The Utah Commission on Volunteers (COV) is an active Board of Commissioners (up to 25-members) appointed by the Governor and chaired by the Lieutenant Governor to support volunteerism in Utah. The Commission was created in February 1994 by the "Commission on National and Community Service Act" enacted by Chapter 119, 1994 General Session. The Commission was reauthorized by statute in February 2004 to support and promote volunteerism in Utah.
The commission meets quarterly to direct and carry out the mission and objectives of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, and fulfill the statutory responsibilities for State Commissions under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The commission awards millions in grants to service groups and community organizations each year. It manages AmeriCorps programs, Utah's Citizens Corps and provides technical support to Utah's Volunteer Centers. Additionally, each Commissioner serves on one of 5 sub-committees Community Collaboration, Volunteer Recognition, Youth Voice, Evaluation, , and Resource Development, who meet monthly.
The commission was housed jointly under the Lieutenant Governor's Office and the Utah Division of Housing and Community Development until December 8, 2011 when this joint responsibility was removed from Housing and Community Development and given to the Department of Community and Culture now known as the Utah Department of Heritage and Arts.
The name was changed in 2013 to the The Utah Commission on Service and Volunteerism and is also known as UServeUtah. As the state's central coordinating body for service and volunteerism, the Commission is responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining a vision and culture of civic engagement and national and community service within the state.