Kansas Volunteer Commission

What Kansas Volunteer Commission does

The Kansas Volunteer Commission is the state-designated agency for volunteer coordination and AmeriCorps administration in Kansas, operating as a commission under the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). The commission connects Kansas residents with national service, mentoring, and civic engagement opportunities through programs including AmeriCorps Kansas, Mentor Kansas, the Give Back Kansas Challenge, and a portfolio of thematic mini grants (Youth Civic Engagement, Juneteenth, 9/11 Day of Service, MLK Day of Service). Its primary digital touchpoint is the KanServe website (kanserve.ksde.gov), supplemented by a statewide network of physical Volunteer Centers and community partnerships with nonprofits, schools, employers, faith-based groups, and tribal organizations.

The commission does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its infrastructure consists of standard government web properties, email newsletter distribution via Constant Contact, social media accounts, and physical Volunteer Center locations. Service architecture is essentially coordination, convening, and grant administration rather than direct service delivery, with execution delegated to AmeriCorps member host sites, nonprofit partners, and volunteer managers across the state.

Funding is non-commercial. The commission is sustained by state government appropriations via KSDE and by federal AmeriCorps pass-through grants administered at the state level. Services are provided at no charge to participants (volunteers, mentors, mentees, nonprofit host organizations, and Kansas employers). The only disclosed executive is Dr. Jessica Dorsey, Executive Director, and the organization operates with a headcount of approximately five personnel out of the Landon State Office Building in Topeka, Kansas.

Name

Kansas Volunteer Commission

Legal name

Kansas Volunteer Commission

Website

https://kanserve.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Kansas Volunteer Commission is a state-designated commission under KSDE that coordinates volunteerism, administers AmeriCorps Kansas, runs Mentor Kansas, and distributes grants to nonprofits and community organizations across the state, serving Kansas residents, mentors, mentees, employers, and community partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteer Coordination and National Service Administration

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Volunteerism, Service-Learning & Community Service (EDALAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD), Foster & Volunteer Network Programs (BPAGAIAF), Intergovernmental Affairs & Federal Grants Administration (BPAIAAAC), Education & Teaching Volunteer Programs (EDAIAGAD)

Keywords

• Volunteer coordination
• AmeriCorps administration
• Youth mentoring programs
• Community service grants
• Civic engagement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Topeka

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. State Government Funding: The Kansas Volunteer Commission operates as part of the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), receiving state government appropriations and administrative support.
2. Federal AmeriCorps Grants: The commission administers AmeriCorps Kansas operational grants and other federal funding programs distributed through AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.
3. Mini Grants Distribution: The commission distributes mini grants (Youth Civic Engagement, Juneteenth Day of Service, 9/11 National Day of Service, MLK National Day of Service) to community organizations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Kansas Volunteer Commission coordinates statewide volunteer engagement, administers the AmeriCorps Kansas program and federal grants, supports youth mentoring through Mentor Kansas, distributes commission and mini grants for civic engagement initiatives, and operates Volunteer Centers that connect Kansas residents, employers, schools, and nonprofits with service opportunities. Services are delivered at no cost and funded by state appropriations and federal AmeriCorps grants.

Product overview

The Kansas Volunteer Commission operates a multi-program service platform centered on the KanServe website (kanserve.ksde.gov), which serves as the primary hub for volunteer coordination and national service in Kansas. The core offerings include AmeriCorps Kansas, which connects individuals with national service opportunities, and Mentor Kansas, a statewide youth mentoring initiative. The commission also administers grant programs including AmeriCorps Grants, Commission Grants, and various Mini Grants for specific service days. Supporting infrastructure includes Volunteer Centers, Youth Service programs, and Volunteer Manager Support services. The annual Give Back Kansas Challenge engages employer-supported volunteering across the state. Resource libraries and networking programs like the Kansas Association of Volunteer Engagers provide ongoing support for the volunteer community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mentor Kansas: A mentoring program advisory council and partnership program for the state of Kansas
• AmeriCorps Kansas
• Give Back Kansas Challenge

Products and services

• AmeriCorps Kansas

Quantifiable outcome

• 902,960 Kansas residents volunteered through organizations in 2023
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The Kansas Volunteer Commission serves as the state-level administrator for AmeriCorps Kansas programs, distributing federal funding and supporting national service initiatives across the state. AmeriCorps conducts the Volunteering and Civic Life in America research every two years, which provides data used by the commission.
• Volunteer KansascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteer Kansas is a co-partner in the annual Give Back Kansas Challenge, a six-week employer-supported volunteering initiative. The partnership leverages research showing connections between employer-supported volunteering and improved employee engagement, wellness, and retention.
• Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Kansas Volunteer Commission is housed within and administered by the Kansas State Department of Education. The commission operates under KSDE's administrative structure at the Landon State Office Building in Topeka.
• AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAL!VE provides accreditation for Service Enterprises, recognizing organizations that demonstrate excellence in volunteer engagement. The Kansas Volunteer Commission holds AL!VE Service Enterprise accreditation for 2024-2027.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• VolunteerMatch: Digital volunteer-matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities nationwide. Adjacent to the commission's Volunteer Centers function but operates through a proprietary technology platform rather than state-government infrastructure.
• MENTOR (National Mentoring Partnership): National organization advancing youth mentoring through affiliate network and quality standards. Comparable to the Mentor Kansas program specifically — the commission could partner with or compete for affiliates with MENTOR in the Kansas geography.

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: National nonprofit operating across volunteer engagement, corporate volunteering, and disaster response. Overlaps with Kansas Volunteer Commission's volunteer mobilization and recognition mission but at multi-state scale and as a private nonprofit rather than a state agency.
• AmeriCorps: Federal agency for national service and volunteerism. The Kansas Volunteer Commission is a sub-grantee and state-level administrator for AmeriCorps Kansas; AmeriCorps defines the funding framework, programmatic standards, and biennial research the commission operates within.
• Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS): Federal parent agency of AmeriCorps that funds the state service commissions. Indirect governing/funder relationship comparable to how KSDE houses the Kansas Volunteer Commission.

Direct peers

• Volunteer Florida: Florida's statewide volunteer commission and AmeriCorps administrator. Operates under a state-government mandate similar to Kansas Volunteer Commission, with grant administration and volunteer center coordination.
• CaliforniaVolunteers: California's state service commission administering AmeriCorps funding and statewide volunteer initiatives. Most directly comparable to the Kansas Volunteer Commission in scope, mandate, and federal pass-through structure.
• Volunteer Iowa (Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service): Iowa's state volunteer commission administering AmeriCorps Iowa and statewide volunteer mobilization. Closely comparable Midwest state commission with similar grant programs and Volunteer Center infrastructure.
• Serve New York: New York State's commission on national and community service. Direct peer running AmeriCorps NY and statewide volunteer programs under a state-government structure parallel to the Kansas Volunteer Commission.

Others

• National Association of State Service Commissions: Membership association representing the state service commissions that administer AmeriCorps across the U.S. Provides policy advocacy and convening infrastructure for entities like the Kansas Volunteer Commission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kansasvolunteercommission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kansas Volunteer Commission