Governor's Volunteer Awards Ceremony
The 2026 Governor’s Volunteer Awards were held at Urbandale High School on Tuesday, July 14. The ceremony featured remarks from Governor Kim Reynolds. Over 290 awards were presented during this year’s ceremony. It is estimated that more than 96 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees.
Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor's Volunteer Award program—now in its 42nd year—provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award.
More information, as well as a complete list of award recipients, is available at volunteeriowa.org.
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Volunteer Iowa Awarded $289,737 in AmeriCorps Funding for Iowa
Volunteer Iowa announced today that it received a grant of 289,737 from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The grant, funded through the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), will expand Volunteer Iowa’s volunteer engagement practices in Iowa.
AmeriCorps provides support to organizations to help them to alleviate poverty, expand capacity in organizations and build economic opportunity through community-driven efforts across the country. The Volunteer Generation Fund grants will be used to strengthen entities ability to recruit, engage and support volunteers. At a time of social need, when Americans of all ages are looking for ways to give back, AmeriCorps seeks to fund effective approaches that strengthen the capacity and impact of volunteer and invest in innovative volunteer engagement practices.
Learn more about Volunteer Iowa’s VGF funding on our website.
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Governor’s Youth Volunteer Award
This year, Volunteer Iowa launched the Governor’s Youth Volunteer Award at the Governor’s Volunteer Awards Ceremony. This marks the inaugural year of a new statewide effort to establish a uniform standard for youth service in Iowa. Waukee School District served as the pilot program, recognizing 27 exceptional seniors who completed at least 150 volunteer hours and submitted reflective essays detailing the impact of their service.
Their contributions reached far beyond the hours they logged—supporting patients without visitors, assisting individuals with Alzheimer’s, mentoring younger students, packing food for families facing hunger, and volunteering in libraries, health organizations, and nonprofits statewide. Together, these students served 1,600 hours, generating an estimated economic impact of $185,520. Their dedication exemplifies what is possible when young people are empowered to lead with compassion and purpose.
Register for an upcoming informational webinar to learn how to participate. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, August 18 from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Another webinar will be held in September.
Adopting a Mentoring Mindset Training
This training explores critical attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors essential for effective relationship building and mentorship. Participants will learn about youth development, the mentoring relationship cycle, and the critical skills needed to support young people. The training fosters self-awareness and supportive engagement, equipping coaches, and mentors with key competencies. Participants should come prepared to learn and interact with others.
The training will be held on Wednesday, August 19 from 1:00-2:30pm. Register today!
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AmeriCorps Regional Office and America's Service Commissions (ASC) Visit Volunteer Iowa
On Thursday, July 16, representatives from the AmeriCorps Office of Regional Operations and the America’s Service Commissions (ASC) team joined Volunteer Iowa for a potluck at the Lucas Building in Des Moines. The AmeriCorps staff held site visits with various AmeriCorps programs across the state, while ASC held their staff planning retreat at the Lucas Building. Volunteer Iowa was happy to host them all!
 Volunteer Iowa Summer Associate VISTAs Assist with Storm Cleanup in Corning
On Monday and Tuesday, July 13th and 14th, AmeriCorps VISTA members assisted GoServ Global in cleaning up damage from a tornado in Corning, Iowa. The members tent-camped overnight at Lake Icaria alongside GoServ Global members.
Volunteer Engagement Professional Development Opportunity
AL!VE is offering an opportunity to learn from executive leaders on how to increase organizational capacity while alleviating staff burnout. This session will be held on Tuesday, August 25 from 2:00-3:30pm.
Volunteer engagement is often viewed as a programmatic function rather than a strategic organizational asset. Yet organizations that invest in volunteer strategy infrastructure consistently report stronger capacity, increased community engagement, improved staff effectiveness, and greater mission impact. In this executive-to-executive conversation, nonprofit leaders share their experiences, lessons learned, and the tangible return on investment realized by strengthening volunteer engagement through strategic infrastructure and programs such as Service Enterprise.
Free for AL!VE Members and their Supervisors
$25 for non-members
Register today!
Partner With Volunteer Iowa: Bring a VISTA Member to Your Organization
Volunteer Iowa is inviting mission-driven nonprofits to join the Volunteer Iowa VISTA program. This is an opportunity for organizations committed to supporting low-income individuals and families—whether in rural towns, growing cities, or anywhere in between—to strengthen their impact and expand what’s possible.
As a VISTA host site, your organization gains the capacity to build sustainable, long-lasting solutions that help Iowans overcome barriers to poverty. VISTA Volunteers support projects that can focus on areas such as:
- Expanding access to education
- Improving transportation options
- Increasing disability and service accessibility
- Creating employment pathways
- Strengthening financial literacy and asset-building
- Supporting affordable housing efforts
- Growing resource development and community engagement
By partnering with Volunteer Iowa, your organization works alongside a dedicated VISTA Volunteer to develop strong systems, enhance programs, and equip community members with the tools they need to thrive.
If your organization is ready to deepen its impact, expand its reach, and strengthen its ability to serve Iowans in need, the Volunteer Iowa VISTA program offers a meaningful path forward.
Join us in building stronger, more resilient communities across our state.
Learn more about becoming a VISTA host site today. Contact Julie Struck for more information.
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