DCPS Community Service Hours

Flexible, in-person, remote, and self-paced community service opportunities for individual students, small teams, or school clubs!

Are you a Washington, D.C. high school student looking to complete your 100 Community Service Hours for graduation? The Jackson Copeland Foundation offers meaningful projects that fit your schedule while making a real difference in the fight against leukemia.

Our opportunities are designed to meet DC Public Schools (DCPS) and charter school guidelines for Indirect Service and Advocacy. Whether you are in Ward 1, Ward 8, or anywhere in the District, our projects can be tailored to your interests.

Projects include supporting leukemia patients and families through organizing blood drives, leading advocacy campaigns for the National Marrow Donor Program, or managing fundraising initiatives.

Why Choose Our DC Community Service Projects?

• Remote & Flexible: Much of the work can be done from home (perfect for fulfilling “Indirect Service” hours).
• District-Wide: Available to students in all 8 Wards and DC charter schools.
• Impactful: Your hours directly help save lives and support families battling cancer.
• Verified 501(c)(3): All hours are completed with a registered non-profit, meeting DCPS verification requirements.

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DC Graduation Requirements

To earn a high school diploma in the District of Columbia, every student must complete 100 hours of community service.

• The Goal: Equip students with civic skills while addressing a real community need (ending leukemia).
• The Process: We guide you through the phases required for your Community Service Verification Form:
  1. Planning (Indirect Service): Learning about blood cancer, building a team, and planning your project logistics. We recommend reading our guide, Blood & Money: Service Learning and Project Management Principles for Student Volunteers, to get started.
  2. Action (Advocacy/Service): Executing your fundraiser, drive, or awareness campaign.
  3. Reflection: Completing the required reflection section on your DCPS service form to document what you learned.

Note: Always check with your school counselor or community service point of contact (POC) to get your activity pre-approved before starting to ensure it meets your school’s specific reporting standards.

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What Counts for DC Community Service Hours?

DCPS requires that service be performed with a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (like us!) or a government agency.

Activities that Generally COUNT:

• Indirect Service: Support provided for others, such as organizing a fundraiser, collecting supplies, or managing logistics for a blood drive.
• Advocacy: Activities that increase awareness or influence behavior, such as organizing a campaign for the National Marrow Donor Program.
• Direct Service: Face-to-face interaction with beneficiaries (e.g., tutoring, volunteering at an event).

Activities that DO NOT Count:

• Family Obligations: Babysitting family members or helping at a parent’s business.
• Religious Practice: Participating in worship services (though providing humanitarian aid through a religious group is usually accepted).
• Donations Only: Simply donating money or blood does not count (but organizing the drive or fundraiser does!).

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Projects to Earn Your DCPS 100 Hours

1. Organizing Blood Drives (Indirect Service)

Many leukemia patients rely on blood transfusions to survive. While simply giving blood is considered a donation and does not count for hours, organizing and hosting a community blood drive is a perfect example of Indirect Service. You will handle the logistics, marketing, and recruitment—gaining valuable leadership skills while saving lives.

2. National Marrow Donor Registry Campaigns (Advocacy)

For many patients, a stem cell transplant is the only cure. You can earn hours by organizing an Advocacy Campaign to register new donors for the National Marrow Donor Program. Increasing registry diversity meets the “Advocacy” definition for DC community service by raising awareness for a critical cause.

3. Organizing Fundraisers (Indirect Service)

Plan and execute a fundraiser to support patient families. We assist with the planning (logistics, accounting, marketing) utilizing the principles from our ebook Blood & Money so you can focus on the execution. Whether it’s a digital campaign or a community event, fundraising is a classic service project accepted by DC schools.

4. Personalized Service Projects

Have a unique idea? We are thrilled to help you design a custom community service project. We will help you structure the project to meet the Direct, Indirect, or Advocacy definitions required for your verification form. This is perfect for students who want to combine their specific talents (art, coding, writing) with community service.