Volunteer Opportunities for Students
Volunteer opportunities for students abound, both on and off campus. Choose an opportunity relevant to your major, or get involved just because you care. There are many organizations and causes in the area in need of volunteers.
On the University of Iowa Campus
- A variety of on-campus opportunities can be found on the Ways to Get Involved page of the Center for Advancement website.
- Explore organizations and other engagement opportunities by visiting Student Engagement and Campus Programs.
- The University of Iowa Dance Marathon creates and sustains special projects to provide support and services for pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and their families treated at University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
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The Hawkeye Service Breaks program promotes service-learning, social justice, and community building to UI students. It is open to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Teams are being organized for 2025 and will work with service partners in Denver, Colorado; Washington, DC; and Jackson, Mississippi. Among the projects are animal welfare, Special Olympics, and meeting needs of the homeless and those who are food insecure. See the Hawkeye Service Breaks web page for participation requirements.
In the Community
See organizations' individual websites for additional details.
Big Brother Big Sisters of Johnson County is accepting volunteer applications for three local mentoring programs. Email Dina at dina@bbbsjc.org for details.
Note that all programs require:
- a 12-month commitment
- access to reliable vehicle
- that applicants are at least 18 years old
To learn more about mentoring, see Big Brothers Big Sisters of Johnson County
- Backyard Abundance is a leading educational nonprofit "that helps people create vibrant, engaging outdoor spaces that benefit families and our environment." See the Volunteer page of the Backyard Abundance website for volunteer opportunities that could translate to student internships.
- Houses into Homes is a non-profit organization in Coralville that provides gently used furniture and household items to those in crisis situations. Projects include cleaning donations, gathering items for delivery, and assisting with deliveries.
Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy Certificate
The certificate in Nonprofit Leadership and Philanthropy requires 21 semester hours of coursework and prepares undergraduate students of any major for jobs with the more than 1.5 million nonprofit organizations in the United States. Core courses cover basics in nonprofit organizational effectiveness, fundraising, ethics, and governance. Students are required to complete a field experience, which traditionally consists of a paid or unpaid internship with a nonprofit organization. To round out the 21 semester hours, students may choose from a wide range of electives such as grant writing, organizational leadership, event planning, and museum studies.
Those pursuing the certificate come from a wide range of majors, including art and art history, communication studies, finance, health and human physiology, history, international studies, journalism, leisure studies, management, marketing, political science, sport and recreation management, among others.
Details are available on the University College web page.