Training & Conferences
The ICVS wants to do what we can to develop professional skills within Iowa’s national
and community service personnel and to improve the performance of our volunteer
and service programs. Different individuals and agencies hold varying degrees of
experience and knowledge in this field. By offering a wide range of training and
conference sessions, our goal is to help Iowans become the most effective volunteers
possible.
Iowa Nonprofit Summit
The Iowa Nonprofit Summit (formerly the Iowa Conference on Volunteer Service) is
an annual conference designed to help volunteer management professionals develop
and sustain effective, dedicated, and well-trained volunteer programs to provide
services that help to achieve their organization's mission. In addition to keynotes
from leaders in the field, workshop sessions on volunteer management, disaster preparedness,
mentoring, national service, and many other areas are led by professionals from
the volunteer and nonprofit sector. The Iowa Nonprofit Summit is typically held
in central Iowa in the early fall.
- Watch for more details about the next summit on the Calendar or the main page of our
website.
Iowa National Service Leadership Institute (INSLI)
Each spring since 2005, the ICVS has offered the Iowa National Service Leadership
Institute. We created the leadership institute to bring together AmeriCorps State
members from all across the Iowa to facilitate networking and learning.
Now open to AmeriCorps State, Senior Corps, and Learn & Serve programs, the
INSLI is an opportunity for national service members to strengthen their leadership
skills and meet others with similar interests. INSLI is usually held at a camp retreat
center, so participants get to enjoy campfires and other outdoor activities, while
participating in courses that have included topics such as “Leadership for Social
Change” and “Knowing Yourself in Order to Lead Others.”
- If you are an AmeriCorps State member, details about how to sign up for INSLI will
be passed along to you by your program director.
- If you are involved in Senior Corps or Learn & Serve, please contact the ICVS Training Coordinator for more
details.
Ongoing Training Opportunities
Throughout the year, the ICVS offers training sessions open to national service
participants and community members. Examples of recent trainings include informational
sessions to introduce local organizations to the steps in writing an AmeriCorps
State grant application, a webinar on Life After AmeriCorps, and an all-day Volunteer
Reception Center training and simulation.