Des Moines, IA - Volunteer Iowa, in partnership with Alliant Energy and the Healthiest State Initiative, is pleased to announce the winners of the 11th Annual Give Back Iowa Challenge, a campaign in which businesses encourage their employees to volunteer and log their volunteer hours as part of a statewide competition. The statewide challenge has been held annually from April 1 – May 31. This year, over 47,000 volunteer hours were logged by 20 employers across Iowa.
From a business perspective, employer supported volunteering impacts the bottom line. Studies show it leads to improved employee engagement, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and retention. From an engagement perspective, places of employment are perfect environments to encourage and support volunteering efforts that contribute toward meeting significant community challenges.
The benefits of volunteering in the workplace are undeniably far reaching, improving not only the lives of those who directly receive the community assistance, but of those who get involved in the impact. One study shows us that employees who volunteer at work report five times higher well-being, increased job satisfaction, and overall higher levels of engagement and satisfaction in their respective workplaces.
“This year we saw more than double the number of volunteer hours logged during the Give Back Iowa Challenge period over last year,” Volunteer Iowa Executive Director Adam Lounsbury said. “The level of engagement from Iowa employers demonstrates their dedication to encouraging their employees to volunteer to help improve their communities.”
Participating employers were divided into three categories based on the total number of employees. Winners were selected by the highest average number of volunteer hours per employee. The 2025 winners are:
- Small: Community Youth Concepts (CYC), Des Moines
Honorable Mention: United Way of Central Iowa, Des Moines - Mid-sized: Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, Riverside
Honorable Mention: Grand Falls Casino and Golf Resort, Larchwood - Large: Farm Bureau Financial Services, West Des Moines
Honorable Mention: Deere & Company, Johnston
The Give Back Iowa Challenge takes place annually from April 1 through May 31. For resources on employer-supported volunteering or to find volunteer opportunities, visit volunteeriowa.org.