Tri-CAP Volunteer Opportunities

Tri-CAP is looking for volunteers in various capacities. View the openings below to see which need your skills and availability fit best.

Tax Assistance Volunteers

Volunteers are needed for Tri-CAP’s VITA Free Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program. Little to no experience required. Comprehensive training is provided for all volunteers.

Download the Tax Volunteer Application

Why volunteer?

We could not do our work without dedicated volunteers. We believe that an individual’s access to quality tax assistance and financial refunds should not solely depend on one’s ability to pay for them. Our volunteers enable us to provide free and accessible tax and financial services that put 100 percent of refunds in the taxpayers’ pockets, often helping them meet basic needs and begin to save for the future.

The impact of your volunteerism is immediate. You will help customers maximize tax time and the tax credits they are due and deserve – credits that can add up to 40 percent of one’s annual income.

The tax assistance, coupled with financial stability information that we provide, create pathways for our clients to increase income, build assets and become financially secure.

Benefits to volunteering

Volunteering with Tri-CAP provides a variety of benefits.

• Gratifying volunteer work that allows you to develop new skills and gain valuable experience working with diverse customers, volunteers and staff.
• Improve your community by helping hardworking families increase their income, thus their livelihood.
• Gain hands-on knowledge of our tax system and improve your tax and financial skills through free training.
• Build your resume; an excellent opportunity for students and jobseekers to demonstrate experience to employers. Tax preparers and reviewers also become fluent in the tax software and obtain IRS VITA certification.

Results of the last 5 years of tax filing assistance:

• Our dedicated volunteers prepared more than 16,000 tax returns and have brought almost $13,000,000 back into our community
• Saved taxpayers over $1,500,000 in tax  preparation fees

Tax Volunteer Positions Needed

Tax Site Assistant

Provide customer support and service for taxpayers. The assistant would work closely with the tax site manager to keep the multi-step process running smoothly.

Financial Stability Assistant (FSA)

Provides financial stability support for taxpayers receiving services from Tri-CAP. The FSA meets with each taxpayer to assess the financial stability needs of the taxpayer and provide information and resources as requested by the taxpayer including opening savings, checking, Myra, or pre-paid card accounts.

Preparer

Work one-on-one with customers to prepare state and federal tax returns. By doing this, you’ll help the customer access important tax credits. Tax preparers are required to attend 12 hours of training and complete a test as required by the IRS in order to be certified prior to volunteering.

Reviewer

Provide thorough on-site checks of all tax returns prepared by Tri-CAP’s volunteer tax preparers, ensuring that every return is accurate and complete. The reviewer will work cooperatively with staff and provide support and leadership to other volunteers. Reviewers are required to attend 12 hours of training and complete a test as required by the IRS in order to be certified prior to volunteering.

Criminal background checks are done for all tax program volunteers.

Transportation Driver Volunteers

Volunteer drivers provide rides using their own private vehicles to residents of Benton, Stearns, Sherburne and Morrison counties. Passengers are assigned to volunteers by the Tri-CAP dispatch center and may be traveling to medical appointments or a variety of other destinations. Volunteer drivers are reimbursed at the Federal IRS rate and may also be eligible for some meal reimbursements. Our volunteer drivers provide an important service to those in need in the tri-county area. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Tri-CAP.

Tri-CAP Board of Directors

The agency is governed by an 18-member volunteer board of directors. Six members of the Board are elected officials; six members are consumer representatives, and six members are public-at-large representatives. These dedicated volunteers set policy for the agency. Find a detailed position description here.

The Board meets monthly on the third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Tri-CAP office in Waite Park. Mileage reimbursements and stipends are available to qualified board members.

Current openings:
Benton County Community Representative

Are you a community-minded individual

interested in making a difference?

Tri-CAP currently has volunteer opportunities for individuals interested in improving the quality of life for low-income residents. Board members play an important role in guiding the agency and assisting people currently living in poverty.

Tri-CAP’s Board of Directors represent private, public, and community interests.

We are seeking dedicated volunteers to apply for membership on the Board.

Qualifications:

Qualifications:

• Applicants must be over 18 year of age
• Applicants must live in Benton County
• Applicants must believe/have passion for the mission

Meetings:

The Board of Directors meet bi-monthly:

• Third Thursday of the month at 5:30 pm at Tri-CAP 1210 23^rd Avenue South, Waite Park, MN

Cost Accommodations:

• Mileage reimbursements, childcare reimbursement and meeting stipends are available to board members who meet certain criteria

For more information contact:

• Lori Schultz, Executive Director 320-251-1612 or at schultz@tricap.org
• Applications available online at: www.tricap.org

If you or someone you know is interested in applying for the vacancies above, please fill out the application and submit to Lori Schultz.

Advisory Committees

Periodically Tri-CAP looks for volunteers for Tri-CAP programs advisory committees. Please contact Tri-CAP for additional information about the advisory committees, their purpose, and any current openings.

TAX VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

VOLUNTEER DRIVER APPLICATION

TAX VOLUNTEER LOG IN

VIC NET USER GUIDE

Board Application