Volunteer Iowa

Mission: To improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering.

Volunteer Iowa is part of a network of state service commissions throughout the United States that exist to foster a bi-partisan state-level commitment to advancing service initiatives as well as developing, communicating, and promoting a statewide vision and ethic of service. This state agency is responsible for coordinating programs and activities formerly conducted by the Iowa Office on Volunteerism, which was launched in 1978 by Governor Robert D. Ray.

Volunteer Iowa works with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowas greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure.