social innovation.
- Daily Point of Light Award Recognition award established by President George H.W. Bush in 1989 to celebrate individuals making a difference through volunteer service. More than 6,500 honorees recognized to date.
- generationOn Youth service division of Points of Light providing programs and resources supporting the development of caring, compassionate, and capable kids and teens through service, empowering them to become changemakers in their communities.
- ServiceWorks Program powered by AmeriCorps, Citi Foundation, and Points of Light that engages 16- to 24-year-olds in youth development, educational resources, and career opportunity initiatives through service learning.
- Points of Light Conference World's largest service-related convening of nonprofit, government, business, and civic leaders, featuring 11+ learning tracks with 100+ workshops; held annually in Washington, D.C.
- George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Flagship annual awards ceremony recognizing individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment to volunteerism and community service, held annually in Washington, D.C.
- Make A Difference Day One of the largest annual single days of service nationwide, held on the fourth Saturday in October, bringing together millions of Americans to volunteer in their local communities.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 4 million volunteers engaged annually across 32 countries
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Points of Light
Customer profileNamed customers15 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Points of Light technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Points of Light partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- America250coreComcast NBCUniversal announced partnerships with America250's America Gives initiative, Points of Light, and 9/11 Day to celebrate America's 250th anniversary with a year of service and volunteerism. The company is investing more than $3 million in cash and in-kind support.
- Bigger Picture US (Be The People Initiative)minorBe The People, a 10-year civic initiative facilitated by nonprofit Bigger Picture US, includes Points of Light in its National Leadership Council as a founding member. More than 50 leaders and organizations have joined to connect Americans with community organizations to solve local problems. Plans include volunteer opportunities and cultural activations.
- Phillips 66corePhillips 66 partnered with Points of Light to launch the Mobilizing Millions campaign during Global Volunteer Month. The nationwide initiative aims to expand volunteer engagement and strengthen nonprofit capacity amid challenges including difficulty filling critical volunteer roles and funding cuts. The partnership supports Points of Light's goal of doubling annual volunteers from 75 million to 150 million by 2035.
- FortuneminorFortune selected Points of Light as Impact Partner for the Fortune 500 Innovation Forum in Detroit (November 16-17, 2026), serving as the capstone of Fortune's '250 Years of American Innovation' editorial initiative coinciding with America's semiquincentennial.
- UPS and The UPS FoundationcoreUPS and The UPS Foundation are supporting Points of Light's National Volunteer Strategy, having already achieved their own goal of 30 million volunteer hours four years ahead of schedule through their partnership with Points of Light. Nicole 'Nikki' Clifton, President of Social Impact and The UPS Foundation, serves on Points of Light's Board of Directors.
- Capital OneminorCapital One joined the Points of Light Civic Accelerator as Spring Cohort Supporting Sponsor for the Digital & Financial Inclusion Challenge. This was part of Capital One's $150 million Future Edge initiative to help Americans get skills needed for the 21st century economy.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Points of Light competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- VolunteerMatch: The leading U.S. online volunteer matching platform, directly comparable to Points of Light's Engage and All for Good platforms. Both connect individual volunteers with nonprofit opportunities, though VolunteerMatch is purely a digital platform while Points of Light combines digital with programs, events, and corporate services.
- AmeriCorps: Federal agency that places volunteers in communities and partners with Points of Light on the President's Volunteer Service Award. Comparable as a large-scale U.S. volunteer mobilization organization with national service programs, though AmeriCorps is government-funded and Points of Light is a nonprofit.
- Idealist: Major online platform connecting individuals with volunteer opportunities and nonprofit jobs, directly comparable to All for Good and Points of Light Engage. Overlaps on volunteer matching, especially for younger and entry-level volunteers.
Broad incumbents
- United Way Worldwide: The largest U.S. nonprofit focused on community impact and corporate workplace giving campaigns. Comparable to Points of Light in mobilizing corporate employee engagement and community resources, though United Way's primary focus is fundraising while Points of Light's is volunteer mobilization.
- Habitat for Humanity International: One of the largest U.S. volunteer-driven nonprofits, where Robert E. Herrera (Points of Light's CFO) previously served. Both organizations mobilize large-scale corporate and individual volunteer engagement around specific social missions.
- Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Major U.S. nonprofit heavily dependent on volunteer support with a youth focus, partially overlapping with Points of Light's generationOn youth service division. Both organizations connect corporate partners with community-level volunteer programs.
Emerging players
- Benevity: Software platform powering corporate purpose programs including employee volunteering, giving, and grants management. Directly comparable to Points of Light's Corporate Solutions division but operates as a technology/SaaS business rather than a nonprofit.
- Catchafire: Platform connecting skilled professionals with nonprofits for pro bono volunteering, comparable to Points of Light's skills-based volunteering offerings. Focuses specifically on skills-based service, a growing segment Points of Light also targets.
- DoSomething.org: Youth-focused nonprofit mobilizing millions of young people in volunteer campaigns, comparable to Points of Light's generationOn youth division. Both target youth and family volunteering through digital engagement.
Regional players
- HandsOn Tokyo / HandsOn Global Network: International volunteer center network modeled after the original HandsOn Network that merged with Points of Light in 2007. Operates volunteer-matching programs in geographies where Points of Light has limited direct presence, particularly in Asia.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Points of Light social profiles
Digital presencePoints of Light financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Points of Light leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Points of Light subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Points of Light funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Points of Light M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Points of Light
What does Points of Light do?
Points of Light designs, delivers, and scales volunteer service programs across three audiences: corporations seeking employee engagement and CSR impact, nonprofits needing volunteer infrastructure, and individuals looking for service opportunities. Core offerings include Corporate Solutions consulting, the Service Enterprise certification for nonprofits, the Civic 50 corporate recognition program, the Engage and All for Good digital volunteer-matching platforms, signature events and awards, and the Civic Accelerator for civic ventures.
Is Points of Light a public or private company?
Points of Light is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Points of Light founded?
Points of Light was founded in 1990. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Points of Light based?
Points of Light is headquartered in Atlanta, United States, in the North America region.
How does Points of Light make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are corporate Social Impact Services and foundation and Government Grants.
Who are Points of Light's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are VolunteerMatch, AmeriCorps and Idealist. Broad incumbents are United Way Worldwide, Habitat for Humanity International and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Emerging players are Benevity, Catchafire and DoSomething.org. HandsOn Tokyo / HandsOn Global Network is listed as a regional player.
Does Points of Light have an API?
No public API is recorded for Points of Light.
What industry is Points of Light in?
Points of Light's product category is Volunteer Service and Civic Engagement. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAK, Digital Inclusion & Civic Tech (Connectivity, GovTech for Social Good), with a secondary code of BPAGADAI, Youth Leadership, Civic Education & Service-Learning Nonprofits. Its NAICS code is 813410 and its SIC code is 8300.