Student Club & Organization Policy for Community Service & Civic Engagement 

 

Clubs and organizations are encouraged to engage in community service around campus and in Philadelphia. The following policies are designed to provide guidance and structure for clubs/orgs pursuing service initiatives. For any questions about these policies, contact the Assistant Director of Community Service. 

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Here are some best practices when engaging in service as a group to assist you in planning your activities: 

• Identify an external organization for your club/org to work with. If you are having trouble identifying an organization, visit this list of Local Community Partners. You must be logged into your Jefferson account to view the list. 

• Visit the organization’s website to familiarize yourself with their processes – send an email to ask if you’re not sure! 

• Plan transportation to volunteer sites ahead of time (ex: carpooling, public transportation). 

• Be respectful to staff, other volunteers, and communities served while on-site. 

• Send a thank-you message to your site contact for working with your club/org. 
   

Volunteering & Service Activities

Clubs and organizations are encouraged to volunteer as a group with local community partners. Clubs and orgs are not required to get approval from the Office of Student Engagement before volunteering. Clubs/orgs can either a) host an event in collaboration with a community partner or b) sign up for general volunteering. 

Clubs and organizations are also asked to complete this Community Service Hours Reporting Form before or after their volunteering experience. This information assists the AD of Community Service with service hour tracking each semester. 

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External Fundraisers 

External Fundraisers can be utilized to gather funds for community organizations or humanitarian relief efforts. Clubs and organizations can fundraise for a cause or organization of their choosing, with approval from the Office of Student Engagement. 

Clubs/orgs should follow the same expectations for External Fundraisers as they do for club fundraisers. Some reminders: 

• Clubs and Organizations must fill out an External Fundraiser Request Form for any fundraisers they have planned. This form must be submitted before submitting a reservation and before any advertising of said fundraiser. 

• Proper reservations must be made to reserve event areas and/or table areas. Reservations will not be approved without a submitted External Fundraiser Request Form. 

 

Once you have completed the External Fundraiser Request Form, your response will be reviewed by the Office of Student Engagement. Please allow two business days to respond to your request form. 

 

Donation Drives 

The Office of Student Engagement has established a new process for student club and organization Donation Drives. Donation Drives will now take place during designated weeks in the semester and will be collaborative amongst clubs and orgs with similar goals. 

 

Clubs/orgs will complete the Donation Drive Participation Form indicating their preferred donation drive period and their preferences for the type of organization(s) served. The form should be completed no later than about a month before the start of the donation drive. 

 

The dates for the Spring 2025 Semester are below: 

 

Spring Donation Drive 1: February 24th through March 7th  

• Deadline: January 24th 

Spring Donation Drive 2: March 31st through April 11th 

• Deadline: February 28th 

 

The Office of Student Engagement will be in touch with all participating clubs/orgs once the deadline for the donation drive has passed.

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Supply Request - Spring 2025 Only

If your club or organization is looking for additional support for successful community service programs, you can complete the Community Service Activity Supply Request Form to gain some assistance. You can use this form to request supplies for your service activity (items for kits to be donated, materials to make blankets, etc.) or transportation (SEPTA Key Cards).

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The form is designed to assist clubs with limited budget complete and participate in meaningful service events. Supplies will be purchased by the Office of Student Engagement on your behalf, and must be picked up from the office in a timely manner. This form is only for clubs and orgs to use for community service related events. Other requests should go through SGA.