Governor's Volunteer Awards
Funding Amount
Varies
Deadline
September 30, 2026
176 days left
Grant Type
foundation
Overview
Governor's Volunteer Awards
Administrator: OneStar Foundation in partnership with the Office of the Texas Governor
Geographic Scope: Texas statewide
Overview:
The Governor's Volunteer Awards is an annual program that honors exemplary individuals, groups, and organizations who have demonstrated exceptional dedication to improving their communities through outstanding service and volunteering. This is the 42nd annual awards program (as of 2026).
Award Categories (9 total):
1. Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award - Recognizes individuals with 25+ years of exceptional service and community impact
2. First Lady's Rising Star Award - Honors young/emerging leaders showing exceptional service commitment
3. Volunteer of the Year Award - Recognizes individual volunteers with outstanding recent service
4. Volunteer Family of the Year Award - Honors families volunteering together for community impact
5. Community Champion Award - Recognizes community organizations/groups with significant local impact
6. Education Champion Award - Honors those advancing education and student success
7. Corporate Champion Award - Recognizes businesses demonstrating community commitment through employee volunteering
8. Rebuild Texas Disaster Impact Award - Honors disaster recovery and resilience efforts
9. AmeriCorps Legacy of Service Award - Recognizes AmeriCorps alumni and service-related impact
Recognition:
Contact Information:
Background:
This prestigious state award recognizes the everyday heroes and organizations that strengthen Texas communities. Previous award recipients have demonstrated transformational impact across education, disaster relief, healthcare, animal rescue, and community development.
How to Apply
How to Apply
1. Visit the Awards Website
- Go to onestarfoundation.org/governors-volunteer-awards
2. Review Award Categories
- Review detailed descriptions, eligibility guidelines, and criteria for each of the 9 award categories
3. Submit Nomination
- Complete nomination submission through the online portal
- Nominations can be submitted by individuals, organizations, or the public
4. Required Information (varies by category)
- Nominee name and contact information
- Award category for which you are nominating
- Detailed description of nominee's service and impact
- Specific examples of community contributions
- Contact information for nominee and nominator
5. Submission Deadline
- Nominations close on September 30 annually
6. Selection Process
- Submissions are reviewed by OneStar and Governor's office
- Awardees are selected and announced in March/April
- Recipients honored at Governor's Mansion ceremony in April during National Volunteer Month
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
Categories
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