Innisfree Volunteer Application Form - Section 1

  • Innisfree Village Volunteer Application

    Part 1

  • Life at Innisfree 

    Thank you for your interest in joining Innisfree Village as a residential volunteer. Innisfree is an intentional lifesharing community dedicated to supporting adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities — people we call coworkers — through relationships built on mutual respect, care, and genuine connection.

    Volunteers commit to a year of living alongside coworkers, sharing in the rhythms of daily life and contributing to a community where everyone belongs. This is not a traditional service role — it is an invitation to show up fully, as a neighbor and community member, in the life of a place that has been doing this work for over fifty years.

    Each volunteer lives in a family-style home with a small group of coworkers and one or more fellow volunteers, sharing household responsibilities and supporting coworkers with daily living tasks including personal care, home upkeep, and recreational activities. Volunteers also work alongside coworkers in therapeutic workstations and participate in the broader life of our 550-acre farm in Crozet, Virginia.

    If you are someone who values community, finds meaning in the ordinary moments of shared life, and is ready to give a year to something larger than yourself — we'd love to get to know you.

  • Before You Begin

    This application is completed in two parts. After an initial review of Part 1, selected applicants will be invited to complete Part 2.

    The information you share throughout this process will be reviewed by Innisfree volunteers and staff as part of our collaborative decision-making process — reflecting our commitment to decisions guided by the collective values of our whole community.

    If you'd like to save your progress and return later, click the Save button at the bottom of the page. You'll be prompted to enter your email — click Skip Create An Account, enter your email, and click Send. Check your inbox for a confirmation email and use the link inside to return to your application where you left off. If you have any issues, please contact us at info@innisfreevillage.org.

    Questions? Please reach out to Julie Freeman Mullins, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, at julie@innisfreevillage.org.

  • A Note About Your Application

  • If you’d like to save your progress and finish your application later, click the Save button at the bottom of the page. You’ll be prompted to enter your email—just click Skip Create An Account, enter your email, and click Send. Check your inbox for a confirmation email and use the link inside to return to your application where you left off.

    If you have any issues, please contact us at info@innisfreevillage.org.

  • Getting Started

    We're glad you're here. This application was designed with care and intention — each question is an opportunity for us to begin to know you. Take your time and enjoy the process. 
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  • Current Address Valid until date*
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  • Birth Date (All Innisfree Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age)
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  • How did you hear about us?*

  • The Volunteer Commitment

    A year at Innisfree is long enough to matter. It takes time to settle into a new community, build real relationships with others, and find your footing in the rhythms of daily life here. Volunteers who commit to a full year don't just contribute to the community — they become part of it. That depth of experience is at the heart of what lifesharing asks of us, and what it offers in return.
  • Are you willing to commit to one year of meaningful service as a residential volunteer?*

  • Please read if you are applying as a family:

    Family applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account availability within the village and the balance between family life and volunteer responsibilities. We welcome families and want to understand your situation as fully as possible — please share whatever feels relevant about your family life so we can thoughtfully consider your application.

    If you are applying with a partner or spouse, both individuals must complete the application process separately. This ensures we have a full picture of each person as an individual, while also considering your circumstances as a couple.

    Please review our family guidelines for more information, and be sure to complete the family connection survey, which helps us better understand your family's needs, rhythms, and how life at Innisfree might work for everyone involved.

     

  • Will you be applying with another person?*
  • Do you have children under the age of 18 that would be joining you?*

  • Driving Information

    We collect driving information to determine whether volunteers are eligible to drive Innisfree vehicles. To drive village vehicles, volunteers must hold a valid license and have at least one year of driving experience. Transporting coworkers requires a minimum of three years of driving experience. International volunteers whose licenses are not written in English must obtain an International Driving Permit before driving in the U.S. This should be arranged prior to arrival at Innisfree.
  • Do you have a valid US or international drivers license?*
  • Do you own a car that you will be bringing with you?*
  • If you are conditionally offered a position with Innisfree, do you authorize Innisfree to review your driving record to the extent permitted in Virginia?*

  • Visa Status: International Applicants Only

  • International volunteers are required to hold a B-1/B-2 non-immigrant visa to travel to the United States for their time at Innisfree. Please answer the following questions about your current visa status. Before proceeding, please review the current eligibility requirements for international candidates.

    Please note that the cost of obtaining a B-1/B-2 visa is the responsibility of the volunteer. Innisfree provides guidance throughout the visa process and supplies documentation for your visa interview that describes the volunteer role and Innisfree's mission.

  • Do you have a current U.S. B1 or B2 visa?
  • If yes, when does the visa expire?
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  • Language Skills

  • Effective communication is at the heart of life at Innisfree. Volunteers work closely with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, some of whom have limited speech or communicate in ways that require patience, attentiveness, and a strong understanding of spoken English.

    For this reason, we ask that volunteers arrive with solid English communication skills. We warmly welcome international applicants and value the perspectives they bring — and we want to be transparent that Innisfree is not a language learning program. Volunteers need to be able to communicate confidently and independently from the start in order to support coworkers well and fully participate in community life.

    We appreciate your honesty in answering the questions below. Your responses help us ensure that every volunteer is set up for a genuinely meaningful experience.

    Please indicate your level of English fluency using the following scale:

    Basic — You can communicate on simple topics or know some common phrases.
    Conversational — You can communicate on everyday topics with minor grammar or vocabulary mistakes, but have limited written English.
    Fluent — You can express yourself clearly and confidently, with good vocabulary and grammar. Both your spoken and written English are strong.

     

  • Are you a native English speaker?*
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  • A Little More About You

    We'd love to get a sense of who you are beyond the practical details. This section is informal — there are no right or wrong answers. We simply want to begin to know you a little.

  • Please upload a clear, recent photo where your face is visible. Filters and heavy editing should be avoided.

    At Innisfree, our community members are involved in the application process — and putting a face to an application matters to us. A photo helps everyone begin to feel connected to you before you've even arrived.

     

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  • Educational Background and Work Experience

    Please share your educational background and work experience below. You are welcome to upload a CV or resume if you have one — if not, simply fill in the fields provided. Either way, please use the space below to share anything relevant that isn't captured in your resume.

  • Cover Letter:

    We encourage you to submit a cover letter alongside your application. It's a wonderful opportunity to share more about who you are, what draws you to Innisfree, and what you hope to contribute to our community. While entirely optional, a cover letter helps us get to know you more fully before we meet.

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  • Volunteer and Community Experience

    Please share any current or previous volunteer, service, or community involvement — whether through organizations, groups, or projects of any kind. This helps us understand the experiences that have shaped you and what you carry with you into community life.

  • References

  • We require three references for each applicant. Each person you list will receive a short reference form by email — please let them know to expect it before you submit your application. Your application will not be considered complete until all three reference forms have been received. Additional references may be requested if needed.

    Your references should be people who can speak to your character, your work ethic, and how you show up in professional or community settings. Good references might include:

    • A current or former supervisor or manager
    • A professor, teacher, or mentor
    • Someone you have worked alongside in a volunteer or community setting

    At least one reference must be a current or former supervisor or manager. Personal friends and family members are not able to serve as references.

    Please give your references a heads up so they can respond in a timely way — their responses are an important part of our process, and your application cannot move forward without them.

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  • Dates and Permissions

  • We'd love to know a little about your availability so we can begin thinking about how you might fit into our community. This helps us build a strong schedule and ensure that both you and Innisfree are set up well from the start.

    Our volunteer needs shift over time, and placement is based on what the community needs at the moment your application is reviewed. We appreciate your flexibility and patience as we work to welcome volunteers at the right time — for them and for us.

  • Earliest Date You Can Arrive
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  • Latest Date You Can Arrive
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  • Innisfree Village does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or military status in any of its activities or operations.

     

  • Thank you for taking the time to complete Part 1 of the Innisfree Village Volunteer Application. It means a great deal to us that you've invested your care and thought into this process.

    You can expect to hear from us within 1–3 business days. If selected to move forward, you'll be invited to complete Part 2 of the application.

    In the meantime, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions. Julie Freeman Mullins, Volunteer Recruitment Coordinator, is always happy to hear from you at julie@innisfreevillage.org.

    We look forward to reading your application.

    — The Innisfree Village Team 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

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