Investing in the Future of Volunteering Across Texas

As Texas’ state service commission, OneStar is committed to inspiring Texans to make a difference through volunteerism and strengthening the systems that make service possible. We are excited to bring even greater focus, energy, and resources to this role in the year ahead by developing new goals and initiatives that make it easier for Texans to serve and help organizations engage volunteers effectively. At its core, these efforts are about creating more meaningful pathways for people to contribute their time and talents and helping communities turn that generosity into lasting impact.

One major investment in this work is AmeriCorps' Volunteer Generation Fund grant awarded to OneStar this summer. The funding will support new statewide strategies to expand youth volunteerism and recognition, including exploring technology that can connect young Texans with service opportunities and building relationships with schools to encourage greater participation. With millions of young people across Texas, we see tremendous potential to help make service a formative experience that builds connection, purpose, and a lifelong commitment to community.

We are also investing in the nonprofit professionals who make meaningful volunteer experiences possible. In early 2027, OneStar will launch the Volunteer Engagement Fundamentals Cohort, a robust virtual learning experience designed to help organizations strengthen how they recruit, support, recognize, and retain volunteers. With generous support from the State Fair of Texas, the cohort will make practical volunteer management training accessible to nonprofit professionals across the state while creating opportunities to learn from and connect with peers. Stay tuned for registration details and more opportunities to be part of this renewed statewide focus on volunteer service!

Strong communities are built when nonprofit leaders come together to learn, exchange ideas, and strengthen the relationships that move their work forward. Early bird registration is now open for the 2027 Texas Nonprofit Summit, bringing nonprofit professionals, funders, public-sector partners, and community leaders together in Austin on February 23–25 around the theme Partners in Purpose: Shaping What Comes Next. The Summit is an opportunity to step outside the day-to-day, connect with peers from across Texas, and explore ideas and strategies that can strengthen your organization and your impact. Get your tickets by Thursday, October 15, to take advantage of discounted early bird pricing! Join us as we build the connections and shared momentum that will help move Texas communities forward.

Want to get your network involved in the Texas Nonprofit Summit? Check out the resources in our Communications Toolkit to spread the word and bring your community into the conversation!

This week, OneStar is joining leaders from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the National Service Summit, hosted by America’s Service Commissions, Service Year Alliance, and Voices for National Service. The gathering brings together state service commissions, national programs, philanthropy, AmeriCorps agency staff, and elected officials to explore innovation in service, economic opportunity, state leadership, and ways to strengthen the national service field.

The Summit was followed today by Capitol Hill visits to Congressional offices to share how AmeriCorps investments translate into service and impact in local Texas communities. We are especially grateful to our AmeriCorps Partners at City Year, Reading Partners, and Equal Heart for joining OneStar in these conversations and bringing firsthand stories and experiences from the communities they serve. Their voices helped put a human face on national service and illustrate what AmeriCorps looks like on the ground in Texas. Follow OneStar on social media for more photos from Washington, D.C., and highlights from the Congressional offices that welcome our group!

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, Texans once again transformed remembrance into action by coming together to serve their neighbors. During this year’s 9/11 Day of Service, volunteers across the state joined projects such as packing meals and supporting neighbors in need, carrying forward the remarkable spirit of unity and compassion that emerged in the wake of 9/11.

AmeriCorps played an important role in helping organize and facilitate service opportunities, demonstrating how national service can bring people together around shared community needs. We were especially honored to welcome Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott, who joined volunteers in service and helped recognize the many Texans choosing to make a difference. To every volunteer, AmeriCorps Volunteer, organization, and partner who made the day possible: thank you for turning a day of remembrance into a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we serve together!

In Texas, being prepared is part of building resilient communities. September is National Preparedness Month and also falls within the peak of Atlantic hurricane activity, making this an important time to review emergency plans, build or refresh supply kits, know the risks in your community, and consider how you can help neighbors who may need additional support. FEMA’s Americans Stand Ready campaign offers practical resources to help individuals, families, and communities take action before an emergency occurs.

Preparedness also means ensuring communities have resources ready when disaster strikes. A donation to OneStar’s Rebuild Texas Fund helps position us to respond quickly and direct critical resources to Texas communities following the next disaster. Consider making a gift to help Texas stay ready, respond, and recover! 

The impact of AmeriCorps comes to life in the communities where Volunteers serve every day. During a visit to Houston on July 24, OneStar joined AmeriCorps Chief of Staff Mark Lloyd and AmeriCorps VISTA Acting Director Brendan Murphy for site visits with Breakthrough Houston and Camp SHiEld, creating an opportunity for federal leaders to hear directly from AmeriCorps Volunteers and program staff about how national service strengthens their organizations and the people they serve.

At Breakthrough Houston, the visit coincided with the final day of summer programming, where students reversed a beloved tradition: instead of AmeriCorps Volunteers cheering students through their morning “bridge,” students lined up to cheer on the Volunteers who had supported them throughout the summer. At Camp SHiEld, conversations highlighted how the organization creates community and resources designed by and for women veterans, helping address emotional, social, and physical challenges. Thank you to Breakthrough Houston, Camp SHiEld, their AmeriCorps Volunteers and staff, and our federal partners for helping demonstrate the connection between national service investment and meaningful impact in Texas communities!

We are pleased to welcome Casey Jimenez of Denton to the OneStar National Service Commission following his appointment in June. Casey serves as an Emergency Management Specialist for the City of Denton and brings valuable experience in community preparedness and resilience—an important perspective as OneStar continues strengthening Texas communities before, during, and after disasters. We are grateful to have Casey’s leadership and expertise on the board and look forward to the perspective he will bring to OneStar’s work across the state!

West Texas Rural Philanthropy Days
Jul 19-31, Alpine

National Nonprofit Day Celebration at Nonprofit Austin at ACC
Aug 17, Austin

The Legacy Luncheon
Sep 16, Austin

Candid’s latest research draws on nearly 120,000 nonprofit tax filings to provide salary and benefits benchmarks for 14 executive positions while examining trends in the gender pay gap among nonprofit CEOs. The findings offer useful context for nonprofit leaders and boards evaluating compensation practices, organizational growth, and equitable investment in leadership.

Presented by Candid

Fri, Sep 25
Hurst
Get a data-driven look at the region through the annual North Texas State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report, while connecting with nonprofit professionals, philanthropists, and other community leaders. The gathering offers an opportunity to better understand trends shaping the sector and build relationships that can strengthen collective impact across North Texas.

Presented by North Texas Nonprofit Institute

Tue, Oct 6
Virtual
Explore new findings on how volunteers fit within the broader nonprofit workforce and how organizations understand, engage, and support the people who give their time. The conversation will examine differing perspectives on volunteer labor and offer valuable context for organizations thinking strategically about volunteer engagement and workforce practices.

Presented by Independent Sector

Sun, Oct 11–Tue, Oct 13
New Orleans, LA
Connect with scholars, practitioners, community partners, and students exploring how service-learning and community engagement can build solidarity and trust amid changing realities. Participants will encounter emerging research and practices while developing cross-disciplinary connections that bridge academic learning with meaningful community impact.

Presented by International Association for Research on Service-Learning and Community Engagement

Tue, Oct 13–Fri, Oct 16
Phoenix, AZ
Nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate giving leaders will explore how shared leadership, co-creation, and collective action can strengthen organizations and networks in a rapidly changing environment. With a focus on The Future We Build Together, the gathering creates space to learn across sectors, forge connections, and consider collaborative approaches to uncertainty and lasting change.

Presented by Independent Sector

Thu, Oct 15–Fri, Oct 16
Richardson
Volunteer engagement professionals can build their skills, exchange ideas, and strengthen the systems that make high-impact volunteer programs possible. Centered on Bridges Beyond Boundaries, sessions and connections will encourage participants to break down silos, learn from diverse perspectives, and turn collaboration into stronger volunteer engagement.

Presented by VolunteerNow

Wed, Nov 4
Brownsville
Sessions built around the them Navigating with Purpose: Charting the Future of Nonprofits across three learning tracks will help nonprofit leaders strengthen leadership, board governance, and resource development while preparing their organizations for what comes next. Attendees can gain practical tools for navigating today’s funding and operating environment while connecting with fellow changemakers throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Presented by UTRGV Nonprofit Resource Center

Wed, Nov 11
La Grange
Designed with grassroots and emerging rural nonprofits in mind, this accessible professional development opportunity tackles foundational topics including human resources, risk management, and finance. Participants can strengthen the internal structures that help growing organizations remain compliant, sustainable, and ready to serve their communities for the long term.

Presented by Greater Fayette Community Foundation

Thu, Nov 12–Fri, Nov 13
Waco
How can communities make progress on hunger even when people do not agree on everything? Guided by the theme Bridging Division. Advancing Solutions, participants will explore practical strategies, innovative partnerships, and ways to work across differences to expand access to healthy food and advance sustainable solutions to hunger.

Presented by Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty

Wed, Nov 18
Houston
Strengthen your nonprofit toolkit with learning spanning fundraising, human resources, management, communications, organizational effectiveness, leadership, and professional development. Designed for staff and volunteers across nonprofits, government, education, faith-based organizations, and other community institutions, the experience pairs practical skills with opportunities for networking, collaboration, and renewed inspiration.

Presented by United Way of Greater Houston

Thu, Nov 19-Sat, Nov 21
Philadelphia, PA
Join scholars, practitioners, and community leaders gather around this year’s theme. Igniting Civic Activism: Grassroots and Voluntary Action and Democracy.This year’s conference invites us to reflect on the role of voluntary action, nonprofits, philanthropy, and grassroots organizing in shaping civic life — past, present, and future.

Presented by Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action