Kansas Volunteer Commission

Kansas Volunteer Commission Serve. Engage. Empower.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"...
09/03/2026

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities. The MLK Day of Service is a part of the AmeriCorps national call to service initiative. The MLK Day of Service empowers individuals, strengthens communities, bridges barriers, creates solutions to social problems, and moves us closer to Dr. King's vision of a beloved community.

These mini grants offer eligible entities grant funding to recruit and engage volunteers in meaningful service activities or deliver a service-learning activity related to Dr. King. A service-learning activity is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Preference will be given to applicants who engage one other community partner in the event's planning, collaboration, or ex*****on. Service activities should engage a minimum of 10 volunteers, and paid staff may not count as volunteers.

The deadline to apply is October 6, 2026. The grant period is January 1-31, 2027. Visit https://kanserve.ksde.gov/resources/commission-mini-grants/mlk-national-day-of-service-mini-grant to apply!

Please contact [email protected] with questions.

📣Meet Andy Ewing, Executive Director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission I am honored and excited to join the Kansas Volu...
08/31/2026

📣Meet Andy Ewing, Executive Director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission

I am honored and excited to join the Kansas Volunteer Commission as its new Executive Director. Throughout my career, I have been drawn to opportunities that bring people together to solve problems, strengthen communities, and create pathways for individuals to thrive. The Commission's mission aligns closely with values that have guided my work for decades: service, collaboration, inclusion, and the belief that strong communities are built when people work together. What attracted me most to this role was the opportunity to expand the impact of volunteerism, national service, and civic engagement across Kansas.

Originally from Oregon, my Kansas journey began with military service at Fort Riley and continued with pursuit of a degree at Kansas State University. Since then, I have dedicated my career to serving Kansas students, families, schools, and communities in various leadership roles. Most recently, I served as a consultant with the Kansas State Department of Education, focusing on family and community engagement, special populations and CTE, and statewide education improvement initiatives. Before joining KSDE, I served as Executive Director of both the Northeast Kansas Education Service Center and the South Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, where partnership-building, innovation, and community collaboration were at the heart of my work. These experiences have reinforced my belief that meaningful progress happens when organizations and individuals unite around a shared purpose.

What excites me most about leading the Commission is the opportunity to help Kansans connect with meaningful ways to serve their communities while strengthening the organizations that rely on volunteers. I look forward to building relationships across the state, listening to community needs, and working alongside our partners to expand the reach and impact of service. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family, traveling, hunting, planting, and caring for trees, and cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs. Most of all, I enjoy connecting with people and learning their stories, and I look forward to meeting and serving alongside communities across Kansas.

Andy can be reached at [email protected].

08/18/2026
📢 Mini-Grant Alert!!It's not too late to apply for the Kansas Volunteer Commission's 9/11 National Day of Service fundin...
06/04/2026

📢 Mini-Grant Alert!!

It's not too late to apply for the Kansas Volunteer Commission's 9/11 National Day of Service funding opportunity.

Applications Due 6/8/2026

06/03/2026

📢Last Chance to Log Your Volunteer Hours!

The Give Back Kansas Challenge may have officially ended on May 31, but there is still ONE MORE DAY to submit any volunteer hours completed between April 20 and May 31!

If you or your employees have volunteer hours that haven't been reported yet, now is the time to get them logged. Every hour counts and could make a difference in your organization's final standing.

Thank you to all the organizations and employees who dedicated their time and talents to strengthening Kansas communities through service. Your impact has been incredible!

Deadline to submit volunteer hours: Tomorrow
Challenge winners will be announced on June 10

Don't miss this final opportunity to ensure all your volunteer efforts are counted. Let's finish strong, Kansas!

06/01/2026
06/01/2026
✨A huge THANK YOU to all of the organizations participating in the 2026 Give Back Kansas Challenge! Your commitment to s...
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!

🚨 FINAL WEEK ALERT! 🚨The last week of the   Challenge is here, and there’s still time to make an impact! 💙Every voluntee...
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.

Address

900 SW Jackson Street
Topeka, KS
66612

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