Save the Date for the 2027 Points of Light Conference!

Our Story, Mission, and Movement

What began with President George H.W. Bush’s 1989 call to recognize “a thousand points of light” has grown into a global movement to celebrate volunteers, strengthen the systems that support them, and reimagine how service can change lives.

The Spark

Points of Light began as a national call to recognize the people already quietly serving their communities. Over 35 years, that call grew into a nonprofit organization and a movement to make volunteering more accessible, visible, and impactful for everyone.

The Founding Vision

In his 1989 inaugural address, President George H.W. Bush described individuals and organizations across the nation quietly doing good in their communities as “a thousand points of light.” This idea quickly transcended from a phrase to a framework that recognizes everyday service and invites more people into civic life.

That same year, Bush established the Daily Point of Light Award. In 1990, the Points of Light Foundation was created as an independent, nonpartisan nonprofit to carry that vision forward, encouraging and empowering the spirit of service in communities across the country.

From National Legacy to Global Influence

As the organization evolved, the idea of honoring volunteers spread beyond the United States. In 2014, the United Kingdom launched its own Points of Light award in partnership with the U.S. program. By 2018, that model had expanded across Commonwealth nations, a testament to how deeply the founding vision resonated far beyond its origins.


At the same time, Points of Light continued to deepen its work through youth engagement, corporate service, volunteer infrastructure, a growing network of global affiliates, and public campaigns that celebrate community action at every scale. Milestones like Global Volunteer Month and the organization’s 35th anniversary are proof that the founding idea still holds: volunteering connects people across differences and helps communities meet their most urgent challenges. 

The Work Continues

An Ongoing Legacy

The Work Continues

Explore how this legacy lives on through our mission, leadership, and commitment to expanding volunteering for generations to come.

“A thousand points of light” still endures because it names something true and timeless: communities are shaped by people who choose to show up for one another. That idea was powerful in 1989, and it is just as powerful today.

Our Mission & Vision

The Points of Light mission is to inspire, equip and mobilize people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement.

We envision a society where it is easy for every person to drive change in their community and in the world. We will be a cultural catalyst, working in partnership with organizations and individuals to build a society where it is impossible to sit on the sidelines. We’ll define a new kind of volunteerism for the 21st century, one that calls on people to give their time, talents, voice and resources in service to build a brighter future for all.