Governor's Volunteer Awards
Volunteer Iowa is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Awards; entry deadline is April 30.
The Governor’s Volunteer Awards program, established in 1982, provides an easy way for organizations to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level recognition award. Three award categories are available: Individual, Group, and Length of Service.
Award recipient information can be submitted using one of the following methods:
- All organizations (including state government agencies) submit information, and the handling fee ($15 per nomination) directly through Volunteer Iowa in an online nomination form. Organizations will be able to submit the handling fee online.
- State agencies will submit nominations through the same online form. Invoicing will be handled separately. (Staff of state government agencies must submit nominations through their agency's coordinator.)
Nominations are accepted from: city governments, community colleges, county governments, federal government units operating in Iowa, Iowa MENTOR certified programs, K-12 schools (public and parochial), national service programs operating in Iowa (AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors), nonprofit and charitable organizations, private colleges and universities, non-state government organizations.
To learn more, please visit volunteeriowa.org.
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.
Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol
Volunteer Iowa and Iowa MENTOR hosted Volunteer Iowa Day at the Capitol on February 24, in partnership with the RSVP Association of Iowa. The day is an opportunity 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 a chance to educate lawmakers about the impacts their policy decisions have on Volunteer Iowa programs and services.
Staff members and participants from Volunteer Iowa programs including AmeriCorps, AmeriCorps Seniors, RSVP, Volunteer Centers and Mentoring Programs, contacted and met with lawmakers from across the state about the impact their programs have and to inform them about the tremendous program support and resources provided to them by Volunteer Iowa and Iowa MENTOR.
Over 50 program staff, AmeriCorps members, Volunteer Iowa staff and commissioners attended our Day at the Capitol this year, leading to dozens of meetings with legislators. Did you miss out on our Day at the Capitol but still want to get involved? Email info@volunteeriowa.org and we can provide information to you that you can use to connect with your legislators.
AmeriCorps Week
During AmeriCorps Week, we recognize the commitment of the more than 1.25 million Americans who have chosen to serve their country through AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, and to encourage more Americans to follow their footsteps in service.
AmeriCorps engages 250,000 Americans each year in sustained, results-driven service through our AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. Members and volunteers help ensure students stay on track to graduate, combat hunger and homelessness, fight the opioid epidemic, help seniors live independently, support veterans and military families, and much more.
This AmeriCorps Week, join us as we celebrate the impact of our programs and offer our thanks to members and volunteers for making an impact and serve others.
Together, we can help the country recover and come back stronger. Together, we are insurmountable. Together, we are AmeriCorps.
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Partner With Volunteer Iowa: Bring a VISTA Member to Your Organization
Volunteer Iowa is seeking nonprofit partners for the Volunteer Iowa VISTA program—organizations dedicated to supporting low-income individuals and families in communities across our state, both rural and urban.
As a VISTA host site, your organization can build long-term capacity to better serve Iowans through programs that help people overcome barriers to poverty. VISTA projects may focus on areas such as:
- Education access and success
- Transportation solutions
- Disability and service accessibility
- Employment pathways
- Financial literacy and asset-building
- Affordable housing support
- Resource development and community engagement
Partner organizations work with VISTA members to create sustainable systems, expand services, and equip youth and adults with the skills and resources they need to break the cycle of poverty.
If your organization is looking to deepen its impact and strengthen its ability to serve Iowans in need, the Volunteer Iowa VISTA program may be the perfect partnership opportunity.
Join us in building stronger, more resilient communities across Iowa.
Learn more about becoming a VISTA host site today. Contact Julie Struck for more information.
Get to know the Volunteer Iowa VISTA program
VISTAs who began their year of service on February 9, 2026
Zoya Staroselsky serves as the Community Access and Eligibility AmeriCorps VISTA with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. In her role, she strengthens systems that improve access to essential services for individuals and families across the state. Her work focuses on identifying barriers to economic mobility, enhancing program efficiency, expanding outreach, and supporting long-term strategies that help communities achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Zoya was inspired to join AmeriCorps VISTA out of a deep commitment to addressing the root causes of poverty and ensuring that public systems are accessible, effective, and equitable. Her prior experience as a Community Resource Navigator and Case Worker at Lutheran Services in Iowa informs her approach to building sustainable structures, strengthening partnerships, and developing tools that make services easier for families to navigate—work she hopes will continue benefiting communities long after her service year concludes.
Passionate about wellness, sustainability, and lifelong learning, Zoya enjoys gardening, cooking, dancing, solving puzzles, and training her dog. Her perspective is shaped in part by her background as a refugee from Ukraine, where early experiences within collective farming communities fostered her appreciation for nature, holistic well‑being, and community-driven solutions. She cares deeply about environmental stewardship, reducing waste, conserving resources, and imagining greener, healthier spaces—from prairies and food forests to rooftop gardens. Above all, Zoya is guided by a belief in dignity, connection, and a more peaceful world for all.
Nia Wilder is serving as the Community Outreach and Engagement VISTA with Iowa MENTOR, where she works to build partnerships, strengthen community connections, and increase mentor involvement across the region.
A longtime advocate for youth and families in Waterloo, Nia has spent years creating programs, events, and mentorship opportunities that empower young people and strengthen community relationships. She previously served on the Waterloo City Council, where she worked to elevate community voices and support initiatives focused on youth development and neighborhood engagement. Her background as an entrepreneur and creative professional has allowed her to connect with people across many different spaces while building projects that bring communities together.
Nia was inspired to join AmeriCorps VISTA because service has always been a central part of her life. She has mentored youth, organized community resource events, and developed programs that help young people grow in confidence and leadership. Through her VISTA service year, she hopes to expand mentorship opportunities, strengthen partnerships between organizations, and help ensure that more youth have access to positive guidance and support.
Outside of her service work, Nia is a photographer, creative entrepreneur, and community builder who enjoys developing ideas that bring people together. She is passionate about uplifting others and believes that when young people feel seen, supported, and encouraged, entire communities become stronger.
Lori Illner Greene serves as the Programming Director for the Fort Madison Area Arts Association (FMAAA) as an AmeriCorps VISTA. In her role, she is focused on building sustainable systems that support youth and adult programming at the FMAAA Art Center, including the development of volunteer-led committees, improved coordination tools, and long-term funding strategies.
Lori was inspired to serve as a VISTA after witnessing the transformative impact the program had on the Art Center in 2023. Having previously been involved with the FMAAA, she brings deep knowledge of the organization and its community partnerships and is dedicated to restoring the momentum lost when earlier VISTA funding ended. Her primary goal this year is to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Art Center’s programming for youth, adults, at-risk youth, and veterans.
An interdisciplinary artist with an MFA exploring the intersections of art and science, Lori has a diverse background that includes 25 years as co-owner of an agricultural research and consulting firm, as well as experience restoring a historic inn and B&B. She later transitioned to a full-time arts career, ultimately leading the FMAAA before joining VISTA. A lifelong learner, Lori lives with her husband, two grown sons, and a lively fur family that includes a horse, two dogs, and five cats—plus any strays who find their way to her door.
 L to R: Zoya Staroselsky, Nia Wilder and Lori Illner Greene
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