The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Leadership Center
Mayor's Award
Students who complete the required number of volunteer hours at nonprofits throughout the Triangle during summer break and awarded a certificate in the fall.
Hours Update
For the Summer of 2025, the minimum number of hours required to receive the Mayor’s Award is 40 hours.
Starting in the Summer of 2026, students will need 60 hours to receive the Mayor’s Award. This awards was bumped down to 40 hours to assist students during the pandemic, which is why it will be returning to 60 hours next summer.
Since 1998, the Mayor’s Award has recognized students across the Triangle for their service to the community each summer.
Hours Update
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Mayor’s Award Essay Contest Winner:
Sohum Kunde
In his winning essay “From the Court to the Community: A Transformative Summer at the YMCA Sports Camp” he reflects on the power of kindness and how his experiences at camp inspired him to start his own sports-related nonprofit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mayor's Award?
The Mayor’s Award program provides the opportunity for students to volunteer at one of our registered non-profits in the Triangle area during the summer months. Students giving 40 (60 starting in 2026) or more hours of service with positive evaluations are eligible to win the Mayor’s Award.
Who is eligible?
Students who are 12 (or turn 12 by June 1) to 18 years of age. Please note that some nonprofits have age minimums and may require an adult to be present if this minimum is not met. Generally there are fewer opportunities for students under age 14.
Students must complete their hours at a nonprofit located in Durham, Orange, or Wake County NC.
How do I find volunteer opportunities?
Our online volunteer matching database, HandsOnTriangle.org has hundreds of volunteer opportunities. Any opportunity listed is eligible for the award. Students can also contact nonprofits and select opportunities that may not be listed. There are thousands of nonprofits throughout the Triangle providing students with plenty of ways to find an opportunity to volunteer.
Can I complete my hours at more than one organization, or do I have to do all hours at the same site?
You can serve at several different organizations, as long as your hours add up to the required minimum. You must maintain a timesheet and your supervisor will need to approve your hours and complete an evaluation form.
What if I can’t find an opportunity that is still open?
We encourage students to take leadership in locating a volunteer opportunity. If you have contacted several agencies and they are unable to find a placement for you, consider creating an opportunity with another agency. It is common to have to contact numerous groups before finding a match. If you have contacted more than 5 agencies and cannot find a match, e-mail the names of the agencies that you have contacted, your name and age, city, and volunteer interests to hannah@thevolunteercenter.com and we will assist you in locating an opportunity.
How do I know if the agency I want to volunteer with is registered?
Hours from any certified nonprofit will be recognized.
Click Here to see if an organization is registered with us.
If the nonprofit is not registered with us, please use this database to check if it is a certified 501c3 Nonprofit.
How will my hours be verified?
Based on the email address you provide in the application form to receive notifications, you will receive a thank you notification after completing the form. This notification will have the link to the supervisors evaluation form, please send it to each of your supervisors so they can complete and submit in a timely manner.
What is the deadline for completing my hours?
Your hours must be completed by the start of the first day of school. This varies between schools so we ask for your start and end dates on your application.
