Why Your Employer Should Join the Give Back Iowa Challenge

The Give Back Iowa Challenge is an eight-week statewide employer-supported volunteer initiative, which serves as a competitive way to encourage organizations and businesses alike to participate in community volunteering. The Challenge was created in 2015 by Volunteer Iowa to promote employer volunteer initiatives. In 2024 alone, this initiative recorded nearly 30,000 hours of volunteer service in Iowa. The Challenge runs annually from April 1 through May 31. It’s simple; register your organization, track the hours of your employees, record those hours on our system and celebrate your employees!

Volunteerism at its core has an enormous impact on the health and well-being of communities in our state. Last year, more than 30 organizations, including nonprofit, for-profit and government entities took part in the Give Back Iowa Challenge organized by Volunteer Iowa, in partnership with Alliant Energy and Iowa Healthiest State Initiative.

Photo Caption: Day of Caring at the Salvation Army
Photo Credit: Paulette Rueter

Research shows that there is a direct connection between employer-supported volunteering and improved employee engagement, employee wellness, organizational commitment, job satisfaction and retention. Additional research shows a correlation between increased employee engagement with increased profitability and productivity. Additionally, volunteering benefits the community through the organization’s corporate social responsibility.

How to Volunteer in Greater Des Moines (DSM)

My company doesn’t have a formal volunteer program, can we still participate?

If your business or organization doesn’t already have an established volunteer program, you may be wondering if you can still participate. The answer is yes! This is a great chance for your organization to get started with volunteering to see how it can positively affect your employees.

Photo Caption: Project Holiday
Photo Credit: Brian Goodman

How will our employees log their hours?

As a part of registration, employers will identify whether one point of contact will log hours for the organization or if employees will log their hours individually. The hours must be logged into our volunteer hours form, which will open this year on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Once the Challenge starts, your organization should start encouraging employees to log all volunteer hours completed between April 1 and May 31, 2025. Volunteer hours can be logged at any time through the Challenge, or in whole at the end of the Challenge.

What are the benefits of participating?

Employers with the highest average of hours per employee, in two to three categories based on the number of employees, will be recognized with a glass award and through social media.

Photo Caption: Planting a Community Garden
Photo Credit: Paulette Rueter

What types of volunteer activities count toward the Challenge?

Any formal or organized volunteer activities performed through or for an organization (an association, society, school or nonprofit including youth groups, civic organizations and religious institutions). Volunteer time during the workday, volunteer time off (VTO) and time spent volunteering on personal time outside of work may all be included. Informal volunteering, such as picking up litter in a park, delivering food to your neighbors, coaching your child’s sports team or helping out at your church, all count as volunteer hours that can be logged for the Challenge.

How many employees must my business or organization have in order to participate?

Businesses and organizations of all sizes can participate in the Challenge! Past winners of the Challenge include Community Youth Concepts with a team of eight employees and Wells Fargo with a team of thousands. Any business or organization of any size can help make Iowa a better, stronger place; one hour at a time.

Register today to participate in this year’s Give Back Iowa Challenge! Questions about the Give Back Iowa Challenge can be directed to betsy.shelton@volunteeriowa.org.

Improving the Greater Des Moines (DSM) community through volunteering and community service is a priority for many. Thanks to community engagement opportunities and leadership connecting local businesses to causes that provide services to improve the region, DSM continues to be a place that provides support for those who live, work and play here.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.