Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol
Volunteer Iowa and Iowa MENTOR host Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol each year to share with legislators the latest information on the tremendous contributions volunteers and mentors make and their impact in Iowa’s communities. It is also an opportunity to educate lawmakers about the impacts their policy decisions have on Volunteer Iowa programs and services. This year, Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol is Tuesday, February 24.
Staff members and participants from Volunteer Iowa programs including AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, RSVP, Volunteer Centers and Mentoring Programs, will share with lawmakers the impact their programs have across the state and will inform them about the tremendous program support and resources provided to them by Volunteer Iowa and Iowa MENTOR. Commissioners and programs of Volunteer Iowa are invited to take part in this annual event to help us:
- Highlight the importance of service and volunteering in Iowa
- Build legislators’ awareness of policy issues important for expanding our sector
- Provide a venue for volunteer and national service programs to connect with their local legislators
TRAINING WEBINAR: The training webinar will prepare attendees with information about the day and Volunteer Iowa's current policy priorities. Join the training webinar at 12:30pm on Wednesday, February 4. A recording will be made available after the webinar.
The Volunteer Iowa staff create a handbook each year that can help attendees navigate through the process to prep for the day, reach out to legislators, and help with social media the day of the event. For more information, contact info@volunteeriowa.org or 800.308.5987. Register today to join us for Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol!
Give Back Iowa Challenge
The 12th Annual Give Back Iowa Challenge registration is now open! Now is the time to begin planning for the two-month challenge. The Give Back Iowa Challenge is an eight-week statewide challenge, which serves as a competitive way to encourage organizations and businesses alike to participate in community volunteering. The Challenge runs from April 1st through May 31st. It’s simple; register your organization, track the hours of your employees, record those hours on our system, and celebrate your employees and their dedication to volunteerism!
You can help out in your community in a variety of ways. There are many volunteer opportunities statewide, including youth mentoring, assisting food banks and food pantries with packaging and distribution, skills-based opportunities, and more. Volunteer opportunities in your area can be found on our statewide volunteer opportunities portal Get Connected.
Visit the Give Back Iowa Challenge website to learn more about this year's challenge. Questions? Contact Betsy Shelton.
National Volunteer Strategy Survey
Points of Light and partners across sectors are developing a National Strategy for Volunteering to guide how our country supports and strengthens service over the next decade. Insights will help us understand how people engage in service, what barriers exist, and how belonging and trust shape civic life. The more responses we receive, the more representative and actionable the strategy will be.
Who should take the survey?
We're inviting individuals and organizations in the United States to participate and help shape the future of volunteering. You’ll see two options on our Survey website:
-
The Community Survey is for individuals and asks how you’ve been involved in your community—whether you volunteer a lot, help neighbors now and then, used to be involved, or aren’t sure where to start. We want to understand what meaningful service looks like in real life. Your answers will help shape a strategy that actually reflects people’s day-to-day experiences.
-
The Organization Survey is for nonprofits, schools, faith organizations, government agencies, and other groups who work with volunteers. We want to learn what’s working, what’s challenging, and what kinds of support would make it easier to help people volunteer. Your input will help us understand real-world needs and build a strategy that helps organizations build capacity and engage volunteers more effectively.
The survey will be open until February 9, 2026.
Volunteer Managers of Central Iowa Mini Conference 2026
Building Volunteer Capacity with Purpose
Join the Volunteer Managers of Central Iowa (VMCI) for a half-day mini conference designed to inspire and equip you with fresh tools for volunteer
engagement.
What to Expect:
- Keynote Workshop: Finding the Right People with Kayla Paulson, CVA
- Learn innovative strategies for volunteer recruitment and engagement
- Breakout Sessions: Beginner & Advanced tracks for practical solutions
- Blind Date with a Volunteer pitch challenge
- Networking with peers
The mini conference will be held in Des Moines on Friday, March 27. Register today!
Meet Mabel Langel!
Mabel Langel joined Volunteer Iowa on January 16 as the Volunteer Engagement & Capacity Building intern. Mabel is from Manning and is currently a junior at Iowa State University, majoring in Sociology, Criminal Justice and Women's & Gender Studies. She plans to get her master's degree in social work.
Through high school and during her breaks from school, Mabel can be found working as a server and bartender at a restaurant in her hometown. She is also currently working as an America Reads/America Counts tutor and a tutor for the Iowa State Athletic Department.
The summer after her senior year of high school, Mabel put on a blood drive through American Red Cross in Manning. She traveled to Jamaica on a mission trip with her church, helping with basic tasks that the local school needed. Mabel is also part of a sorority that raises money for the Alzheimer’s Association and volunteers every year at the Ames Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
In her free time, you can find Mabel reading and spending time with friends and family. Welcome to the team Mabel!
|
|
