Members of the UMB community can receive training to volunteer for the tax season.
At the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) Community Engagement Center (CEC), the partnership with the CASH Campaign of Maryland has helped local residents secure more than $2 million in tax credits and refunds. Across Maryland, the CASH Campaign's statewide network has assisted more than 308,000 households, returning nearly $455 million in tax refunds and credits while saving taxpayers millions of dollars in tax preparation fees.
Those outcomes are made possible by volunteers, and you could be one of them.
To help build the next cohort of volunteers for the upcoming tax season, the UMB Office of Community and Civic Engagement (OCCE) recently hosted a Community Resource Navigator and Volunteer Tax Preparer Information Session in partnership with the CASH Campaign of Maryland at the CEC. Four participants attended in person at the CEC, while 10 joined virtually to learn how they can support Maryland residents through free tax preparation and resource navigation services.
The session introduced attendees to volunteer opportunities with the CASH (Creating Assets, Savings, and Hope) Campaign of Maryland, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve greater financial security. The CEC is one of the CASH Campaign of Maryland's free tax preparation sites. From January through April, you can volunteer on campus or at any one of its sites across the state.
Participants learned about two volunteer opportunities available during tax season:
IRS-Certified Volunteer Tax Preparer
Volunteer Tax Preparers assist low- to moderate-income taxpayers with preparing and filing federal and state tax returns at no cost. No prior tax preparation experience is required. The CASH Campaign provides comprehensive training, IRS certification support, and ongoing guidance throughout the tax season.
Community Resource Navigator
Community Resource Navigators help taxpayers identify and access valuable resources beyond tax preparation, including public benefits, workforce development programs, financial coaching, health and social services, and other community supports that can improve long-term financial stability.
It's not too late for you to get trained to be a CASH Campaign volunteer! Go to its website and sign up to learn more about becoming a volunteer.
The partnership between the CASH Campaign and the OCCE reflects a shared commitment to expanding opportunity and strengthening communities. While the CASH Campaign helps individuals and families improve their financial well-being through free tax preparation, benefits screening, and financial empowerment services, OCCE builds mutually beneficial partnerships that connect the resources of the University with community-identified priorities. Together, these efforts help residents access tools and services that support economic mobility, financial stability, and community well-being.
For UMB employees, volunteering with the CASH Campaign offers an additional benefit. Full-time employees are eligible to use up to eight hours of paid volunteer leave annually to participate in approved community service activities. Volunteering during tax season is an excellent way to use those hours while making a meaningful impact for Maryland families.
Beyond helping residents maximize tax refunds, volunteers develop valuable skills in customer service, financial literacy, problem-solving, resource navigation, and community engagement. For students, the experience can complement academic and professional goals. For employees and community members, it offers a meaningful way to apply their talents in service to others.
The collaboration among the CEC, OCCE, and the CASH Campaign of Maryland demonstrates how community partnerships can create tangible results for Baltimore residents. Every tax return completed and every community referral made represents an opportunity to help individuals and families keep more of what they earn and connect to resources that can improve their quality of life.
As tax season approaches, members of the UMB community are encouraged to consider how a few hours of volunteer service can translate into thousands of dollars returned to Maryland households.
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