How to Volunteer or Advocate with INHF

You can get involved with the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation (INHF) in two main ways: hands-on volunteering at events like prairie seed harvests and workdays, or advocacy through INHF's action alert network and its advocacy resources. Both paths are open to the public and are listed directly on inhf.org under "Take Action." The right starting point depends on whether you want to work outdoors or lend your voice to conservation policy.

Volunteer Opportunities

INHF's volunteer work centers on land stewardship and restoration. The site lists upcoming events that combine outdoor work with learning, including:

• Moonlight Seed Harvest with Polk County Conservation — a nighttime seed-collecting event run with a county conservation partner.
• Indiangrass Hills Prairie Seed Harvest — collecting native prairie seed for restoration work.
• Weimerskirk Workday — a general stewardship workday at a project site.
• Hoppy Harvest with Big Grove Brewery — a community seed harvest event hosted with a brewery partner.

These events are a good fit if you want a short, scheduled commitment and are comfortable working outdoors. Seed harvests typically involve collecting native plant seed by hand for use in restoring Iowa prairies; workdays involve general site maintenance. Because events are seasonal and change throughout the year, check the Events page on inhf.org for current dates, locations, and any registration requirements before planning to attend.

How to get started as a volunteer

1. Go to inhf.org and open the Take Action section, then select Volunteer.
2. Review the current event listings and pick one that matches your schedule and comfort level.
3. Follow the event's listed contact or registration instructions to sign up.
4. Confirm logistics (meeting place, time, what to bring) with the event organizer before the day.

Expected result: you'll be registered for a specific stewardship event and will receive any instructions the organizer provides.

Common snag: event details live on individual event pages, so a general "volunteer" page may not list every opportunity. If you don't see a fit, use the Contact Us page to ask about upcoming workdays.

Advocacy and Action Alerts

If you'd rather influence policy than do field work, INHF runs a conservation advocacy program. The site's Take Action section includes Be an Advocate for Nature, along with advocacy resources covering:

• Tips for Advocacy and How to Connect with your Representatives
• Iowa Legislative Overview and Understanding Legislative Committees
• Key Conservation Programs and Issues and Opportunities
• Policy topic pages on REAP, Trail Policy, Farm Bill Conservation, Tax Issues, Water Quality, and Public Lands

You can also sign up to receive INHF action alerts, which notify you when a conservation issue needs public input.

How to get started as an advocate

1. Visit inhf.org and open Take Action → Be an Advocate for Nature.
2. Sign up for action alerts using the "Receive INHF action alerts" option.
3. Read the Tips for Advocacy and How to Connect with your Representatives pages to learn how to contact legislators effectively.
4. When an alert arrives, follow its suggested action (for example, contacting your representative on a specific bill).

Expected result: you'll be on INHF's alert list and have the background needed to respond when a conservation issue arises.

Common snag: advocacy work follows the legislative calendar, so alerts may be infrequent outside session periods. The policy resource pages remain useful year-round for background.

Which Path Fits You

You don't have to choose one — many supporters do both, volunteering in the field and signing up for alerts.

Other Ways to Engage

Beyond volunteering and advocacy, the site lists Internship Opportunities (INHF hires nearly 20 field and office interns each summer and was accepting applications for 2027 interns at the time of the page), plus Events, Scholarships & Awards, and giving options under Give Today. For questions about any of these, use the Contact Us page on inhf.org.