Points of Light Institute was created by the merger of the Points of Light Foundation and Hands On Network in August 2007. The result is a powerful, integrated national organization with a global focus to redefine volunteerism and civic engagement for the 21st century, putting people at the center of community problem solving. Our vision is that one day every person will discover their power to make a difference, creating healthy communities in vibrant democracies around the world. To realize this vision, Points of Light Institute operates three dynamic business units that share a mission to equip, mobilize and inspire people to take action that changes the world: HandsOn Network, MissionFish and the Civic Incubator.

Generated by Points of Light Institute:

The Civic Incubator is our newest business unit with the purpose and promise of creating innovation in social change. The Incubator will support sustainable civic solutions to pressing challenges with new efficiencies and scale. While new ideas and enterprises will be vetted and researched as an ongoing function of the Civic Incubator, the current ventures include AmeriCorps Alums, a national network of more than 500,000 alumni from AmeriCorps programs who are providing service leadership through the country; and a faith initiative to create sustainable, interfaith partnerships that advance service and civic engagement around the world.

MissionFish was created through a unique collaboration with eBay and leverages the power of technology, civic responsibility and consumer purchasing power to generate new resources for nonprofits. By mobilizing the vast eBay community, MissionFish provides people a vehicle to use their purchasing power to support causes they care about. Individuals contribute dollars to nonprofits by allocating all or part of their purchase or sale on eBay’s charitable auction. Additionally, nonprofits use MissionFish to create on-line auctions for donated goods and services. Since 2003, MissionFish has raised more than $125 million charitable dollars for over 15,000 nonprofits worldwide.

HandsOn Network equips, mobilizes and inspires people to take action that changes the world. Our Network, now the largest in the nation, is leading people from impulse to action, turning their ideas for change into real projects like building wheel chair ramps, watershed protection projects and tutoring programs – action that addresses critical issues facing our communities, our nation and our world. The Network includes over 250 affiliates—that serve in all 50 states and in ten countries. In 2007 alone, these HandsOn Action Centers helped to deliver more than 33 million hours of volunteer service valued at $1.2 billion dollars.