• No Self-nominations for the Adult Individual Award or the Paul Wilkinson Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Nominations for Group/Team and Corporate/Business categories may be submitted by anyone, including staff, volunteers, board members, or community partners.
• Staff and family members of the State Office of Volunteerism or Commissioners are ineligible.
• Previous honorees must wait three years before being nominated again.
• Volunteer work for religious or partisan political purposes, or service solely benefiting an organization’s own members, are not eligible.
• Nominees cannot receive financial compensation for their volunteer service.

• Nominators may not serve as a reference
• Family members may nominate an adult but must list two unrelated references
• Only the first valid nomination received per nominee will be accepted
• Nominations submitted in the wrong category will not be reassigned
• Nomination narrative must be 1,000 characters or fewer
• A recent high resolution professional photo of the nominee is required. Please email the photo to Elizabeth Senato at elizabeth.senato@delaware.gov. (JPG or PNG format preferred; file name: LastName_FirstName_Adult_AwardCategory_Photo
• Honorees will be recognized publicly at the 2027 Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards ceremony.

Delaware Counties:
Indicate all counties where volunteer service occurred: Kent, Sussex, or New Castle.
Tip: View past honorees at Volunteer Delaware | Governor's Volunteer Service Adult Awards

WRITING TIPS
A strong nomination provides clear, specific examples of the nominee’s impact and achievements. Focus on measurable outcomes, leadership, and stories that show how the nominee’s service made a difference. Avoid vague statements. Focus on what makes this nominee exceptional. Each nomination should be written specifically for the individual, group/team, or business being nominated and should not be duplicated or copied from another nomination. Include at least one specific example of impact, such as a project led, people served, or a measurable or meaningful result. 

Weak Example:
John is a great volunteer who helps a lot in his community. He is hardworking, kind, and always willing to lend a hand. He volunteers at the community garden and helps with food drives. Everyone thinks he’s amazing and I highly recommend him for this award.

Strong Example:

For 2027 nominations, focus on eligible service performed during calendar year 2026.

In 2026, Maria Lopez volunteered 412 hours with Delaware Community Pantry, helping expand access to fresh food for families in Kent County. She coordinated weekly distributions, recruited and trained 28 new volunteers, and created a delivery system for homebound residents who could not reach the pantry. Her efforts helped the organization serve more than 1,800 households and reduce missed deliveries by 40 percent. Maria also partnered with local schools and senior centers to identify residents needing additional support. What sets Maria apart is her ability to turn compassion into action: she not only gives her time but also improves the way services are delivered. Her leadership, reliability, and commitment have strengthened the pantry’s volunteer program and made a measurable difference for Delaware families facing food insecurity.

Media Consent

Continue to Section 1 to begin your nomination