Criteria for Selecting Placements

The Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC)staff uses the criteria detailed below to encourage objective evaluation of all partner agency applications. Other factors may enter into the decision making process and may affect an agency’s receipt of a Jesuit Volunteer. Please keep in mind that the longevity of the relationship between JVC and the agency does not guarantee that a JV will be placed with an agency.

JVC supports agencies that serve the physical and spiritual needs basic to human dignity. Preference is given to agencies that address the most pressing and neglected needs of the community they serve. Agency representatives will be asked to certify reading and understanding the JVC/Agency Partnership Overview prior to submitting a completed application.

I. Organizational Mission & Structure (Agency)

  1. Serves poor, low-income, and/or marginalized people.
  2. Encourages the people served to take an active role and responsibility in meeting their own needs.
  3. Strives toward changing unjust social structures.
  4. Seeks to hire and promote individuals and recruit volunteers without regard to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, national origin, age, physical disability or socio-economic status.
  5. Unable to secure a full-time employee due to lack of funding or qualified personnel.
  6. Understands and supports the mission of JVC.

II. Nature of Volunteer Position (Placement)

  1. For direct service and accompaniment positions: placement provides 75% of hours in direct contact with the population being served and is an integral part of the organization. The percentage may be lower for positions that have significant advocacy responsibilities, and should be discussed with JVC staff.
  2. Educates the volunteer about the lives of the poor and marginalized and immerses the volunteer in the daily reality of the people they serve.
  3. Clearly defines and outlines job duties in a written job description that accurately states the duties and responsibilities of the JV.
  4. Provides adequate training, supervision and support to the JV.
  5. Allows the JV to participate fully in his or her intentional community.
  6. Provides a schedule that allows the JV to balance other program responsibilities, including weekly