Update: President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA)
Dear VMA Volunteers and Partners,
We wanted to share a brief update regarding the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) and an encouraging development from AmeriCorps.
On July 20, 2026, AmeriCorps published a notice in the Federal Register proposing to renew the information collection associated with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. The notice states that AmeriCorps intends to renew the current collection “without revisions,” with the existing authorization scheduled to expire on September 30, 2026.
You can read the official notice here:
Federal Register — President’s Volunteer Service Award Notice
What does this mean?
This is an important development, but it is also important to clarify what it does—and does not—mean.
PVSA has not yet reopened. The July 20 notice does not announce that organizations can resume applying as Certifying Organizations or that new PVSA awards can currently be issued. Rather, it indicates that AmeriCorps is taking formal steps to maintain the federal administrative framework supporting the program. If AmeriCorps wanted to quietly close the PVSA, the easiest method would have been to let the forms expire on September 30, 2026. By actively filing to renew them, the agency has officially signaled that they want to keep the program legally alive.
Should funding return, or perhaps a new administration enters the picture, there will be less legal hurdles to resume PVSA.
The notice concerns OMB Control Number 3045-0086 and the PVSA application used by organizations to review volunteer service contributions and determine eligibility for the award.
VMA National Service Award continues
In the meantime, VMA Foundation will continue the VMA National Service Award (VMA-NSA), our national recognition program created during the PVSA pause.
The VMA-NSA continues to recognize meaningful student service using PVSA-aligned service levels, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold recognition for high school students and age-appropriate Gold recognition for younger students.
Our students therefore do not need to wait for the federal program to resume in order to have their service recognized.
What are we watching next?
We will be watching several developments closely in the coming months, including:
September 18, 2026 — deadline for public comments on the proposed renewal
September 30, 2026 — expiration of the current information collection authorization
Any subsequent action by AmeriCorps and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Most importantly, any announcement regarding the reopening of the PVSA Certifying Organization application process
For now, our message is simple: there is reason for optimism, but it is too early to say that PVSA has returned.
We are grateful to all of our volunteers, educators, students, families, and partner organizations who have continued to support the importance of recognizing service. Whatever happens next with PVSA, VMA Foundation remains committed to providing students with meaningful opportunities to serve their communities—and ensuring that their service is recognized.
We will share additional information as the federal process develops.
With appreciation,
Jonathan Yasuda
Director
VMA Foundation
