VISTA , EITC Tax Volunteer Coordinator, United Way

Posted by on September 15, 2006

[emailed 9/12/06]

EITC Tax Volunteer Coordinator Americorps*VISTA Member

Job Description
? Assist in volunteer recruitment and training
? Work with Project Coordinator to assign volunteers to tax sites
? Working with community leaders, assist in educating community residents about predatory tax services, refund anticipation loans, and other financial services that charge high costs to low income people
? Work with site managers at tax sites to promote free tax preparation and EITC outreach to communities surrounding the tax sites
? Help to develop marketing techniques that will promote IDA?s, a Campaign stored value card and housing counseling to tax customers
? Work with Campaign partners to promote other money saving activities such as credit repair (Consumer Credit Counseling Service)

About Campaign for Working Families:
The Campaign provides low-income families with free tax preparation services at community based sites which allow maximum benefits due from the Federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), PA TAX BACK and other credits and refunds. The Campaign offers advice about non-predatory, quality financial services and offers access to Individual Development Accounts, savings plans, credit repair, and information about public benefits such as Food Stamps and child care subsidy.

In its first four tax seasons, the Campaign brought almost $67 million in credits and refunds to Philadelphia households. It completed over 42,000 tax returns for individuals, opened over 500 bank accounts; provided financial education for over 1,400 individuals; and trained almost 1,300 volunteers to provide free tax preparation in community settings. The free tax sites have saved Philadelphia households between $3 and $5 million in fees, interest and charges.

Responsibilities:
VISTA volunteers have worked in a variety of roles within the Campaign to assist us in building our technical and service capacity. They have helped connect partner organizations in the coalition by working on joint projects, they have done community outreach and education, provided operational support for tax sites including integrating asset development activities at the sites, and worked on special projects such as surveys of check cashing stores in the region, promoting savings programs, IDA?s and other asset development activities.

Additional Qualifications:
-Interest in and commitment to non-profit work, community development and economic empowerment programs.
-Ability to work independently as well as collaborate with others in teams.
-Ability to manage multiple tasks
-Good communication skills

Compensation:

This position is an Americorps*VISTA Volunteer position. It requires a one-year full-time commitment and offers a living allowance (approx. $800/month), health insurance, $4,725 education award, loan deferment, relocation allowance (if moving from more than 50 miles away) and training.

Email resume to: Mhaupt@uwsepa.org. No phone calls please.