Volunteer and Internships

Volunteer Opportunities

The Education Debt Consumer Assistance Program (EDCAP) is a free program of the Community Service Society of New York (CSS), created to help New Yorkers struggling with student debt. In partnership with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of CSS, EDCAP is seeking retired seniors to join our Ambassador and Counselor Volunteer teams!

  • EDCAP Ambassadors build connections in their communities, and spread the word about the impact of student loan debt and the free and unbiased assistance available through EDCAP through remote presentations and networking activities.
  • EDCAP Counselors provide remote, one-on-one counseling services to student loan borrowers who need help managing their student loan debt to regain or maintain financial health. Counselors must complete a 16 hr. remote training prior to serving.

All applicants must be over the age of 55, and have excellent interpersonal, communication, and computer skills. All volunteers are required to complete an interview, provide two references, complete a multi-week training series (remote during the pandemic), and pass a final exam prior to serving. Upon completion of training, a commitment of 4 – 6 hours per week for one year of volunteer service is required.

To apply to join the Ambassador or Counselor teams please complete the EDCAP Volunteer Application on the CSS website.

For more information, please contact Courtney Davis at (212) 614-5413 or email her at cdavis@cssny.org.

Internships

EDCAP hosts undergraduate, graduate, and legal interns throughout the academic year and the summer. All internships are unpaid, but EDCAP is able to work with students seeking academic credit.

This internship is a hands-on opportunity for students to gain exposure to student loan system and policy and work with others to advocate on behalf of consumers. Intern duties may include conducting legal research, filing complaints, handling direct client service work, and drafting consumer-facing know-your-rights materials.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to edcap@cssny.org with the subject line “EDCAP Internship”.