SLS: Tax Support Program Volunteer Leader with IRCO (2025-26 school year)

The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO) helps welcome, serve, and empower refugees, immigrants, and people across cultures and generations to reach their full potential. 

This position is one of the options for Portland State's Student Leaders for Service program. Please apply to the Student Leaders for Service program to express interest in this opportunity. To access the application to apply for SLS for the the 2025-26 school year, please visit https://pdx.givepulse.com/event/590919

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IRCO has supported immigrant and refugee communities across Oregon and SW Washington for nearly 50 years through culturally specific services that promote equity, self-sufficiency, and economic empowerment. Programs span youth development, legal assistance, workforce training, health and wellness, financial literacy, housing aid, and civic engagement, all rooted in a deep commitment to dismantling systemic oppression and fostering community belonging.

IRCO’s Tax Support Program, in partnership with the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, provides free, high-quality tax assistance to eligible Portland residents, including low- to moderate-income individuals, people with disabilities, seniors, and immigrant and refugee community members. This program ensures that clients receive accurate tax preparation services, maximize eligible tax credits and refunds, and gain financial stability through accessible, culturally specific support. By offering free tax preparation services in multiple languages and locations, IRCO helps mitigate financial barriers that prevent individuals from accessing professional tax assistance.

The SLS member will play a vital role in expanding outreach, recruiting and training volunteers, and providing direct client support, ensuring that more community members can access these essential services. Through this position, the SLS member will directly contribute to economic empowerment, financial literacy, and equity within diverse Portland communities. By supporting tax preparation efforts, they will help individuals and families secure vital financial resources, reducing economic hardship and fostering long-term financial stability.

Key Responsibilities:

October–January: Volunteer Recruitment & Training

• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, and training volunteers to obtain IRS certification for the 2025 tax season.

• Help coordinate and facilitate training sessions to prepare volunteers for tax clinic operations.

• Develop volunteer engagement strategies to enhance retention and support.

• Identify community partners and promote awareness of IRCO’s tax support services through outreach events and tabling opportunities.

January–April: Tax Clinic Support & Direct Client Assistance

• Obtain IRS certification to assist at IRCO Tax Clinics (training provided).

• Support tax clinics by screening taxpayers, verifying documentation, and assessing client needs.

• Provide one-on-one tax preparation assistance, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal and state regulations.

• Guide clients through the tax filing process and help them access additional resources for tax-related issues.

• Assist with intake forms and navigate tax preparation software at various IRCO Cultural Centers.

April–June: Program Growth & Volunteer Retention

• Assist with volunteer retention efforts by gathering feedback and identifying areas for program improvement.

• Help organize volunteer appreciation events, such as the annual Volunteer Picnic and recognition initiatives.

• Contribute to strategic planning for the upcoming tax season, including refining recruitment, training, and engagement strategies.

Modality: This position requires a hybrid schedule: remote work is available from October to January (with occasional in-person office visits), in-person tax clinic support is required from January through April 15, and remote work resumes from April to June. A laptop and Microsoft account will be provided.

Skills and Knowledge Required: 

• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving skills
  
• Ability to work effectively with clients from diverse backgrounds
  
• Reliable transportation to clinic sites
  
• Reliable internet access for self-guided training
  
• Must be 18 or older
  
• Commitment of 4–8 hours/week in person
• Must obtain IRS certification for 2025 tax year (training provided)
  
• Availability for Tax Volunteer Orientation in late January

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Multilingual (Vietnamese, Russian, or Spanish a plus)
  
• Experience working with immigrant and refugee communities
  
• Prior experience with tax preparation or accounting

Application, Onboarding, and Training process:  Training will be provided through IRS Certification (Advanced level), IRCO Volunteer Orientation, Tax Volunteer Orientation in January, and weekly team meetings. The SLS member will receive guidance from IRCO’s Tax Volunteer Coordinator and collaborate with experienced staff and returning volunteers.

Benefits of this Position: 

• Gain hands-on experience working with immigrant and refugee communities at IRCO Cultural Centers, including Africa House, Slavic & Eastern European Center, Pacific Islander & Asian Family Center, Greater Middle East Center, and local schools.
• Earn IRS certification recognized nationwide across all VITA sites.
• Build professional connections with IRCO staff, community members, and a diverse volunteer team.
• Develop problem-solving, financial literacy, client service, and cross-cultural communication skills.
• Opportunity to contribute beyond tax preparation—engage in community outreach, event planning, volunteer engagement, and nonprofit program development.
• Creative flexibility to make tax programs engaging and accessible through innovative recruitment and outreach strategies.
• Receive structured mentorship and explore student-led leadership opportunities

Supervision: The SLS member would report to Allison Beebe, IRCO’s Volunteer Coordinator for the Tax Support Program, and collaborate with the IRCO Volunteer and Tax Teams.

Location & Transportation: IRCO Main Campus – 10301 NE Glisan St., Portland, OR 97220, approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour by bus/MAX via Line 19 or Green MAX Line.

Also at IRCO Africa House, Slavic & Eastern European Center, Pacific Islander & Asian Family Center, Greater Middle East Center, and select school locations.

Schedule Available: 4–8 hours per week. The preferred hours would be between Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–5 PM, with flexibility based on academic schedules.