Korbel AmeriCorps Community Impact Coordinator

University of Denver; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 5,600 - 17,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Monthly stipend

AmeriCorps education award

Internship credit

Job summary

Korbel AmeriCorps members serve with Mile High United Way, supporting Tax Help Colorado at metro Denver locations. You will help eligible clients file taxes, educate on tax concepts, and coordinate program activities as part of a 300-hour commitment across the tax season.

Training is provided, exams are required, and meaningful community impact is the core of this AmeriCorps position based at the Mile High United Way building with several satellite sites in the Denver area.

Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills.
• Ability to pass required IRS certification exams.
• Proficiency with computer hardware and software to complete electronic tax returns.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Research skills and ability to synthesize complex information.
• Ability to keep sensitive and private information confidential.
• Willingness to use available resources to answer tax questions.
• Adherence to defined processes to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Ability to read and write in English (including numeracy).
• Calm and respectful under stressful situations.
• Enrolled student at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs, University of Denver.
• U.S. citizen/national or lawful permanent resident.
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check.

Responsibilities

• Be on-the-ground tax experts at community sites across Metro Denver.
• Ensure program eligibility, conduct intake interviews, organize documents.
• Prepare tax returns, provide tax and financial education, make referrals.
• Learn and demystify Form 1040 language for clients.
• Support capacity building post-filing by improving LMS, training volunteers, and coordinating sites.

Education

Korbel School student enrollment

Tools

IRS exams prep

Job description

Korbel AmeriCorps Community Impact Coordinator at Mile High United Way

The Korbel AmeriCorps Program provides opportunities for students enrolled at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs to serve their communities. Through their service, Korbel AmeriCorps members will support public service organizations improving food, housing, healthcare, employment, and economic stability among Denver residents. Korbel AmeriCorps members will acquire sector-specific knowledge and skills, preparing them for future careers in public service.

Organization Overview

Mile High United Way is proud to be the first United Way in the world. Since 1887, we have met our community’s changing needs using an approach that has grown into one of the world’s most powerful forces for social change. We believe that when we LIVE UNITED, we can ensure that all children and families in our community have what they need to thrive.

Service Position Summary

This position will support Tax Help Colorado with duties that bridge direct service with research, evaluation, and program design.

Tax Help Colorado

For many Colorado families, the tax refund is the single biggest check they will receive in a year. Tax Help Colorado helps low- and middle-income Coloradans to file accurate tax returns and receive every deduction and credit they are owed—often to the tune of thousands of dollars that can be used to reach their personal and family goals. And unlike paid preparers, whose fees can run into the hundreds of dollars and whose qualifications are often questionable, our services are free and delivered by volunteers whose knowledge of tax law is refreshed and certified by the IRS on an annual basis.

During the 2026 tax filing season, we filed over 10,700 tax returns, resulting in $22.5 million dollars in the pockets of Colorado families. Colorado is an especially exciting place to do this work—our state has the most generous child tax credit in the United States, meaning a tax appointment can result in a low-income family receiving a life-changing refund.

Members will serve as on-the-ground tax experts at community locations throughout Metro Denver. They will ensure program eligibility, conduct intake interviews with clients, organize documents, prepare tax returns, provide tax and financial education to clients, and make referrals to additional community resources. The heart of this role is in one-on-one interactions with Tax Help Colorado clients; we like to say that every 1040 tells a story, and it is a privilege to be entrusted with learning those stories that bring life to the numbers on the page. And if you don’t yet know what a “1040” is, that is more than okay! You will be learning a whole new tax language and will immediately put those skills to use by demystifying a process that can be confusing, stressful, and intimidating to so many members of our community (Form 1040 is the federal individual income tax return, by the way!).

Once the filing deadline passes members will take what they have learned from direct service to support program capacity to improve performance for statewide impact. This includes refining a new learning management system, supporting volunteers, creating a platform for site coordinators across the state to collaborate, and developing a clear strategy on how to deploy VITA resources. By engaging in capacity building activities members will allow Tax Help Colorado to take immediate action on the lessons learned in the 2027 filing season and ensure that Tax Help Colorado remains one of the most innovative VITA programs in the nation.

Benefits

• Receive a monthly stipend of $500 per month, for a total stipend of up to $3,000. The stipend is taxable and paid in equal increments every month throughout the term of service.
• Earn a Segal Education Award up to $1,565.08 upon successful completion of the term service. This federal education award may be used to pay educational expenses at eligible post-secondary institutions or to repay qualified students loans.
• Internship credit from the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs for completing service.
• Leadership in the Public Service Sector Quality Credential, a certificate recognized by the State of Colorado, by completing service and enrolling in an approved 4-credit course at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs related to your AmeriCorps service.
• Career and professional development opportunities, including training, mentorship, and networking opportunities.
• AmeriCorps alumni priority hiring with organizations that are part of Employers of National Service.
• Earn Internal Revenue Service Tax Certifications, including the Volunteer Standards of Conduct Certification, Intake Interview & Quality Review, and Advanced Tax Certification.

Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities)

• All Members are required to pass three IRS certification exams prior to starting the tax project. Members will receive comprehensive training from the Tax Help Colorado team in preparation for the certification. We will train Members on the content of the exams; no past direct experience with the content is required, but basic numeracy is required and knowledge of financial concepts may be helpful. The exams include:
  • Volunteer Standards of Conduct
  • Intake Interview & Quality Review Exam
  • Advanced Tax Certification Exam

Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities)

N/A

Required Qualifications

• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to pass required IRS certification exams
• Proficiency with computer hardware and software necessary to complete electronic tax return preparation
• Strong attention to detail
• Research skills and ability to synthesize complex information
• Ability to keep sensitive and private information confidential
• Willingness to use available resources to find solutions to tax-related questions and problems
• Adherence to defined processes to ensure regulatory compliance
• Ability to read and write in English (including numeracy)
• Ability to remain calm and respectful stressful situations
• No past behavior that would call into question the Member’s ethics or trustworthiness or reflect poorly on the program, which requires clients to share sensitive financial information and personally identifiable information (PII).
• Must be a currently enrolled student at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs at the University of Denver.
• Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
• Able to pass a National Service Criminal History Check (state, FBI, and National Sex Offender Public Website checks) per 45 CFR 2540.202.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in a language other than English (Spanish most preferred; Dari and Arabic also very helpful).

Time Commitment

This 300-hour service position (approximately 15 hours/week) begins on January 4, 2027, and ends March 31, 2027. This position will dedicate 225 hours to service, 30 hours developing leadership skills through classroom instruction, and 45 hours in trainings and community-building activities.

During the initial onboarding period through January 22, the expectation will be to complete hours during traditional 9-5 business hours. Those hours will resume after the tax season filing deadline of April 15.

During tax season (January 26-April 15) members will have the flexibility to complete their service hours at any time an eligible tax site is operating. This includes evening hours and Saturdays at the Mile High United Way building. There may be certain times during tax season that members are asked, with notice, to support specific sites based on demand and service capacity.

Training and Support

Korbel AmeriCorps members will receive training and experience in the public service sector, community engagement, and program implementation. Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable approved trainings. Korbel AmeriCorps members are able to count up to 30 training hours spent in a pre-approved 4-credit course at the Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs when course assignments relate to your AmeriCorps service. Members will also have an opportunity to participate in group community service days.

Members will be supervised by the Senior Director of Tax Help Colorado at Mile High United Way and supported by the Assistant Director for the Korbel AmeriCorps Program. The cohort of members serving in the Korbel AmeriCorps Program will act as additional resources and support for each other.

Location

This position is based at Mile High United Way, located at 711 Park Avenue West, Denver, Colorado, 80205.

Additional Tax Site Locations

Mi Casa Resource Center

345 S Grove St

Denver, Colorado, 80219

Early Childhood Center of Adams County

7190 Colorado Boulevard, Commerce City, CO 80022

Hope Communities- Hidden Brook Campus

1313 Xenia St

Denver, CO, 80220

Boulder Public Library

1001 Arapahoe Ave

Boulder, CO 80302

Members must be able to transport themselves to community locations where tax services are provided. There is no remote work option, with extremely limited exceptions.

Diversity and Equal Opportunity Statement

Mile High United Way’s mission is to unite people, ideas and resources to advance the common good. We are outwardly and intentionally committed to inclusion across all dimensions, including race, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, physical or mental ability, enabling us to effectively and authentically address our communities’ most pressing needs.

Mile High United Way respects, values and celebrates the visible and non-visible unique attributes, characteristics, experiences and perspectives of every person. We recognize the unique needs and opportunities across Colorado and seek to engage all voices to co-create more equitable communities.

Mile High United Way is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, color, religion, national origin, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law. We will endeavor to make reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified applicants who have disabilities which hinder their ability to complete the application process. Please contact Human Resources at 303-433-8383 to request accommodation in the application process.

University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital, family, or parental status, pregnancy or related conditions, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. We do not discriminate and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, religion, creed, disability, sex (including sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression), marital family, and parental status, pregnancy, genetic information, military enlistment, or veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal, state, or local law, regulation, or ordinance in any of the University’s educational programs and activities, and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Worker's Rights ("POWR") Act; and any other federal, state, and local laws, regulations, or ordinances that prohibit discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation. For more information, please see the University of Denver’s Non-Discrimination-Statement.

Application Deadline

For best consideration, please submit your application materials by noon (12:00 p.m. MST) on November 2, 2026.

Please include the following documents with your application

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

Reasonable Accommodations

Reasonable accommodation will be provided as needed for applications, interviews, and service. Please contact to Kristin Gjelsteen, Assistant Director for the Korbel AmeriCorps Program at [e-mail] or [e-mail] to request accommodations.

Questions

Please direct questions about the Korbel AmeriCorps Program to Kristin Gjelsteen, Assistant Director for the Korbel AmeriCorps Program at [e-mail] or [e-mail].