SERVING COMMUNITIES, SERVING THE WORLD
At Notre Dame, service to each other and to the world around us is baked into our DNA. Shortly after founder Rev. Edward F. Sorin, C.S.C., arrived on the land that would soon be home to Our Lady’s University, he wrote to Rev. Basil Moreau, C.S.C., founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, sharing the “deep conviction” he held for what Notre Dame would become:
“This college cannot fail to succeed. Before long, it will develop on a large scale. It will be one of the most powerful means for good in this country.”
Ever since, that sentiment has driven the mission of the University.
In this spirit, the Alumni Association is proud to host the Notre Dame Global Day of Service — a day designated for Notre Dame students, alumni, parents, and friends around the world to serve in the name of Our Lady.
The inaugural event, held on April 29, 2023, saw more than 3,500 volunteers participate in 167 projects across 45 states, 26 countries, and five continents. Organizers held projects that ran the spectrum from writing notes to those needing encouragement and assembling food and toiletry kits for those in need, to cleaning up community outdoor spaces and building beds, or even housing.
“When we set out to create the Notre Dame Global Day of Service, we knew the Notre Dame family had the power to make a meaningful impact in communities all over the world, but to see that impact in action has been both breathtaking and humbling. For thousands of alumni, parents, and friends to so willingly jump in to make a difference in the lives of their neighbors in need speaks to the sincerity with which this community takes our call to be a force for good in the world.” — Dolly Duffy, Alumni Association Executive Director
FIND A PROJECT
Check out the map below for 2024 Global Day of Service projects and find a service opportunity near you! Projects from Notre Dame clubs, classes, groups, and individuals will be added to the map as they are registered.
ORGANIZE A PROJECT
No projects near you? Plan your own in your community with your family, friends, or colleagues! Struggling to come up with an idea? Consider one of these options:
🗺️ Organize a food drive or write inspirational notes for our partners at Blessings in a Backpack, which provides hunger-free weekends to food-insecure children across the U.S.
🗺️ Collect and donate canned goods to a local food pantry.
🗺️ Assemble toiletry kits for an organization that serves the homeless.
🗺️ Beautify your communityby helping with an adopt-a-highway or beach clean-up effort.
🗺️ Visit VolunteerMatch to learn more about the needs in your area.
SUBMIT A PROJECT
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We encourage clubs, groups, and families to explore the issues facing their communities, then identify local volunteer organizations or nonprofits that address those issues. Work with those community partners to develop a meaningful service project held on Saturday, April 27. If you already volunteer with an organization, ask what its needs are! You can refer to our Project Leader Guide and this sample project for inspiration.
To submit your Global Day of Service project, please fill out this form. You may submit a project on behalf of a club, class, or group, or for yourself/your family. Club, class, and group projects will be added to our official list of events that participants may register for. Individually organized projects will be added to that list if you are open to others joining your efforts.
Yes, the deadline for submitting a project was Monday, March 25. Please submit your project as soon as possible so we can add it to the map above!
We’re glad you’re interested! As projects are submitted, we will update this website to generate a comprehensive list, so check back often. You can also check out your local club’s event on their website. Find your club by searching the Communities page on myNotreDame, then check the Events tab on the club’s page.
Registration will open in January as projects are submitted and approved. As you identify an opportunity you would like to participate in, you will be able to register through that project’s Event page on myNotreDame.
Yes! Individuals are invited to submit their own projects and log their hours, too! You can also check the list of projects to see if something is planned in your area. Everyone in the Notre Dame family can be part of this special day.
While we would like to have most projects completed on April 27, we understand that conflicts sometimes arise. Please still submit your service plan and execute it as close to April 27 as possible.
In late April, this website will be updated with a form for submitting your Global Day of Service hours. Tracking your hours will help us in measuring the impact of the Notre Dame family!
Our Partners
Explore the family of Notre Dame Alumni Association websites:
