New Name Addresses Longstanding Confusion About National Nonprofit’s Work
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 19, 2026 — VOA, long known as Volunteers of America, has officially rebranded to VOA, addressing a longstanding misconception that the organization is primarily volunteer-run.
Founded in 1896, VOA today employs more than 15,000 paid professionals across the United States who help more than 2 million people in need each year. While volunteers continue to play an important role in supporting VOA programs, the organization itself is not a volunteer organization.
When VOA was founded, the word “volunteer” carried a different meaning, referring to those who chose service as a vocation and a calling to do good in the world. Over time, the modern understanding of volunteerism evolved, creating growing confusion about the nature and scope of VOA’s work.
In considering the name change, the organization explored moving away from “VOA” entirely. Ultimately, VOA chose to retain the name by which many people already know the organization, preserving its 130-year identity while also minimizing the financial impact of a broader rebranding across its network of 30 local affiliates in 46 states plus Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. While the name is changing, VOA’s mission remains the same: helping people in need live healthy, safe and productive lives.
“This rebranding is not so much something new as it is an evolution of how the public already knows us,” said Mike King, president and CEO of VOA. “We will continue to provide compassionate human services that empower individuals and strengthen communities.”
For more information about VOA and its programs, visit voa.org.
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About VOA
VOA is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, we have supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 2 million people in over 450 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.
Media Contact:
Vicki Bendure, Bendure Communications
202-374-9259 (c) or vicki@bendurepr.com
