March 2021
Volunteer Week - April 18-24
Celebrate the Impact of Service!
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to recognize and thank volunteers who lend their time, talent, voice and resources to meet the critical needs of our communities. This is a fantastic way to also inspire others to make a difference and improve the world. How can your organization celebrate National Volunteer Week? Here are a few ideas:
  • Post a series of volunteer features on your website, blog, or on social media -- use #NVW
  • Host a Virtual Celebration on free platforms like Zoom and Google Hangouts -- include a fun theme and games.
  • Host a “volunteer award show”. Give your repeat volunteers special superlatives based on their work.
  • Throw an outdoor, socially distant appreciation party.
  • Award your most dedicated volunteers by recognizing the volunteer who gave the most time, showed up every week with a smile, or a family that helped out consistently.
  • Invite clients and community members to make cards and write letters of thanks to volunteers (especially if they serve children or the elderly). Be sure to spotlight specific endeavors or events that each volunteer has helped with.
  • Give your volunteers a gift (ideas include a virtual photo book with notes from staff and other volunteers, yummy treats or baked goods, an impact report or infographic reflecting the specific impact they've made on your organization.
New Recognition Program for Richmond Volunteers
Are you an organization in the Richmond area looking for ways to recognize your volunteers? The Power of Good RVA is HandsOn Greater Richmond's regional volunteer recognition campaign. Visit the Power of Good webpage and submit a form to submit volunteers to be featured as Power of Good Honorees. The first 10 volunteers submitted by each organization will receive a free bag of popcorn from Lammar Marie’s Gourmet Popcorn! Additionally, throughout April, use your social media outlets to highlight the importance and impact of your volunteers using the hashtag #PowerOfGoodRVA. You'll find great ideas for content in the Power of Good Toolkit.
Hurry! Nomination Period for the Governor's
Volunteerism Awards
Ends Soon!

Nominate an outstanding volunteer for the 2021 Governor's Volunteerism Awards by Friday, April 23, 2021. We know how important the individuals and groups have been to your organization throughout the past year. That's why it is so important that we recognize these remarkable Virginians and share their stories!

Awards are presented in each of 10 categories: Senior, Adult, Young Adult, Youth, Family, Corporation, Small Business, Educational Organization, Faith-Based Organization, and Community Organization . Winners will be honored this summer.

It only takes a little bit of effort to nominate someone! Nominate someone today!
Workshops Announced
for Virginia Volunteerism Conference

The virtual Virginia Volunteerism and Service Conference (May 11-13) has released its full agenda for the 2 1/2-day event! Each day is jam-packed with a diverse array of instructional workshops and networking opportunities in three categories: Volunteer Management, Capacity Building, and Personal/Professional Development. Some of our exciting workshops include:

  • Equitable Community Engagement and Decision Making, Florencia Fuensalida & Dana Kiernan, Virginia Community Voice
  • Cross-Pollination: Turning Volunteers into Donors, and Donors into Volunteers (Even in the Midst of a Pandemic), Mary Maupai, Safe Harbor
  • Adapting and Developing Strategies for the Reengagement of Volunteers, Whitney Guthrie, Habitat for Humanity; & Diane Reale, Goochland Cares
  • Business Continuity Planning Plus Issues for Consideration in Light of COVID-19, Linda Lenrow Lopez & Ted Bilich, Risk Alternatives
  • Hidden Biases in Volunteer Management, Susan Sanow, Volunteer Fairfax
  • Inspiring Our Next Generation of Civic-Minded Leaders, Catherine Cotrupi, Virginia Teach - VT Engage
  • And Much More!

In addition to all these great workshops, we have incredible featured speakers at our general sessions, opportunities to network with your peers, service projects, and much more!
New Website Connects Charlottesville Community with Organizations
ReImagineCVA, an interactive online platform that allows donors and volunteers to directly connect with and support 200+ community organizations in the Central Virginia region is now live! The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) partnered with The United Way, The Equity Center, and Thriving Communities Group to create and manage ReImagineCVA as a comprehensive search-and-discover guide to the active nonprofits and community organizations doing important work in Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, and Orange. The website allows users to quickly locate specific community organization profiles that highlight the organization’s mission, impact, and giving opportunities as a direct way to connect the community to what organizations need right now – from products and supplies to donations to ways to volunteer through hands-on or skilled volunteering.
AmeriCorps Program
Part of Virginia Initiative
to Address Decline
in FAFSA Applications
The Virginia College Advising Corps (VCAC) is part of a new initiative announced by Governor Northam to address the recent sharp decline of financial aid applications due to COVID-19. The program is offering a new free advising service to assist Virginia students and families applying for financial aid. The Virginia College Access Network (VirginiaCAN) and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) have partnered on a statewide effort to offer free, one-on-one FAFSA completion assistance. From March 22 through June 30, 2021, students and families can go to virginiacan.org/fafsa to schedule a virtual meeting and connect with an advisor who can answer questions and walk them through filling out the FAFSA application. The VCAC is one of five college organizations participating in this effort.
Mayors & County Officials Recognize Contributions of AmeriCorps/AmeriCorps Seniors on Special Day
National Service Recognition Day, April 6, is an annual initiative led by AmeriCorps, the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and Cities of Service. Mayors and city leaders, county officials, and tribal leaders across the country are realizing more and more that national service is a solution to solving their community’s toughest challenges. Each year since 2013, thousands of local leaders have joined in support on this special day. Encourage your local leaders to sign on to show their support on the AmeriCorps website!
Ways to Serve on Global Youth Service Day
Global Youth Service Day, April 23-25, is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world. This annual volunteer initiative celebrates and builds the capacity of youth ages 5-25 to help communities and democracy thrive by working together for the common good. There are many ways to encourage youth to serve, however, one of the focal points of this year's event is to undertake projects which support the importance of voting and voter's rights.
Nonprofit Toolbox
If you would like to share additional resources with us, please pass them along to us via email at VirginiaServiceInfo@dss.virginia.gov.


  • Earth Day, April 22, is a unifying day to show the importance of taking care of our planet through projects, messaging, and activism.

  • The Value of State Service Commissions is a new research report from America’s Service Commissions (ASC) underscoring the value and multi-layered impact of state service commissions across the U.S. to explore the following questions: 1) What is the value that commissions bring to their states? and 2) What are the key catalysts of commissions’ impact? 


  • Points of Light's Annual Conference is July 14-15 and will be online this year with a dynamic array of inspirational moments and content relevant to the ever-evolving world we are all navigating together. Registration opens April 5th!






  • Lung Cancer in the Military is a great resource for organizations working with veterans detailing resources available to military and military veterans with lung cancer.





  • AARP Community Challenge Grants are intended to help communities make immediate improvements and jump-start long-term progress in support of residents of all ages. Deadline: April 14

Upcoming Opportunities
Online Training Opportunities
More Volunteer Opportunities
Virginia Office on Volunteerism & Community Services