For Students
Student Groups/Organizations
Here are some examples of service projects student groups have taken part in/coordinated in partnership with the Career Center.
Type of Project: One-Time and Short-Term
Area of Interest: Hunger and Homelessness
Service Project(s): The Pre-Dental Society recently collected over 150 pounds of food and clothing for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless Candlelight Vigil, which connects homeless families and community members with good and services they need most.
Type of Project: One-Time and Long-Term
Area of Interest: Children and Poverty
Service Project(s): Students from Benefice Project for Youth and Poverty Has Tears served as “College Ambassadors” for 40 children in the PAR FORE mentoring program, focusing on leadership, teamwork, and being successful in school.
Type of Project: One-Time and Short-Term
Area of Interest: Environment
Service Project(s): Students from National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) partnered with Sweetbriar Nature Center to volunteer during their Spring Festival, one of their largest community events aimed at environmental awareness and conservation.
Type of Project: Long-Term
Area of Interest: Literacy and Poverty
Service Project(s): Alpha Kappa Psi regularly collects books for Better World Books, an international organization dedicated to improving global literacy and providing children all over the world with current textbooks and reading material.
Type of Project: One-Time
Area of Interest: Hunger
Service Project(s): Catholic Campus Ministries visited Hobbs Community Farm to learn about a community garden, fair trade farming, and to participate in hands-on farming! Students helped community members prepare their crops for sale at a local farmer’s market.
Grants and Fellowship Opportunities
Below you will find links to various descriptions of and applications for grants, fellowships, and awards. For answers to inquiries or for help with applying, contact us.
Campus Compact
Campus Compact is a coalition of more than 1,100 college and university presidents representing some 6 million students who are committed to fulfilling the public purposes of higher education. An updated list of funding opportunities and fellowships for students and faculty can be found at Campus Compact.
CASE Grant
The New York Campus Compact is providing students at member campuses access to six awards of $1,000 to support a campus/community project, through the Carter Academic Service Entrepreneur (CASE) Grant program, described below. Supported by the Kellogg Foundation, the CASE Grants encourage students to collaborate with a community organization, work with a faculty member, and develop an effective response to a pressing community need. All applications are made online and are evaluated by a panel of NYCC reviewers.
Do Something Grants
Want to make a difference but lack funds to start? DoSomething.org can help. Weekly grants of $500 are given to students and students groups who create and sustain projects to help with various social justice issues. Get a jump-start on your community service and make a difference. For more information, please visit dosomething.org.
Ford Foundation Grants
Founded to advance human welfare, the Ford Foundation is a resource for innovative people and institutions around the world.
Frank Newman Leadership Award
The Frank Newman Leadership Award provides financial support and mentorship to assist students achieve their civic and academic goals. Two $5,000 awards are available to undergraduate students at Campus Compact member colleges and universities.
Jenzabar Foundation Grant
The Jenzabar Foundation welcomes grant proposals from institutions of higher education and recognized US-based non-profit organizations. The Foundation will entertain proposals that serve broader interests in the areas of education and social welfare. Students groups are encouraged to apply online as well as obtain more information about the grant.
MacArthur Fellows Program
The MacArthur Fellows Program awards unrestricted fellowships to talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction. There are several funding topics to choose from, including Human Rights, Environment, Public Health and Medicine, Technology, Religious Studies, and more! To browse fellowships, click here.
Samuel Huntington Public Service Award
The Samuel Huntington Public Service Award provides a $10,000 stipend for a graduating college senior to pursue one year of public service anywhere in the world.
Social Justice Grant Fund – The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Grants (up to $5,000) are awarded to organizations that are working to improve their communities for all underserved individuals, especially women and children. Established in 1981, the grants are used to support local, national, and international programs supporting social justice. To learn more, click here.
Starbucks Foundation-Starbucks Shared Planet Youth Action Grants
Deadline: Rolling
Youth Action Grants are designed to help youth realize their natural potential to reinvent their local communities. The Starbucks Foundation accepts applications from organizations that provide young people (ages 6-24) with a continuum of service opportunities in social entrepreneurship. Grants range from $10,000 to $25,000. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status.
Contact the Starbucks Foundation for more information and to apply for this funding.
State Farm Youth Advisory Board Grants
State Farm Grants are available to institutions of higher education for projects which are youth initiated, designed, and carried out in conjunction with a community partner. Grants range from $25,000 to $100,000 and are evaluated by the youth advisory board for how well they utilize service-learning to address access to higher education, environmental responsibility, financial literacy, disaster preparedness, and driver safety. Detailed information on the RFP process, grant requirements, evaluation and eligibility criteria is available here.
STOP Hunger Scholarship
The Sodexo Foundation seeks applicants for the STOP Hunger Scholarships to recognize students in the fight against hunger in America. The STOP Hunger Scholarships recognize and reward students who have made a significant impact in the fight against hunger and its root causes in the United States.
Application materials available here »
True Hero Competition
The TRUE HERO™ organization will award money for community service project expenses to qualified colleges and community organizations. The awards will be granted to those student community service projects receiving the most eligible votes from the general public during the current school year (July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2011). In order to be eligible to win, the student community service project must involve at least three volunteers younger than 23 years old. To apply and for more information, please visit truehero.org.
U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award
Individuals and groups are eligible to receive federal recognition from the President of the United States for hours served in the community over a 12-month period. As a certifying organization, Stony Brook University can assist individuals and groups with verifying their volunteer hours and submission of applications. For more information on the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award, click here.
Volunteers for Prosperity
The Office of Volunteers for Prosperity (VFP) in cooperation with the USA Freedom Corps at the White House, and Global Giving Foundation, launched the Volunteers for Prosperity Service Incentive Program or VFPServ. This is an innovative public-private partnership to help address the financial challenges facing a number of skilled Americans interested in short-term international voluntary service by providing matching grants ranging from $500 to $1000 to offset travel, insurance, and local living costs.
Beautification/Community Garden Initiatives
Work with a nonprofit agency to transform a community park, playground, or other communal area into a beautiful place for all to enjoy!
Donation Collections & Drives
Collect donations for nonprofits all year long! Many agencies receive lots of donations around the holidays, without additional support during the rest of the year. Collect canned food, clothing, personal care items, toys, school supplies, and other much-needed donations for domestic or international charities.
Book Drives
Collect books for schools and families in the US, Africa, and Asia. Student groups earn money for each book donation!
Disaster Relief
Engage in hands-on disaster relief volunteering right here on Long Island. Many areas have been severely impacted in the recent months by hurricanes, coastal flooding, and home deterioration – they need your help!
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities in NYC & LI
Volunteer in various organizations in NYC & LI as individuals or groups of people. Volunteer to help the elderly, children, or at soup kitchens, the possibilities are endless.
If you are interested in participation in any of these projects or have an idea for a community service project but don’t know where to start, or if you are a student group and would like to request a presentation about community service projects, Contact Us.
Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering and giving back to others is a vital part of community life, especially at Stony Brook University. By volunteering, you can gain excellent experience for your future career, develop teamwork and leadership skills, and better understand social issues that exist in our society.
Please visit the links below for more resources and information on volunteering on and off campus and international volunteering. Opportunities are available on Long Island, in New York City, and anywhere else you can imagine!
On- and Off-Campus Opportunities
The Career Center’s Community Service website offers exciting opportunities on Long Island and in New York City. Volunteering ranges from a few hours a week to full-time service positions, and encompass many different types of industries, including healthcare, education, environment, and more!
International Opportunities
The Career Center’s Community service section provides information on short- and long-term volunteer positions, ranging from creating sustainable energy solutions in rural communities in Uganda to doing scientific research in over 50 countries.
Annual Service Trips & Service-Oriented Clubs
Alternative Spring Break Outreach
Student-developed, student-run community service organization whose mission is to promote critical thinking, social action, and civic engagement for a lifetime by combining education, reflection, and direct service on the local, regional, national, and international levels. If you would like more information, click here.
Global Medical Brigades
Each year, students travel to Honduras, Panama and/or Ghana for 7-10 days. Working alongside doctors in a rural community, students assist with providing medical services and educating local community members about sanitation and hygiene. For more information, click here.
Global Environmental Brigades
Student volunteers that travel to Panama each year to help local communities find efficient and culturally appropriate ways of handling global health and sustainability. For more information, click here.
Global Water Brigades
Students travel to Honduras to educate themselves and others about ways to improve the quality and access of clean drinking water to areas with limited infrastructure. For more information, click here.
Find A Student Group that Loves Service as Much as You Do!
Interested in learning about more student groups at Stony Brook that love volunteering and community service? Click here to visit the Career Center’s Community Service Student Groups page!
Annual Campaigns & Charitable Endeavors
The Fund for Stony Brook
Annual giving that focuses on the highest priorities of the University.
It's About Us
Our University. Our Campaign. Find out how to give or get involved.
Stony Brook Cares
The University's annual fundraising drive that collects and distributes urgently needed contributions to hundreds of charitable organizations, giving vital aid and support to people in need.
The Simons Effect
One year ago, Jim and Marilyn Simons and the Simons Foundation pledged to match incoming SBU donations dollar for dollar. We are proud to announce that, to date, we have raised $200 million dollars to support Stony Brook University! Find out how you can get involved and donate!
Encourages students to explore the meaning of community service and leadership—two keys to career success and life satisfaction.
Community Service Learning
The interdisciplinary minor in Community Service Learning is open to all undergraduates who wish to add a service learning dimension to their academic experience.
Undergraduate College of Leadership & Service
Encourages students to explore the meaning of community service and leadership—two keys to career success and life satisfaction!
Leadership Nexis
A gateway for students to explore opportunities related to leadership development on campus!