Volunteer Iowa is seeking nominations for community leaders in Iowa who are affiliated with an organization that has an interest in building or expanding their relationship with AmeriCorps and national service. The Fellowship is focused on individuals who identify as rural residents or as Black, Indigenous, or other Persons of Color, to address the lack of Iowa national service programming led by and designed for members of these populations. As part of the Fellowship program, participants will gain knowledge or available AmeriCorps programming and the requirements of hosting or sponsoring AmeriCorps members. Fellows will also share information about their work with Volunteer Iowa so that the commission can examine how to make its programming more responsive to the needs of rural communities and to communities of color in Iowa. Fellowship recipients will be part of a cohort that will meet monthly and will receive funding to benefit their organization and cover the costs of their participation in the program.

Nominations will be accepted from those who want to recommend a local leader for participation or interested individuals can self-nominate. The nomination form is posted online HERE (a copy of the nomination form is available for review HERE). A full overview of the fellowship program is found HERE. Nominations are due by April 12, 2022.

UPDATE: Nominations re-opened through close of business on Wednesday, April 27.

The Volunteer Iowa National Service Fellowship is part of the National Service Challenge initiatives funded by the Schultz Family Foundation, Alliant Energy Foundation, and Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation.