Grad ID teams are required to partner with a local non-profit organization for a mutually beneficial project. The intent is to have students learn to collaborate to develop a project with a shared mission and benefit to the community. To date, 23 charities from the local community have benefited through the project. Collaborative projects range from design workshops for young children in underserved communities and workshops for young women in STEM related careers, to food drives and awareness for the Humane Society. In 2016, the rules were amended so winning teams are required to split their prize with their charity.

In 2013, student teams in China adopted the practice for community service.

2017

De Liu & Xuan Yu $500 Prizes | $500 Prizes (Charity)

• “Best of Show”  Team FASTish (Grad ID, ArtCenter College of Design)  |  Side Street Projects
• “Eckles Design Build Award”  Team FASTish (Grad ID, ArtCenter College of Design)  |  Side Street Projects
• Ashtray Alley Drag Race: Team Ma-Ying (Inner Mongolia Universiy of Technology) |  Charity Project
• Sinclair Hillclimb Race: Team Ma-Ying (Inner Mongolia Universiy of Technology) | Charity Project
• Sculpture Garden Flats Race: Team Sky Net (Pasadena City College )

2016

De Liu & Xuan Yu $500 Prizes | $500 Prizes (Charity)

• “Best of Show”  Team GROUND CONTROL (Grad ID, ArtCenter College of Design) | South Pasadena Senior Center
• “Eckles Design Build Award”  Team OCEAN STRIKER (Shandong University) | Shandong MingdaYaoye Pharmacuetical Company
• Ashtray Alley Drag Race: Team OCEAN STRIKER (Record)) | Shandong MingdaYaoye Pharmacuetical Company
• Sinclair Hillclimb Race: Team GROUND CONTROL (Grad ID, ArtCenter College of Design) | South Pasadena Senior Center
• Sculpture Garden Flats Race: Team GROUND CONTROL (Grad ID, ArtCenter College of Design) | South Pasadena Senior Center