Virginia Community Service & Civics Projects

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

Are you a Virginia high school student looking to earn the Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Civics Education? The Jackson Copeland Foundation offers meaningful service learning projects that fit your schedule while making a real difference in the fight against leukemia.

Our opportunities are designed to help you meet the 50-hour voluntary participation requirement for the Civics Seal. Whether you are in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, or anywhere in the Commonwealth, 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 Virginia Service Projects?

• Remote & Flexible: Much of the planning and organization can be done from home.
• State-Wide: Available to students in all Virginia school divisions.
• Civics Focused: Our advocacy and community organizing projects align perfectly with the goals of the Civics Education Seal.
• Verified 501(c)(3): All hours are completed with a registered non-profit, meeting standard verification requirements.

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Virginia Diploma Seal Requirements

To earn the Board of Education’s Seal for Excellence in Civics Education, a student must satisfy four specific criteria. Our projects are designed to help you fulfill the service hour component of this prestigious award.

• The Goal: Demonstrate exemplary performance in civics education and community engagement.
• The Criteria:
  1. Earn a Standard or Advanced Studies Diploma.
  2. Complete Virginia & U.S. History and Virginia & U.S. Government with a grade of “B” or higher.
  3. Maintain good attendance and have no disciplinary infractions.
  4. Complete 50 hours of voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities.

Note: Always check with your school counselor to confirm local reporting procedures and get your activity pre-approved to ensure it meets your specific school division’s standards.

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What Counts for the Civics Seal?

The Virginia Department of Education requires “voluntary participation in community service or extracurricular activities.”

Activities that Generally COUNT:

• Charitable Service: Volunteering for a 501(c)(3) organization (like us!) that provides services to the sick or less fortunate.
• Civic Engagement: Participating in activities that support community well-being, such as organizing a public health awareness campaign.
• Advocacy: Activities that increase awareness, such as organizing a drive for the National Marrow Donor Program.

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 50 Hours

1. Organizing Blood Drives (Service Learning)

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

2. National Marrow Donor Registry Campaigns (Civic Engagement)

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 is a powerful form of civic engagement that directly impacts public health outcomes.

3. Organizing Fundraisers (Community 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 Virginia 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 definition of “voluntary participation” required for your verification. This is perfect for students who want to combine their specific talents (art, coding, writing) with community service.