For Immediate Release
August 11, 2022
Contact:
Betsy Shelton
515.348.6228
betsy.shelton@volunteeriowa.org
DES MOINES – Volunteer Iowa has awarded $9.18 million in grant funding received from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and community volunteerism. Volunteer Iowa is the state commission which administers the AmeriCorps State funds to 21 programs statewide, including four new programs this year. These grants will support more than 800 AmeriCorps members in Iowa who will serve with nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations across the state. In addition, $76,000 has been awarded for two planning grants to support organizations interested in exploring and launching new AmeriCorps programs in the near future. In addition to the grant funding, AmeriCorps will provide an additional $2.6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for AmeriCorps members in Iowa funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,500 that they can use for tuition at eligible schools and educational programs or qualified student loan repayment.
“AmeriCorps members have been game changers for so many Iowa communities in recent years, so we are thrilled to be able to award funding to support 800 more to help move Iowa forward,” said Adam Lounsbury, Executive Director of Volunteer Iowa.
In the coming year, AmeriCorps members will address urgent local needs in Iowa through a variety of service opportunities, such as supporting individuals in obtaining or maintaining safe and affordable housing or helping low-income individuals and persons with disabilities on energy efficiency measures to cut their utility costs. This year’s funding also includes money from AmeriCorps’ $1 billion American Rescue Plan allocation, which supports efforts to respond to the public health, education and economic crises caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Programs across the state are currently recruiting AmeriCorps members to serve in the coming year. Iowa AmeriCorps members may be eligible to receive benefits including a living allowance, health care, childcare, and the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award. Visit AmeriCorps Iowa Programs to search and apply for AmeriCorps positions in Iowa.
New programs:
| Behavioral Health Technology AmeriCorps Mentoring Program (Please Pass the Love) | AmeriCorps members will provide an opportunity for youth to gain mental health supports through a combination of technology, mental health education, coping skills, and mentorship. |
| Civic Leaders AmeriCorps Program (Iowa Campus Compact/Iowa Western Community College) | The Civic Leaders AmeriCorps Program will focus on the retention of college students that identify as first-generation, low-income, and/or students of color. |
| Iowa Afterschool STEM AmeriCorps (Iowa Afterschool Alliance/The Iowa Children’s Museum) | AmeriCorps members will be responsible for developing new STEM curriculum and partnerships at hosting organizations, engaging youth, families, and site staff in STEM education and career exploration. |
| Welcome English AmeriCorps (Iowa International Center) | Welcome English AmeriCorps will increase English language proficiency for adult learners who came to the U.S. as refugees or immigrants. |
Continuing programs:
| AmeriCorps Partnering to Protect Children (Iowa State University) | Members support parents/caregivers and families in accessing services, resources, and family-friendly events that strengthen our communities. |
| AmeriCorps Youth Launch (Graceland University) | AmeriCorps members mentor youth, build valuable Developmental Assets, instill civic engagement, and help young people find the "sparks" that ignite their passions in life. |
| Bur Oak Land Trust AmeriCorps Program (Bur Oak Land Trust) | Bur Oak Land Trust AmeriCorps members serve to protect and restore Eastern Iowa's natural resources. |
| City of Davenport AmeriCorps and Youth Corps Program (City of Davenport) | Members focus on reducing the high school dropout rate by serving with organizations that support youth. |
| College Access & Success AmeriCorps (Iowa College Student Aid Commission) | College Access and Success AmeriCorps members assist high school and current college students as they plan for, prepare for and succeed in college. |
| Conservation Corps Iowa AmeriCorps (Conservation Corps Minnesota & Iowa) | Members make a difference protecting the environment and gain valuable skills for their future. |
| Creating Opportunities AmeriCorps (City of Dubuque) | AmeriCorps Members improve vital K-5th grade-level reading as Literacy Tutors. |
| Green Iowa AmeriCorps (University of Northern Iowa) | Green Iowa works to empower Iowa's communities and school districts to make more environmental, conservation-minded decisions and improvements. |
| Habitat for Humanity of Iowa AmeriCorps Program (Habitat for Humanity of Iowa) | Members learn, serve, and give back to the community by building houses, managing volunteers, and engaging homeowners at local Habitat for Humanities. |
| Iowa AmeriCorps 4-H Outreach (Iowa State University) | AmeriCorps 4-H members use Positive Youth Development framework to deliver exciting, hands-on learning experiences to youth across the state of Iowa. |
| Iowa COVID-19 Recovery AmeriCorps (Iowa Economic Development Authority) | AmeriCorps members respond to the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic by addressing food insecurity, economic assistance, and volunteer management. |
| Iowa Legal Aid AmeriCorps Project (Iowa Legal Aid) | AmeriCorps members provide direct services clients and their communities, helping them access legal information, resources and support needed to resolve fundamental civil legal problems. |
| Iowa Reading Corps AmeriCorps Program (United Ways of Iowa) | Members are responsible for addressing on going literacy learning loss by working one on one with students in K-3rd grade. |
| Partners in Learning AmeriCorps (City of Dubuque) | Members re-enforce positive, strength-based teen development as Empowerment Specialists. |
| RedTails LEAD AmeriCorps (Hawkeye Community College) | Members form a network of support for underserved students by serving to alleviate food insecurity, construct and remodel homes, or help with academic and other life challenges. |
| RISE (Rebuild, Integrate, Serve and Empower) AmeriCorps (EMBARC) | The program trains emerging leaders from refugee and immigrant communities to support fellow refugee and immigrant students in job-readiness classes through learning support, referrals, outreach, and wrap around services. |
Planning grants:
| IEDA AmeriCorps Planning Grant (Iowa Economic Development Authority) | The organization will plan to develop an AmeriCorps program serving in rural communities in Iowa that will focus rural capacity building. |
| ISU Child Welfare AmeriCorps Planning Grant (Iowa State University) | The organization will plan to develop an AmeriCorps program that will provide direct services for child welfare. |
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About Volunteer Iowa 
Volunteer Iowa and its partner agencies work 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 Iowa’s 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. More information is available at volunteeriowa.org.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps, the federal agency for volunteerism and national service, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.