The Student Volunteers Council is the largest student-run organization at Princeton University. Heir to a long tradition of student volunteerism at Princeton, the SVC dates back to the establishment of the Philadelphian Society in 1825, affiliated with the Office of Religious Life.  In 1967 the SVC adopted its current organizational structure and since then has adapted and reshaped itself at various junctures in response to an ever-changing campus and community, joining the Pace Center in 2007 in an effort to streamline initiatives for civic engagement at Princeton.

The SVC is led by a student board of directors who are supported by Dave Brown (Director) and Carey Hoover (Associate Program Coordinator). In addition to our 48 weekly projects in Trenton, Philadelphia and Princeton, the SVC also organizes Community Action at the beginning of each academic year where freshmen get a chance to start off their Princeton career with a week of living and volunteering in a local community.  The SVC also supports summer service internships as well as alternative service break-trips.

While we continually modify and improve our projects on one hand, we also take time to reflect on why we serve on the other. Rather than view ourselves as eliminators of needs — a child’s need for instruction, a senior citizen’s need for companionship, an ailing community’s need for outside help — we also endeavor to act as builders of assets — a child’s sense of pride, a senior citizen’s lessons for life, our vital community’s call for us to join in its improvement. The SVC believes in working with real people in real neighborhoods, which is a great learning experience for all its volunteers.

Becoming an SVC volunteer is easy – we have dedicated project coordinators who will match you with a program of interest and we have transportation to get you there!  Check out our extensive list of projects on this website, or stop by 22 Murray-Dodge Hall, or call us at (609) 258-5557.  Make a difference – join us – volunteer!