Our Community Impact
175 Days of Service
For 175 years, Northwestern has distinguished itself as a world-class institution of higher education, research and discovery. Equally important is the University’s role as a civic-minded institution committed to using its people, knowledge, resources and partnerships to strengthen local, national and global communities.
In honor of Northwestern University’s 175th anniversary, Northwestern is launching 175 Days of Service, a University-wide campaign designed to celebrate Northwestern’s legacy through meaningful service and community engagement.
We encourage members of the community to take part in some form of meaningful service — including volunteerism, community service, civic engagement, mentoring, charitable work or pro bono service — for 175 days.
Key Dates and Milestones
The initiative will include a formal kickoff celebration, milestone communications and recognitions throughout the campaign, weekly participant spotlights, ongoing data collection and a culminating closing ceremony.
Sept. 23, 2026
Official Launch
Mar. 17, 2027
Closing Date
Recent Service Activities
Northwestern University, UL Research Institutes, and UL Standards & Engagement staff come together to celebrate Earth Day by participating in the Litter League Clean Up event, helping create a cleaner and more sustainable community.
Northwestern University Operations staff members pose for a photo following a successful Litter League Clean Up outing.
Participate in 175 Days of Service
Join in this campaign by participating in acts of service. Use the form below to log your activities. Along the way, you can submit photos and/or a self-recorded video of your service activities, which can be completed by clicking on the Sharepoint link on the form confirmation screen. Read below for guidelines for these assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can participate?
Participation will be open to the broader Northwestern community, including:
- Undergraduate students
- Graduate and professional students
- Faculty
- Staff
- Alumni
Participants may complete service individually or as part of a group, department, school, office, student organization, alumni group, team or University-sponsored activity.
Service may occur in Evanston, Chicago, or communities throughout the country and world.
What activities count?
To qualify as an official activity under the 175 Days of Service Initiative, service should meet the following criteria:
- Community Benefit:
- The activity must benefit an individual, group of people, nonprofit organization, school, faith-based institution, community organization, public agency, or other eligible entity outside of the participant's immediate family or household.
- Minimum Time Commitment:
- A qualifying service activity must consist of at least one hour of service.
- After the first hour, participants may record additional service time in 15-minute increments (quarter hours) to create a consistent system for tracking participation.
- Documentation:
- Participants must record their service through the official 175 Days of Service Data Tracking Form.
- Verification:
- Service activities must be reasonably verifiable if requested. Participants should provide the name of the organization or entity benefiting from the activity and appropriate information regarding the service performed.
- Eligible Service:
- Activities should represent volunteerism, community service, civic engagement, mentoring, charitable work, pro bono service, or another form of meaningful service for which the participant does not receive regular compensation.
How do I submit photos or videos?
We encourage you to add photos and/or a self-recorded videos. This can be completed by clicking on the Sharepoint link on the form confirmation screen. Read below for guidelines for these assets.
Submitting Photos:
Including a photo is optional—but encouraged! Please keep these tips in mind:
- Avoid filters or overly edited images
- Show yourself in a setting connected to your service activity if possible
Submitting Video: