Philosophy of Partnership
JVC Northwest invites partnership with organizations and communities that respond to local needs in the Northwest. Our partnership provides value-added service, capacity-building, and accompaniment to agencies, particularly those invested in deepening their diversity, equity, and inclusion lens and practices. Through their service, volunteers contribute to the mission of each of our partners. JVC Northwest and partner organizations share collective power in order to co-create structural and cultural change needed for true equity.
Current Partner Agencies
You will use the same Knack account that you used to submit your previous application(s). If you need assistance logging into an existing account or resetting your password, contact Monica Glasscock, Program Coordinator for Communications & Operations. If you are seeking a new login as an existing Partner Agency please use this link to request a Knack account.
New Partner Agencies
If your program does not currently host a JV, first contact the Point of Contact for your locale to have an initial conversation. Not sure who to connect with? Each Point of Contact’s locales and emails are listed below. If after an initial conversation a partnership seems like a good fit, your next step will be to get set up with a Knack account.
If you are a new potential partner or if your organization has not partnered with JVC Northwest recently, contact Monica Glasscock, Program Coordinator for Communications and Operations using this link to set up Knack accounts for you and your team, and your organization’s application.
In the linked form, you will provide the following details: Agency Name, Locale, Agency Phone Number, and Agency Website. You will also need to provide the names, emails, and appropriate role for each person. Not sure what roles to list? Reference this document for descriptions of roles.
Points of Contact by Locale
Application Elements
A complete application for both new and current Partner Agencies includes:
Application Submitted Online via Knack including organization, financial, program, and position information
Complete, compliant, and specific Position Description (part of online application).
Submitted in full by November 18th
Application Support Opportunities
Virtual Office Hours
Have questions about the application portal? Running into issues with your application? Haven’t started yet, but have some questions?
Drop in to our last Virtual Office Hours space for technical assistance and ask specific questions about your organization’s application. This a chance to get your specific questions answered; there is no set presentation during Virtual Office Hours.
Office Hours are being held:
October 17, 2024 from 1:30-2:30 PM Pacific Time and November 7, 2024 from 1:30-2:30 PM Pacific Time
Partner Agency Town Hall
We will also be hosting a Partner Agency Town Hall originally scheduled for October 24, 2024 at 1:30 PM Pacific Time has been postponed until late 2024/early 2025. A new date, time, and registration information will be published and sent via email when available.
Partner Agency Application Overview
We recently hosted a Partner Agency Application Overview Session, wherein we covered:
- Application elements
- What to prepare before you start your application.
- How to ensure a fully complete and submitted application.
The recorded session is available for those unable to attend or those who wish to revisit the material.
Additional Resources
Partner Agency Requirements
Before applying for a Jesuit Volunteer (JV)/AmeriCorps member, please review the following guidelines to ensure your agency will qualify for a volunteer. When a Partner Agency agrees to host a JV/AmeriCorps member, they commit to the following list of responsibilities:
Partner Agencies provide opportunities for the JV/AmeriCorps member to spend 32-40 hours per week in direct service, capacity building, training and enrichment, supervision, and staff meetings. This full-time position ensures that JV/AmeriCorps members who qualify for an Education Award are able to complete at least 1700 hours by the end of their service term. For a more detailed description of what constitutes direct service, please see the Partner Agency Handbook.
- Eight hours per day, five days per week, with two consecutive days off per week, one being Saturday or Sunday.
- Night service (after 6:00 p.m.) should not exceed two nights per week.
- No service day can be more than 18 hours
Provide the JV/AmeriCorps member with a warm welcome, introducing them to their site supervisor and other key staff on Day One of service; and introduce them at staff and team meetings as the new JV/AmeriCorps member. Explain why the agency and the broader community needs a JV/AmeriCorps member to do the service they will do. Orient them to the organization, and to key concepts and skills they will need to perform their duties, including social issues, client population, and processes to use when solving problems. Train them throughout the year in areas that the site supervisor and the JV/AmeriCorps member have identified; if on-site training is not available, help them locate low-cost off-site training. Help the JV/AmeriCorps member locate a professional mentor within the organization or at a peer organization. JV/AmeriCorps members may spend up to 10% of their time in training (including JVC Northwest sponsored Orientation and retreats).
The supervision and support of a JV/AmeriCorps member is critical, and Partner Agencies agree to designate a Site Supervisor who provides weekly supervision throughout the year as well as Initial, Mid-Year, and End-of-Year Evaluations. Site Supervisors must participate in the JVC Northwest Site Supervisor Orientation Webinar in May & June, and AmeriCorps Site Supervisors return the signed Site Supervisor Contract with the Placement Agreement. Site Supervisors meet with other Site Supervisors and the JVC Northwest Program Coordinator during both Fall and Winter Area Visits. AmeriCorps Site Supervisors must also approve the JV AmeriCorps member’s monthly time log (online).
Weekly Supervision: It is vitally important to the well-being of your JV/AmeriCorps member for the agency to create an intentional, weekly meeting with their site supervisor. JV/AmeriCorps members often struggle to provide feedback to their supervisors, as well as to state their own needs or areas of dissatisfaction. Creating a weekly time together goes a long way to demonstrating your agency’s commitment to the JV/AmeriCorps-relationship, allows you to offer constructive feedback, and gives them the opportunity to share concerns, surprises, and challenges. When the agency and staff are busy, the JV/AmeriCorps member may not seek out the help they need to have a successful year and provide the service your agency needs.
Certificate of Liability Insurance: Name JVC Northwest and your JV/AmeriCorps member in your liability insurance, and submit a COLI (proof of insurance) in July (just prior to the service year) and any time the certificate expires.
Federal Grants: Partner Agencies must inform JVC Northwest of any federal grant money used to subsidize the JV/AmeriCorps member, including the name of the granting agency, number of grant, and amount of grant money used.
No Displacement, No Duplication, and/or No Substitution: The JV/AmeriCorps member shall not displace any paid employee or current volunteer providing the same or similar service.
Monthly Time Sheets (online): The Site Supervisor approves the JV/AmeriCorps member’s hours online, on a monthly basis.
Performance Measures: Partner agencies must assist the JV/AmeriCorps member in submitting data to JVC Northwest for AmeriCorps grant performance measures.
Evaluation: JVC Northwest is required to have an external evaluation of the impact of our program within the first five years of our AmeriCorps grant. Partner agencies are expected to help provide necessary data needed for this independent external evaluation of JVC Northwest.
Compliance with all contracts and paperwork: Throughout the year, partner agencies and site supervisors are responsible for paperwork and meetings, such as the June/July Partner Agency webinar, the Placement Agreement, the Certificate of Liability Insurance, the Site Supervisor Contract, the fall Initial Placement Assessment, an organizational assessment, mid-term and year-end evaluations of the JV/AmeriCorps member, and monthly approval of the JV/AmeriCorps member’s timesheet. Additionally, the placement fee is due in three installments – September, December, and February (exact dates and amounts are in your placement agreement). If payment is going to be late for any reason, please contact our business office. Non-compliant partner agencies are less competitive during the fall agency selection process.
Partner Agency Fees: JVC Northwest placement fees have been based on a tier structure with 2024-25 fees ranging from $17,700-20,520 for full-time positions in AmeriCorps positions in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington and $18,700-22,140 for full-time AmeriCorps positions in Alaska. Each service year, regardless of timing in the grant cycle, the AmeriCorps partnership and funding is contingent upon the annual Federal Budget Appropriations Process.
Curious about what is behind our fees? Review our “What’s Behind the Cost to Host a JV” infographic according to your state: Alaska or Lower 48 (Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington).
Additional Year Bonus: If a Partner Agency is hosting an Additional Year Jesuit Volunteer who is an Independent/non-AmeriCorps member, they agree to provide a $300 bonus for a JV serving a second year and a $500 bonus for a JV serving a third year. Agencies pay this bonus directly to the JV.
End of Service Term Travel Costs: Partner Agencies pay for the JV/AmeriCorps members’ end of year transportation to their permanent residence or new residence at the end of the service term (up to $700). If a JV AmeriCorps member serves less than the full service term, but more than 90 days, the Partner Agency is responsible for travel costs proportional to service term completed.
JVC Northwest cannot fully accept your agency as a partner site until a definite commitment is made to provide for the financial obligation.
Leave from Service: Partner Agencies agree to release JV/AmeriCorps members from service to attend JVC Northwest-sponsored events, such as the two annual regional retreats, one in locale retreat, and two program wide retreats for JVs who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color). In addition to holidays observed by the Partner Agency, the JV/AmeriCorps member is allowed 10 days leave from service during the service year, the dates of which are to be negotiated with their site supervisor. Partner Agencies are to allow JV/AmeriCorps members to attend AmeriCorps-sponsored service days, such as Make a Difference Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Service Day.
Transportation: JV/AmeriCorps members walk, bike, or take public transit to their placements. A Partner Agency must provide a vehicle if it is required for the service position.
Safe and Drug-Free Workplace:Partner Agencies agree to maintain a drug-free workplace and adhere to the requirements under the Drug-Free Workplace Act (41 U.S.C. § 701 et seq.), as well as provide and maintain a safe environment for JV/AmeriCorps members.
No Discrimination and No Harassment: Partner Agencies are required to comply with the AmeriCorps Provisions regarding non-discrimination, Civil Rights and Non-Harassment (see AmeriCorps Provisions*).
Reasonable Accommodation: Partner Agencies are required to comply with the AmeriCorps Provisions and provide reasonable accommodations to JV/AmeriCorps members (page AmeriCorps Provisions*).
*AmeriCorps provisions are available here.
Grievance Procedure: Partner agencies must comply with the JVC Northwest AmeriCorps Program Grievance Procedure (see the Partner Agency Handbook).
Communication: In order to support Partner Agencies and JV/AmeriCorps members, timely communication with JVC Northwest regarding site visits, performance measures, and any proposed major changes in the nature of the position or supervision is essential. It is also important for Partner Agencies to notify JVC Northwest in a timely manner of any problems with the JV/AmeriCorps member’s performance, including failure to report to the site, unprofessional behavior, etc.
In 2010, JVC Northwest became an AmeriCorps National Direct Grantee and in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022 this status was renewed for another three years, respectively. Due to this grant, the majority of Jesuit Volunteers are now also AmeriCorps Members. JV/AmeriCorps members who enroll in AmeriCorps are eligible to receive an Education Award to put toward school loans or future education, after satisfactorily completing their terms of service.
Most JVC Northwest Partner Agencies qualify to be AmeriCorps operating sites. Partner Agencies where the volunteer is engaged in advocacy or direct Catholic ministry do not qualify to be AmeriCorps operating sites. It is important that all Partner Agencies understand the AmeriCorps requirements and their ability to meet them.
In the Partner Agency Application it is important to demonstrate how the JV/AmeriCorps member will meet critical and compelling needs in the local community and enhance the mission of your agency without displacing employees. By providing accurate and detailed responses in the application, as well as by completing a detailed JVC Northwest Position Description, the partner agency provides important information for JVC Northwest as we place JV/AmeriCorps members and provide documentation to AmeriCorps.
