Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service Letter of Support Copyrighted
September 18, 2023
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 05.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: lowa Commission on Volunteer Service Letter of Support
SUM MARY: Copy of a letter of support from Mayor Brad Cavanagh on behalf of the
City of Dubuque in support of the lowa Commission on Volunteer
Service
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File;Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
Letter of Support Supporting Documentation
Dubuque
THE CITY OF � Office of the Mayor
all-Ameriea CiE� City Hall
�T T� �i �� I � 50 West 13t'' Street
�J 1� , l m Dubuque, IA 52001-4845
zoo�•zaia�zois www.cityofdubuque.org
Masterpiece on the Mississippi zai�*zoi9
September 5, 2023
Please ensure the lowa Commission on Volunteer Service board continues to operate as is. The lowa
Commission on Volunteer Service (aka Volunteer lowa) is preliminarily recommended for elimination
which would create an unintentional and devastating impact on the nonprofit community across the
state of lowa.
Without a commission board, the State of lowa will not be in compliance with federal statute required
to receive its formula AmeriCorps State funding. In May 2023, the lowa Commission on Volunteer
Service announced 21 qrants it awarded to new and continuing AmeriCorps State programs in lowa
totaling $9.45 million in federal grants and $4.85 million in Segal Education Awards for a total of$14.3
million in federal funding, not including the local private matching funds. The elimination of the lowa
Commission on Volunteer Service would result in the loss of not only $14.3 million in funding to local
nonprofits and public entities, it would also result in the loss of other federal funds administered by the
lowa Commission on Volunteer Service including but not limited to the Volunteer Generation Fund
and 9/11 Day of Service grant, VISTA and RSVP. The Commission is also responsible for certifying
mentoring programs through MENTOR lowa that makes local youth programs eligible for various state
and federal funding opportunities.
The programs funded by Volunteer lowa meet a range of critical community needs including but not
limited to afterschool programming, tutoring for reading and math, building low-income housing,
responding to local disasters, and providing services to refugees. These programs reach every county
in the state.
The City of Dubuque has received over$4.8 million in AmeriCorps State funding over the past 10+
years. Formula funding has been vital for the City of Dubuque to establish strategic program models
that have the necessary research and development to receive competitive funding. The formula
funding has helped serve thousands of Dubuque youth through academic literacy support, mentoring,
career exploration, academic support, and the development of key skills to ensure youth are prepared
for their future. Losing the lowa Commission on Volunteer Service would lead to the loss of the City's
current and future AmeriCorps funding to help Dubuque youth prepare for their best possible futures.
Please retain the lowa Commission on Volunteer Service board to ensure the continued funding for
the more than 20 organizations that rely on AmeriCorps State funding and countless other
organizations supported by the commission to meet critical community needs across the state of
lowa.
Sincerely,
rad Cava gh
Mayor