AmeriCorps VIP Fellow - Novato, CA

Americorps VIP Fellow

Okizu - Novato, CA

$15,000 a year

About Okizu:

Okizu (oak-eye-zoo) comes from the Sioux language and means unity, to come together, to heal from a hurt, to make whole. The mission of Okizu is to provide peer support, respite, mentoring, and recreational programs to meet the needs of all members of families affected by childhood cancer. For 35 years, Okizu has been committed to the continuing support of the Oncology, Siblings, Family, Bereavement, and Teens-N-Twenties programs. Okizu relies on more than 300 volunteers and 100,000 volunteer hours to make camp a reality each year! Volunteers help at camp, in the office, and at special events and allow us to offer our programs to more than 3,500 individuals each year. We give staff and volunteers, some of whom were campers themselves, the emotional satisfaction of giving to an organization that is devoted to each family member. This giving is part of a circle of support that sustains the Okizu extended family.

Benefits of Service:

*Annual stipend of $15,000

*Education Award of $5,730 to pay for post-secondary education or to repay qualified student loans

*Health Benefits

*Moving stipend for out-of-state applicants

*Possible student loan deferment and interest repayment

*Extensive professional development and experiential learning opportunities

Desired Skills:

* Organized, responsible, flexible, motivated and professional

* Ability to accept and incorporate constructive feedback

* Strong personal standards of excellence, ethics and integrity

* Ability to create positive relationships with staff

* Must have strong written and verbal communication skills

* Ability to work independently and as a member of a team

* Strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively handle multiple tasks

* Possess leadership and interpersonal skills to work effectively with others

* Bilingualism a plus, but not required

Required Qualifications:

* Must be at least 18 years of age (17 with parental approval)

* Clear criminal background check (DOJ and FBI; National Sex Offender Public Database), and clear TB test

* Must have at least a high school diploma or a GED by your start date

* Must either be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States

* Must not have more than 4 or more terms of service previously with AmeriCorps

Responsibilities:

* Recruit, train, and lead new volunteers, particularly specialized/skilled volunteers

* Develop and implement a volunteer program and community service projects for the nonprofit

* Coordinate community outreach strategies for volunteer recruitment that involves social media outreach, creating and distributing marketing and communication materials, etc.

* Build business partnerships that provide support for the nonprofit, including fundraising

* Track volunteer program and infrastructure development at the nonprofit

* Serve side-by-side with volunteers to provide guidance, to better understand the clients' needs, and to improve the volunteer experience

* Participate in all program-required trainings and development opportunities, including orientation, regular meetings with your local VIP team, and in-person and online trainings