501c Foundery

Saturday, March 28, 9 to 11 am, we will host a pilot grant writing group cohort at the Urban League Of Kansas Inc, 2418 E 9th St N.

If you are interested grant writing as a career or for your organization this might be for you. If you have a laptop, bring it along.

Send me an email if you want to attend [email protected]

Please park in the back and ring the doorbell.

The Kansas Volunteer Commission is excited to announce the 2025 Civic Engagement Conference, to be held on November 4th and 5th at Washburn University in the Memorial Union. Each day of the conference will function as its own standalone event, but we encourage participants to attend both days for maximum impact. The conference will bring together individuals, schools, and communities to learn, share and network. The theme of the conference is “Empowering Kansans through Civic Engagement”.

The registration fee is $25/day for students and AmeriCorps members/staff and $50/day for adults. This fee includes a light breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, networking opportunities, and a service project. Scholarships are available upon request.

Conference registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdcd4WClAUzxDgdvDocPm7JZDeAQXQH0tLY7uiHQpgo9FfQyA/viewform

Presenters

The Commission is seeking proposals for 50-minute workshop sessions at the conference. Workshop sessions will be held in the morning and afternoon of November 4th and 5th. All types of sessions will be considered, including presentations, panels, roundtables, or a combination of the above. Presenters receive up to two free conference registrations.

The Commission is particularly interested in receiving speaker proposals from high school and college students sharing best practices around civic engagement, youth service, positive youth development, service-learning, civic education and more!

Call for presenters: https://kanserve.ksde.gov/take-action/events/2025-civic-engagement-conference/call-for-presenters

Vendor Space

The Commission is also accepting applications for vendor booth space at the conference. Vendor booth space is $50/day and vendors will receive one free conference registration. Booths will be visited by conference attendees in the morning and afternoon of November 4th and 5th. Free vendor booth space available for student-led organizations.

Vendor booth application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEQmVdFx8Y_UdiAMP04WvePI7BVjiLLxzI6ABvYz-pmcW6ow/viewform?usp=dialog

For any questions, please email [email protected].

2025 Civic Engagement Conference Tuesday, November 04 - Wednesday, November 05, 2025 Washburn University, Memorial Union VENDOR BOOTH FEES • $50 per day for one six foot booth • No cost for student-led organization booths VENDOR BOOTH FEES INCLUDE • One free conference registration • breakfast and lunch each day • partici...

Kansas Employers Invited to Participate in Fifth Annual Give Back Kansas Challenge

Challenge promotes employer-supported volunteering across the state



WICHITA/TOPEKA – Kansas employers are encouraged to register for the fifth annual Give Back Kansas Challenge, a statewide initiative that motivates employees to volunteer in their communities.

The eight-week challenge will run from March 31 through May 23, 2025. Employers interested in participating must register by March 17 at www.bit.ly/Givebackks.

The Give Back Kansas Challenge allows employees to track and report their volunteer hours, with recognition given to those who volunteer regularly. For employees who are new to volunteering, the Challenge encourages them to explore new opportunities to enhance their skills and engage more deeply with their communities.

“This is a great way for employees to discover the impactful work of local nonprofits while giving back through their time and talents,” said Nola Brown, executive director of Volunteer Kansas. Volunteer Kansas, in collaboration with the Kansas Volunteer Commission, promotes the event each year to foster volunteerism across the state.

The Challenge is free to join and open to all employers in Kansas, including businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies. Employers must register in advance, and an employer-designated point of contact will report volunteer hours through an online portal.

Participating employers will be divided into three categories based on size—large, medium, and small—with winners selected based on the highest average number of volunteer hours logged per employer during the Challenge. The winning employers in each category will receive a $1,000 donation to a nonprofit of their choice from Volunteer Kansas. These organizations will also be honored at a check presentation ceremony.

“Employer-supported volunteering not only benefits the community but also strengthens employee engagement, job satisfaction, and retention,” said Dr. Jessica Dorsey, executive director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission. “We look forward to seeing the positive impact that participating companies will experience throughout the Challenge.”

For more information on how to get involved and resources for finding volunteer opportunities, visit http://bit.ly/Givebackks or contact Dr. Jessica Dorsey at [email protected] or 785-296-3163.

Give Back Kansas Challenge The Give Back Kansas Challenge is an eight-week challenge that engages Kansans in employer-supported volunteering, both during and outside the workday. The Kansas Volunteer Commission and Volunteer Kansas are excited to co-partner in this challenge because much research shows the connection between....