Our Origins

In 1989, President George H.W. Bush invoked the vision of a Thousand Points of Light, a constellation of change agents that make our communities and democracy work. That vision to promote and cultivate volunteer engagement gave birth to a federally authorized, independent nonprofit entity called the Points of Light Foundation.

At about the same time, volunteers were gathering in living rooms and taverns in places like Atlanta and New York to create new ways for people to volunteer. This grassroots, entrepreneurial movement became known as Hands On Network and for almost, two decades these two organizations worked independently, alternatively collaborating and competing, to engage volunteers.

On August 1, 2007, Points of Light Foundation and Hands on Network decided to join forces and merged into a single organization with a shared vision and a shared set of goals.

The new organization, now called Points of Light Institute, is implementing a bold new strategy to create unprecedented scale and people-centered community impact through volunteerism and civic involvement.

HandsOn Network is the leading business unit within the Points of Light Institute portfolio and the activating arm. It is the largest volunteer and citizen action network in the nation.

HandsOn Network inspires, equips, and mobilizes people to take action that changes the world.

At the center of the network are 370 affiliates, called HandsOn Action Centers that serve 83% of the American population and located 12 international communities.

The vast majority of Points Of Light Institute’s work and activity happens through HandsOn Network’s Action Centers and its expanded network of hundreds of nonprofit, community and faith-based and government organizations.

HandsOn Network. Generated by Points of Light Institute.