October 2019
Nominate an Outstanding Virginia Volunteer Today!   
Do you know someone who is always putting others first? How about an organization or business that seems to always be involved whenever there's a need in the community?  Volunteers and organizations all over Virginia are quietly serving in our churches, neighborhoods, parks, and schools. Although they never ask for recognition, the  Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards   highlight the amazing efforts of these individuals and groups as a way to say "thank you" and to inspire others to serve. Awards are presented in each of 10 categories: Senior, Adult, Young Adult (new category!) , Youth, Family, Corporation, Small Business, Educational Institution, Faith-Based Organization, and Community Organization . Winners will be honored at a special ceremony in the spring.  The deadline for nominations is December 6th. Nominate someone today!
Honoring 9/11
Through Service
Individuals and organizations all over Virginia sprang into action to help their communities in September. Events and projects honored both the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance AND Day to Serve (Sept. 11-Oct. 10). Virginia's AmeriCorps programs were among the many organizations who hosted projects from food drives to park cleanups. Members with the Virginia College Advising Corps volunteered at four different locations around Charlottesville (pictured right). Members with Carroll County Public Schools sorted donations for disaster relief buckets in Danville. As part of Day to Serve, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints donated 60,000 pounds of food to food banks around the state. Day to Serve is still going on! There are many more volunteer opportunities available in October. Find a volunteer opportunity near you at  http://www.daytoserve.org/map . 
Calling All Trainers!
Virginia Volunteerism Conference is Accepting Workshop Proposals
The Office on Volunteerism and Community Services is excited to be in the early planning stages for the Virginia Volunteerism Conference ,   May 20-21, 2020, in Richmond. This event attracts approximately 400 human service professionals from across the Commonwealth including volunteer coordinators, program managers and directors from nonprofit and government agencies, and national service members. All come to develop their personal and professional skills, learn new ideas, and build the capacity of their organizations.  We are seeking a cadre of workshop presenters who can share their expertise with our conference guests and engage them in active learning. We encourage you to submit your workshop proposal(s) and to share this call for proposals with other strong presenters!
Virginia AmeriCorps Programs Kick Off Service Year!
Virginia's AmeriCorps members joined together for a day-long training and kick-off celebration on Friday, September 27, 2019, in Midlothian. More than 150 members and staff also celebrated the 25th Anniversary of AmeriCorps at the opening day event. The highlight of the day took place when members from every corner of the state took their oath for a year of service. In honor of the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps, past members shared their experiences on how AmeriCorps has impacted their lives and gave advice to new members for the coming year and beyond. Members also received training on a variety of subjects,
Upcoming Opportunities for AmeriCorps Funding
Notice of AmeriCorps Competitive Funding

The Virginia Service Commission will release a Request for Applications (RFA) for AmeriCorps Competitive Funding early next week. The RFA will be posted in eVA and a link will be published on  VirginiaService.virginia.gov , so please keep an eye out if interested. The RFA will establish a prospective portfolio of national service applications that will become a part of the Commonwealth’s competitive submission package to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for funding consideration. Applications submitted will compete nationally against submissions from other states and territories. The RFA is designed to identify those applications that the Virginia Service Commission recommends for consideration and ultimate selection by CNCS. The Governor’s Advisory Board and Virginia Service Commission staff will consider applications addressing national service in all focus areas, however CNCS has identified in its NOFO, the funding priorities of Economic Opportunity, Education, Healthy Futures, Veterans and Military Families and Rural Intermediaries. Once released, applications to the RFA will be due to the Virginia Department of Social Services through eGrants within 30 days.
Could Your Organization Use AmeriCorps VISTA?

Concept papers are being accepted for AmeriCorps VISTA. AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) was founded in 1965 as a national service program to fight poverty. VISTA provides full-time members to nonprofit, faith-based and other community organizations, and public agencies to create and expand programs that bring low-income Virginia individuals and communities out of poverty. The next deadline for concept papers is January 1, 2020.
Nonprofit Toolbox
Each month we're happy to share some of our favorite resources and funding opportunities.  Let us know your favorites  so we can pass them along.   




  • Nonprofit Impact Matters tells the story of nonprofits from their perspective. It also provides practical insights and key national- and state-level data.


  • Free Google Analytics Guide for Nonprofits is designed to help organizations understand why data matters, create advanced settings in Google Analytics, understand key metrics to track in order to reach organizational goals, and much more.



  • Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event, Oct. 24th, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, which calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.


  • The Arc 2020 MLK Day of Service Grants offer $5,000 and $10,000 for projects designed for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to volunteer alongside people without disabilities and focused on providing food assistance to people in need. Deadline: Oct. 10

  • Annie's Grants for Gardens are provided to K-12 school gardens to help children start thinking more holistically about their food, their communities, and the planet. Deadline: Nov. 1
Get ideas from these Social Media Influencers . . .
is the founder of her own nonprofit marketing company and she frequently uses her blog, #501SocialBlog, plus LinkedIn and Twitter to tout the ways that technology and digital tools can improve nonprofit marketing and fundraising efforts.
 is a writer about nonprofits and technology and has a Twitter feed that is will keep any nonprofit IT geek in the know. Check out his musings on being data-driven, approaching modernization, and putting technology to work for marketing efforts.
is the creator/host of Nonprofit Radio. Alongside tech, he also talks data, talent sourcing and all things nonprofit, both on his show and via his Twitter feed. He's often quoted in major publications and speaks nationally.
Upcoming Opportunities
Training & Events
Volunteers Needed!

Virginia Office on Volunteerism & Community Services