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2026 Governor's Hometown Award application now available!

Applications are due June 30, 2026. Apply here: GHTA Application

 Below is a special message from Governor Pritzker congratulating the awardees honored at the 2026 Governor's Volunteer Service Awards ceremony. 

Want to meet the SNAP Work Requirements through Volunteering?

We’re Here to Help You.

Discover more about volunteer opportunities by clicking here!

Join Illinois United in Service to Find Great Volunteer Opportunities

This is a statewide call to action.

Discover more about United in Service by clicking here!

Serve Illinois Programs

AmeriCorps Program

 

AmeriCorps often described as "the domestic Peace Corps," is a national service program that involves people in "getting things done" in local communities. The program develops a lifelong ethic of service among the Members who serve.
National Service Program

AmeriCorps VISTA provides members full-time to community organizations and public agencies to create and expand programs that build capacity and ultimately bring low-income individuals and communities out of poverty.

Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) The Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant is used to develop and/or support community-based entities to recruit, manage, and support volunteers.
Volunteer Program

Through a variety of activities, the Serve Illinois Commission strives to increase awareness and the importance of traditional volunteerism to the citizens of Illinois. The Commission provides assistance to volunteers, volunteer organizations, government agencies, and the public at large through a variety of activities.

2026 Awareness Days and Calendar of Events

March 8th – 14th: AmeriCorps Week

April 1st – 30th: Global Volunteer Month

April 19th – 25th: National Volunteer Week

April 22nd: Earth Day

April 24th – 26th: Global Youth Service Days

April 30th: Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards (GVSA)

May 1st – 31st: Older Americans Month

May 1st – 31st: Mental Health Awareness Month

May 25th: Memorial Day of Service

June 19th: Juneteenth

July 4th: Independence Day

August 12th: Governor’s Hometown Awards (GHTA)

September 11th: 9/11 National Day of Service

October 2026: Illinois Conference on Volunteer Administration (ICOVA)

November 1st – 12th: 1 Act of Kindness Pledge

November 11th: Veteran’s Day

November 21st: Family Volunteer Day

December 1st: Giving Tuesday