Thank you for your interest in volunteering with the Iowa Family Preservation Project. Volunteers play a vital role in surrounding families with practical support, helping them stay safely together while navigating challenging seasons. Whether you have a few hours a month or a few hours a week, your time and talents help advance our mission of strengthening and preserving families across Iowa.

Ways to Volunteer

Event Support

Help set up, welcome families and guests, run activity stations, and clean up at family gatherings, fundraisers, and community events. Most event roles are 2–4 hours at a time, a few times per year.

Donation Sorting & Organizing

Sort, organize, and prepare donated clothing, baby items, and household supplies so they are ready to be delivered to families. Typical shifts are 1–3 hours, once or twice a month.

Deliveries & Pickups

Use your vehicle to pick up donations and deliver essential items directly to families in our program. Time commitments vary, but most routes take 30–90 minutes and can be scheduled as needs arise.

Administrative Support

Assist with data entry, mailings, phone calls, and other office tasks that keep our programs running smoothly. Many of these tasks can be done in 1–2 hour blocks weekly or biweekly.

Specialized Skills (Marketing, Fundraising & More)

Share your professional skills in areas like marketing, graphic design, photography, fundraising, grant writing, or technology. Time commitments are flexible and often project-based, ranging from a few hours for a single project to a few hours a month for ongoing support.

What to Expect

We want every volunteer to feel prepared, supported, and confident as they serve. Here is what you can expect when you get involved:

  • Background checks: For the safety of the families we serve, certain volunteer roles require a background check. We will walk you through this simple process.
  • Training & orientation: Volunteers receive a basic orientation to our mission, values, and policies, plus any role-specific instructions you need to feel ready.
  • Scheduling that fits you: We work with you to find volunteer times that align with your availability, whether that is weekdays, evenings, or occasional weekends.
  • Clear communication: Our team will keep you informed about upcoming needs, expectations, and any changes, and we welcome your questions at any time.

Ready to Get Started?

If you are ready to take the next step, please complete the volunteer form on our Call to Action page so we can learn more about your interests and availability. If you have any questions before signing up, we would love to hear from you—reach out to our team and we will be happy to help you find the best fit.

Iowa Family Preservation Project

The Iowa Family Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization led by child welfare survivors, veterans, and military families. Our mission is to reform Iowa’s child welfare system from the inside out, advocating for practices that ensure child safety while keeping families intact.

Our Objectives

Vision for Expansion

As a national organization, we are working towards establishing the Iowa Family Preservation Project in every state. While we have just begun our efforts in Iowa, our vision is to make a positive impact on child welfare systems across the country, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow up in a safe and supportive family environment.