Volunteer Income Tax Assistant (VITA) Sites - Financial Advocate

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The Fremont Family Resource Center's (FRC) Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program provides free tax preparation and asset building services to taxpayers with low to moderate income, non-English speaking persons, and individuals with disabilities. The FRC VITA Program has been in operation since 2002 and is the largest VITA site in Alameda County.

If you have a few extra hours, come on down to help us greet clients, follow up with clients, and promote SparkPoint services to help folks reach financial stability.

Our goal this tax season is to increase the number of tax filers who enroll in SparkPoint services. To help, we are looking for volunteers to call clients, promote SparkPoint services, and aid in administrative activities. There are no mandatory skills, and training will be provided.

Financial Advocate Volunteers:

Financial Advocates meet with VITA customers to learn about their financial needs and challenges. Once customers' needs are appropriately identified, Financial Advocates link them to additional financial products, tools, and/or public benefits that can save them money and increase their household resources.

Financial Advocate volunteers will engage VITA customers and help them utilize tools/products that address their financial needs and build long-term assets. A background in finance or account is helpful, but NOT necessary. This is an ideal volunteer opportunity for those who are outgoing, engaging, and love to learn. The FRC VITA site will provide all training. If you enjoy beginning conversations with others, helping people out, and have a positive attitude, this position is for you!

TASKS:
* Assesses client asset-building needs
* Provides information and recommendations on asset-building products and services available through the VITA site
* Connects clients to appropriate resources
* Completes the transaction
* Ensure tax preparers have client direct deposit information to complete tax form
* Collects data to document outcomes

QUALIFICATIONS:
* Is an excellent salesperson
* Likes people and working with a team
* Enjoys helping individuals/families dealing with multiple barriers to financial self-sufficiency
* Comfortable working in a multicultural environment
* Experienced with using the Internet and on-line tools
* Available to volunteer during the day and evenings, and Saturdays during tax season (January 25 through April 18, 2017; minimum 3-5 hours per week during the VITA season)
* Multi-lingual capabilities a plus
* Strong time-management skills
* Excellent oral and written communication skills

Financial Advocates will be trained on:
* How to comfortably talk to clients to create trust and assess financial stability needs
* Learning about asset-building products, tools, and services that improve family household financial health
* How to use a tool-kit of reference materials to explain key product / service details
* How to complete product enrollments or resource connections
* How to track and document the results of your efforts