Financial Empowerment Member
Program Overview
United Way of King County’s Financial Stability Team is seeking eleven dynamic professionals to serve as Financial Empowerment AmeriCorps Members for one of the largest anti-poverty programs in Washington State. The Free Tax Preparation Campaign is a community-driven effort to put money into the pockets of low- and moderate-income residents of King County by:
- increasing tax refunds
- improving access to tax credits
- assisting individuals and households to apply for food, cash, and other public benefits
These are powerful anti-poverty tools—such as tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Education Credits—that provide critical economic stability, reduce racial wealth disparities, and increase public health outcomes, particularly for communities of color. However, millions of dollars are left unclaimed by eligible recipients each year.
As a member of the Financial Stability Team, you will play a direct role in connecting residents with money to survive and thrive. Your role starts with helping households to avoid the extremely prohibitive cost of tax preparation, which often exceeds $400 in Washington state. Your work is particularly important due to our region’s growing economic instability, which has been exacerbated in recent years due to high inflation and COVID-19. Additionally, you will serve during an exciting time as Washington rolls out its first ever state tax credit for low-income residents.
Inequality, wealth disparities, homelessness, generational poverty—the Free Tax Preparation Campaign seeks to address these problems and more by providing free, high-quality tax preparation services at absolutely no cost to community members. Each year, this campaign has the capacity to help over 20,000 households and bring more than $30 million back to the community.
Member Roles & Responsibilities:
As a Financial Empowerment AmeriCorps Member, you will contribute to our 2023 tax season by:
- Completing advanced training in tax preparation and financial coaching
- Working directly with community members to help them complete and file their taxes at one or more seasonal tax site(s)
- Educating clients on cash assistance opportunities, such as the Working Families Tax Credit
- Work directly with community members to provide extended season tax preparation services
- Support tax season closeout and celebrate program successes
As a Financial Empowerment AmeriCorps Member, you will gain firsthand experience using innovative thinking and creative problem solving to advance United Way’s mission of fighting inequality. You will have many opportunities to build and develop your communication skills, social awareness, and resiliency. Additionally, this role is a great chance to gain a mix of direct public service experience, tax and personal finance expertise, and programmatic professional skills—all while making a profound impact on our community..
Position Length: 6 Months
25 hours/week
Benefits & Compensation:
- Bi-weekly stipend of $780.00 (pre-tax)
- $ 1,824.07 Education Award upon successful completion of service
- Additional $250 completion bonus from UWKC upon successful completion of service
- Loan deferment and payment of interest accrued during service year on qualified student loans (loans must be federally-backed; personal/private loans not eligible)
- Health benefits that meet the minimum standards of ACA compliance
- Unlimited free transportation with a pre-paid ORCA Card
- 3 days sick leave, 3 days personal leave plus 4 federal holidays
- Enrollment in an assistance program with 24-hour access to phone counseling
- Access to emergency assistance program to mitigate unforeseen financial emergencies that put your continued participation in AmeriCorps service at risk
- Monthly team meetings, high-quality training, professional development, and networking opportunities
- Lifelong friends and colleagues who are passionate about service!
Professional Development Benefits:
- Advanced-level certification in tax preparation from the IRS (additional certifications available for those who are interested)
- Robust professional development to support your personal, professional, and service goals and growth
- Skills to be gained include but not limited to: Interpersonal and Intercultural communication, community outreach, adaptability, relationship building, conflict management, customer service, resource navigation, data entry, knowledge of WA public benefits, knowledge of inner workings of non-profits
- One time $100 Professional Development stipend
- Optional career development trainings provided by UWKC AmeriCorps team
- Previous trainings include: How to Network, Resume Workshops, Mock Interviews, How to make your LinkedIn Profile Shine
- Networking opportunities within United Way, and Community Partners
What We’re Looking For:
- Innovative problem solver and critical thinker
- Passionate believer in social justice, economic justice, and community building
- Eager to learn new skills and empower others with knowledge
- Can work independently and on a team
- Ability to be adaptable and work on multiple projects simultaneously
- People-oriented, with exceptional relationship-building skills
- Ability to speak a second language is helpful, but not required
- Access to a car (highly suggested, but not required)
- No tax preparation experience or financial background is needed—we will train you!
As a member of this cohort, you will be supported with a robust orientation, ongoing professional development opportunities, training, check-ins, and the tools and resources you need to succeed.
This is a full-time position and members will serve approximately 25 hours per week for the duration of their service term.
AmeriCorps Program Eligibility
- Must be over 18 years old on the first day of service
- Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Unfortunately, F1 visas are not sufficient.
- Must be available 25 hours per week through June 2023. Exact hours will vary by site placement.
- Must undergo a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not currently living in Washington
- Per United Way of King County Policy, AmeriCorps members must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by the first day of service. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. If you are a selected candidate, you will be required to provide proof of vaccination. Please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org if you need information on medical or religious accommodation
Please note that United Way of King County has moved to remote and limited in-person operations. As such, be prepared to participate in interviews remotely and to complete service responsibilities in a hybrid environment (in-person and remote) should we move forward with your candidacy. If technology presents a barrier to applying, interviewing, or accepting the position, please reach out to unitedwayamericorps@uwkc.org