The Volunteer Initiative Program was started in 1999 in order to recognize and support employee volunteerism in the surrounding community. For every employee who contributes a significant amount of volunteer time to a community organization, Grinnell College grants $100 to that organization of choice. In this way, employees have the ability to direct some of the College's community contributions to the organizations that they feel most strongly about.

Background
Encouraging employee volunteerism in the local community is consistent with the College's mission, values and commitment to the community. Grinnell College contributes financially to a number of community efforts and understands that volunteer efforts by students, faculty and staff have a tremendous impact on the quality of life in our area. By contributing $100 to volunteer organizations, this program allows employees to volunteer in those projects that they feel personally passionate about and direct some of the College's community giving at the same time.

Guidelines for $100 Recognition

• Qualified Employees: Employees must be appointed to a regular or term (e.g., non-student) position at the College to be eligible to participate.
• Qualified Activity: Program participants must contribute a "significant" amount of volunteer time to their organization of choice to receive financial support. A "significant amount of volunteer time" would include volunteering for more than a month on a weekly basis or more than ten hours on an intensive weekend project. Sponsored organizations are required to verify employee participation.
• Qualified Organizations: The local community is not limited to Grinnell but includes the surrounding area; Des Moines and Iowa City. Generally, we do not support: Individuals, business ventures, organizations without IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status that are not governments, organizations that limit membership and services based on race, religion, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age or national origin, requests for loans or debt retirements, political organizations and projects or organizations that might in any way pose a conflict with the mission, goals or programs of Grinnell College.
• Funding Limits: No organization may receive more than $1,000 in total contributions through this program in a given fiscal year. Each employee may designate funds to one organization per fiscal year. The College's fiscal year is July 1 - June 30. Funds are limited and will be released in the order in which qualified applications are received.

Submitting a Request
Applications can be downloaded as a PDF file here and are also available by contacting the Office of Community Enhancement in the Old Glove Factory (269-3900). The College reserves the right to deny funding to any and/or all requests. If an application is denied, the applicant may request a written explanation for the decision.