Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service

The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS), also known as Volunteer Mississippi, is the state service commission for the U.S. state of Mississippi. It serves as the primary coordinating agency for national service programs, volunteer initiatives, and community engagement projects within the state.[1]

MCVS was created in 1994 by an executive order of the Governor of Mississippi in response to the federal National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993, which established AmeriCorps and state service commissions nationwide.[2] Its mission is to engage Mississippians of all ages and backgrounds in service to strengthen communities, meet critical needs, and promote a culture of civic responsibility.

History

The Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service was formally established in 1994 to manage Mississippi’s allocation of federal AmeriCorps funds and to develop statewide volunteer coordination strategies.[2] Its creation followed a growing national emphasis on structured community service programs during the early 1990s.

In the late 1990s, MCVS expanded beyond AmeriCorps oversight to include volunteer recognition events, training workshops for nonprofit managers, and the development of a centralized volunteer database. The agency began administering the Volunteer Generation Fund in 2009, providing grants to strengthen volunteer recruitment and management across Mississippi.[3]

Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, MCVS became a central hub for disaster volunteer coordination, processing thousands of in-state and out-of-state volunteers to assist with housing repair, debris removal, and community rebuilding.[4] The Commission repeated this role after the 2011 Mississippi River floods, multiple tornado outbreaks, and hurricanes along the Gulf Coast.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, MCVS mobilized thousands of volunteers to assist with food distribution, vaccination site operations, and virtual education support.[5] In the 2020s, it has continued to play a key role in disaster preparedness, community health initiatives, and capacity building for small nonprofit organizations.

Programs

MCVS administers and supports a range of volunteer service programs, including:

  • AmeriCorps State programs — Provides grants and oversight to local organizations that operate AmeriCorps projects in education, disaster services, environmental stewardship, economic opportunity, and healthy futures.[6]
  • Disaster Services — Recruits and trains volunteers to respond to natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods, working in partnership with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross.[7]
  • Volunteer Generation Fund — Strengthens the capacity of local volunteer organizations through funding, technical assistance, and best-practices training.[8]
  • Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence (GIVE) Awards — Recognizes outstanding individual and group volunteer achievements each year in categories such as youth service, corporate volunteering, and lifetime achievement.[9]
  • Faith-based and Community Initiatives — Engages religious organizations in community service projects and disaster relief.

Partnerships

MCVS collaborates with federal agencies, state departments, and nonprofit networks, including:

  • AmeriCorps — for national service program funding and policy alignment.
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) — for disaster response coordination.
  • Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) — for state-level emergency planning and volunteer mobilization.
  • American Red Cross and United Way of America — for disaster relief and community outreach.
  • Public and private universities — for campus-based service-learning programs.

Impact

Since its founding, MCVS has:

  • Administered over US$100 million in federal and state service grants.[10]
  • Supported more than 25,000 AmeriCorps members serving in Mississippi communities.[1]
  • Coordinated over 500,000 hours of volunteer service annually through partner organizations.[11]
  • Assisted in the recovery of hundreds of communities impacted by disasters.

Structure and leadership

MCVS operates under the oversight of a board of commissioners appointed by the Governor of Mississippi and confirmed by the state Senate.[1] Commissioners represent diverse sectors, including education, nonprofit organizations, business, and faith-based groups. The board sets policy, approves grant funding, and provides strategic direction.

The executive director manages day-to-day operations, oversees staff, and serves as the primary liaison to federal agencies. As of August 2025, the executive director is [Insert current name from official site].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Staff |url=https://www.volunteermississippi.org/staff |publ

  1. ^ a b c "About Volunteer Mississippi". Volunteer Mississippi. Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  2. ^ a b "Our History". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  3. ^ "Volunteer Generation Fund". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  4. ^ Mitchell, Jerry (August 28, 2015). "Volunteer agencies play vital role after Katrina". The Clarion-Ledger. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  5. ^ "COVID-19 Volunteer Opportunities". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  6. ^ "AmeriCorps Mississippi". AmeriCorps.gov. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  7. ^ "Disaster Response". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  8. ^ "Volunteer Generation Fund". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  9. ^ "Governor's Initiative for Volunteer Excellence Awards". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  10. ^ "Annual Reports". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  11. ^ "Volunteer Statistics". Volunteer Mississippi. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
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