NYU Alumni Global Days of Service

Started in 2017, the NYU Alumni Global Day of Service (GDS) is an annual volunteer engagement program that brings all NYU Alumni together to make a global impact through service in support of non-profit and charitable organizations in need.

Planning for GDS 2023 will occur during the Summer, and we will update this page with the selected dates as soon as they are confirmed.

In addition to having a greater impact, having the GDS span several weeks allows greater flexibility for our alumni clubs/groups and schools to host projects they want to support. It also allows alumni to participate in multiple projects if available in their region.

Typically, a club/group and schools organizes one service project in support of the GDS. However, some have organized up to two in order to accommodate a larger alumni base, or the group’s desire to support multiple non-profit organizations or causes.

Service projects are organized by a variety of alumni clubs/groups as a means to connect the greater NYU alumni community towards a common goal. It also allows alumni an opportunity to engage with various alumni clubs/groups they may be interested in that is beyond the typical social or educational event. NYU schools also sponsor service projects as a way to connect alumni from their alumni community, or showcase service projects that are unique to their field of study (ie: NYU Tandon hosting a project for alumni to mentor students interested in STEM fields).

Yes! Service projects are organized by many NYU Alumni Clubs across the world.

Yes. All service projects available are open to all alumni and alumni are welcome to choose any project they are interested in supporting.

Yes! All service projects available are open to all alumni and alumni are welcome to choose any project they are interested in supporting. This is often a great opportunity for alumni to engage a club/group or school in a way that is beyond the typical social or educational event. It is not unusual for the GDS to be the first NYU event many alumni have attended – so it’s a great opportunity for clubs/schools to meet new fellow alumni.

Depends.

Yes – if the fundraiser directly supports a cause correlated to the mission of the New York University Alumni Association (NYUAA) – such as raising funds for scholarships to directly benefit NYU students. If your school/group would like to raise money for NYU student scholarships, please connect with your staff partner. 

No- if the fundraiser is to raise money that will go to another charitable organization.

Yes. Service projects organized for the annual GDS are most often done so in support of non-profit organizations. Please work with national or local non-profits to organize a service project, but please be reminded that monetary fundraisers to directly benefit an organization are not permitted.

Yes – as long as the project is not collecting money to give to an organization directly. An online project held recently involved creating an Amazon Wish List for an organization that was collecting select items for individuals impacted by a natural disaster. 

It is best to go with a zero cost model in the spirit of service and overall impact. It is not unusual for a club/group to charge a nominal fee should the non-profit require it. However, should a charity require the purchase of supplies in an excessive amount for a project to take place, funding can be requested and may be granted depending amount and need.

Sometimes a non-profit will require a fee for a project to take place – most often to purchase supplies. If the fee is $20 or less please consider charging participants as part of the service project and overall impact (alumni are often happy to support the charity). However, if the fee is an excessive amount, please ask your staff partner if funding is available to off-set the cost. Funding will only be considered in support of a service project to occur– no social components will be funded.

Transportation is the responsibility of the volunteer. Should the project be a great distance and the club/group would like to coordinate car-pooling to a service project, please connect with your staff partner to include special instructions in the communication sent to alumni.

Any day between April 1 – 30, 2019. Weekend projects often have a higher participation rate, but some non-profits or organizations have availability during the week after typical work hours as well. 

Please work with your staff partner to assist, but general information that is needed includes: project name, non-profit organization name, location, date, start time, end time, sponsoring club/group, project description, project capacity, organization website, team captain name and contact info and any specific details for the project such as where volunteers meet or what they should wear.

Email blasts are sent out to alumni in specific regions where service projects are taking place asking alumni to register to participate. Communications will also go out via various communication platforms such as social media, alumni newsletters, the alumni magazine and other methods.

Please consult with your staff partner as this information changes annually depending on dates of the GDS.

In some instances, registration will close once a project is at capacity. If a project is not at capacity, registration will close approximately 3-4 business days before the projects takes place in order to finalize participant lists and send out confirmation emails. 

Team Captains are an integral part of the GDS in that they are a main point person for the project and represent NYU and the host club/group. Responsibilities of a Team Captain include: connecting with charity organizer upon arrival the day of the project, checking in participants, giving participants t-shirts (if applicable), taking photos of alumni at the service project, and responding back to your staff partner with impact stats after the project is complete.

Impact stats are simple data points that illustrate the impact of a service project. Stats that are collected include: number of participants (only those that report for project), number of hours worked, and any unique contributions the project may have had. (ie: 25 participants worked for 3 hours and planted 500 bulbs to beautify the park).

Once the Office of Alumni Relations receives the impact stats from all projects that are completed in the name of the NYU Alumni Global Day of Service, a final impact report is created and shared to provide the impact NYU Alumni made through this collective effort. (ie: in 2018, 493 volunteers participated in 41 service projects, completed a total of 1,467 service hours and had an economic impact.

Before a project occurs, Team Captains will receive a list of registered participants as well as information on what impact stats to collect. They will also receive information on taking photos and how they can share on social media with #NYUAlumni #NYUServiceDay. When applicable, Team Captains will also receive t-shirts to hand to those who requested one (must register by specific day to receive a t-shirt).

This depends on the service project and what participants will be doing. Information on what to wear are usually included in confirmation emails. An NYU Alumni Global Days of Service t-shirt is often available to alumni (if they register early) and will be supplied the day of the project so all involved look like a team.

Overall, one should use their best judgement and dress for the task at hand (ie: long pants and closed toe shoes when doing yard work, or sneakers if they are doing a walk/run event). One should keep in mind that they are representing NYU and the club/group while participating as well.