Kansas Volunteer Commission

05/29/2026

✨A huge THANK YOU to all of the organizations participating in the 2026 Give Back Kansas Challenge! Your commitment to service is making a real impact across Kansas communities.

So far, participants have logged an incredible 2,184 volunteer hours since the challenge began on April 20!

Congratulations to our current leaders in each category:

Small Category: Volunteers in Action of Central Kansas
Medium Category: Family Resource Exchange
Large Category: Cloud County

There’s still time to climb the leaderboard! 📢
If your employees volunteered anytime between April 20 and May 31, it’s NOT too late to log those hours.
✨We will continue accepting submissions through June 4.

📢 Final winners will be announced on June 10!

Keep serving, keep logging hours, and keep showing the power of volunteerism across Kansas!

05/22/2026

🚨 FINAL WEEK ALERT! 🚨

The last week of the Challenge is here, and there’s still time to make an impact! 💙

Every volunteer hour matters. Whether it’s mentoring, serving meals, supporting your community, or lending a helping hand, your efforts are making a difference across Kansas.

A big shout-out to our current leaders!

• Small category: Volunteers in Action of Central KS
• Medium category: Family Resource Exchange
• Large category: Cloud County

Arvest Bank@bethel Life Center, , , , IBSA Blind Ksde, MLC / Medical Loan Closet, , Rainbows United, Inc., , , , , , Wichita Festivals Inc.

05/15/2026

Week 4 in the books! Congrats to everyone participating in this year's challenge!

Current Leaders:
Small category: Volunteers In Action of Central KS/AmeriCorps Seniors
Medium category:
Large category:

Congratulations to our current front-runners! 👏 But remember, there’s still plenty of time for the standings to change. Keep logging those volunteer hours and inspiring others to join in!

✨ Let’s finish strong! Arvest Bank Riverfest Wichita &HospiceLLC &MoreLLC

05/08/2026

📣Funding Opportunity

9/11 National Day of Service Mini-Grant is open for applications!

Apply for a 9/11 National Day of Service Mini-Grant and help bring meaningful volunteer projects to your community. Funded by AmeriCorps and supported by the Kansas Volunteer Commission, these grants help you recruit volunteers or lead service-learning activities in tribute to those impacted by 9/11.

Applications Due: June 8, 2026
Grant period: Sept. 1–30, 2026

Ready to make an impact? Apply now at kanserve.ksde.gov

Contact [email protected] with questions.

05/08/2026

We’re halfway through the Give Back Kansas Challenge!

What an incredible few weeks it has been! Across Kansas, organizations and employees are stepping up, giving back, and proving the power of volunteerism in our communities!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who has volunteered so far. Whether you’ve spent one hour or one hundred, your impact matters. Let’s keep the momentum going strong as we head into the second half of the challenge!

Current Leaders:

Small category: Volunteers In Action of Central KS/AmeriCorps Seniors
Medium category:
Large category:

Congratulations to our current front-runners! 👏 But remember, there’s still plenty of time for the standings to change. Keep logging those volunteer hours and inspiring others to join in!

✨ Let’s finish strong! Arvest Bank Riverfest Wichita &HospiceLLC &MoreLLC

05/06/2026

by Marlou Wegener, Director of Community Relations and Chief Operating Officer, BCBSKS Foundation Volunteerism looks different for everyone. For some, it means showing up for a few hours to lend a hand. For others, it’s giving time, skills or resources behind the scenes. All of it matters, and all...

05/01/2026

Week 2 of the Give Back Kansas Challenge is in the books!! The momentum is inspiring!

A huge shoutout to our current Top 3 leaders who are setting the pace and showing what it means to give back in a big way. Your dedication, energy, and commitment to serving your communities are making a real impact and motivating others to jump in!

To everyone participating: every hour matters, every act counts, and there’s still plenty of time to make your mark. Let’s keep the momentum going and show the power of giving back across Kansas!

04/21/2026

We’re sharing an upcoming virtual national event for those committed to improving outcomes for young people.

The 2026 National Summit on Youth Well-Being, hosted by Indiana Youth Institute, emphasizes real-world applications—practical tools and strategies youth-serving professionals can use immediately to support youth, families, and communities.

Registration is just $20 (a $150 value)!
https://bit.ly/4qau7Ux

10/21/2025

We are so excited to showcase the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy at the 2025 Civic Engagement Conference!!

In their interactive workshop, we will rethink what it means to disagree and practice skills for more productive conversations across differences in opinion. We will ponder what it really means to be “civil” and consider why civility seems in short supply. We also will practice concrete skills for better civic communication and learn what to do when someone just won’t see it our way.

Be sure you're registered to attend!!

Tuesday, November 04 - Wednesday, November 05, 2025 Washburn University, Memorial Union REGISTRATION FEES • $25 per day for students and AmeriCorps members/staff • $50 per day for adults REGISTRATION FEE SCHOLARSHIP To apply for a registration fee scholarship, please email Kat Seeley at voluntee...