By providing education and resources about scholarships and post-graduation service opportunities, the Director of Service and Social Commitment encourages Grinnellians to become engaged members of their current and future communities. To this end, the office maintains information about organizations which provide post-graduation service opportunities; sponsors on-campus recruiting visits and information sessions by organizations such as the Peace Corps, Americorps, and Teach For America; and provides individualized counseling to help students decide which of the many opportunities for post-graduation service are best for them.

The office also runs seven Grinnell-sponsored, one-year post-graduation service fellowships, collectively known as the Grinnell Corps. While these are subject to future change, the current programs include teaching opportunities in China, Lesotho, and Macao; conservation-related work in Namibia; dormitory counseling in Greece; housing rebuilding administration in New Orleans; and working with a local human services agency in Grinnell. In all, there are opportunities for 12 members of every graduating class to participate in these programs. These programs, all of which are completely funded by Grinnell College at no expense to the fellow, are only open to Grinnell alumni in the year following their graduation.

The Director of Social Commitment also has responsibility for administering Grinnell's merit-based awards, such as the Obermiller and Wall Awards, and runs the nominating process for national-level merit-based scholarships and fellowships, such as the Rhodes, Marshall, Fulbright, and Watson.