Benefits of Having a BVS Volunteer
Quality help at your organization- Volunteers are full-time staff
- Volunteers are eager to learn and serve
- Budget friendly way to get help without the costs of a full-time employee
“Brethren Volunteer Service was a life-changing adventure.”
Howard L.
Former BVSer
BVS offers year-round support for our volunteers and partnering projects
BVS is able to place volunteers anywhere in the US and many locations abroad
Partnering projects have direct access to the the director of BVS, who personally gets to know each volunteer and project
Before onboarding new volunteers, BVS reaches out to projects to see if they are open to volunteers that year.
BVS works with projects to understand what type of characteristics and skills they are looking for in a volunteer
Project sites get to interview potential volunteers and have final say on who joins their team
BVS attracts capable individuals who are driven to make a difference
“We have loved our experience with BVS volunteers and we hope to place a few more here in the fall!”
BVS Project – Ferncliff
Volunteers apply to enter BVS. They must provide references, complete an interview, and have a cleared background check.
During the placement process, project sites interview potential volunteers and have final say on who joins their team.
Volunteers participate in an orientation that equips them for their time of service and matches them with projects.
After orientation, volunteers are sent to an organization for one to two years of service, working 40 hours a week. Most volunteers begin their service between August – October.
Projects cover the basic living expenses of their volunteer. This varies and is typically around $12,000-$15,000.
BVS staff support volunteers during their time of service with check-in calls, continued learning opportunities, and a mid-year retreat.
COST OF HAVING
A VOLUNTEER
The cost of having a volunteer includes an annual placement fee (see below), a monthly stipend paid to the volunteer, housing, food, daily commute to and from the workplace (i.e., company vehicle, bus/train pass, bike, etc.), transportation to and from the BVS mid-year retreat, and transportation for the volunteer at the end of service. The total cost for projects typically averages $12,000-$15,000 per year. Further
details on costs are below.
Brethren Volunteer Service covers a volunteer’s transportation to your organization, health insurance, training, and ongoing support.
There are no costs for projects who do not receive a volunteer.
Projects are only required to pay the annual placement fee when they have a volunteer placed at their site, which is based on a project’s budget.
| Item | Costs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | TBD | Dependent on living situation |
| Food | $100 – $300 per month | Based on $25 – $75 per week |
| Stipend | $250 per month | $300 and $350 for second and third year volunteers |
| Transportation | TBD | Dependent on type of transit |
| Flights to mid-year retreat | $300 – $450 (one time cost) | Prices may fluctuate |
| Flight at end of service | $200 – $300 (one time cost) | Prices may fluctuate |
| Project Fee* | $3,200 – $4,500 | Based on annual budget |
*Project Fee
| Project’s Annual Budget | Project fee per Volunteer/Year |
|---|---|
| Church of the Brethren related projects | $3200 |
| $0 to $500,000 | $3450 |
| $500,001 to $1,500,000 | $4000 |
| $1,500,001 and higher | $4500 |
