Jubilee Jobs, Inc.

Jubilee Jobs helps impoverished men and women find jobs and advance into careers to be able to adequately support themselves and their children -- more than 21,000 have been served since 1981.

How do you help people in my community?

Our clients come to us from all over the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Most recently we have expanded into Southeast DC, the poorest section of the city, with most of our program. Thousands of people have literally rebuilt their lives through Jubilee Jobs, defeating odds presented by such challenges as addiction, incarceration, and homelessness. An infinite number of reasons can cause a man or woman to become disconnected with the job market, but the same solutions and strategies seem to work in addressing them all. Helping people gain adequate employment gives them needed income to provide for basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, as well as financial support for themselves and their families. Our strategy works.

Why do you need my support?

Always we rely on private contributions to carry out our job-placement work. Nearly half of our income comes from dedicated and generous individuals, who make their contribution to Jubilee Jobs to support the health of our city. We take every investment in support of our work seriously, and hold ourselves accountable to our supporters. No gift or act of kindness can be considered too small. It all adds up.

Every contribution makes a difference at Jubilee Jobs, and fortifies our efforts to create opportunities for those who need them most. Our supporters are at the heart of our organization, along with the applicants we serve. We are not government funded. With a cost of only $961—for our full spectrum of services from preparation to placement, retention support and Move-Up counseling, for a minimum of 24 months—ours is the lowest cost we have been able to confirm anywhere in the country for like services. Our work is only possible through the generosity and caring of others.

How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?

In the 30 years of operation, we have streamlined our efforts at Jubilee Jobs and helped our small staff to do more with less. Your support will go directly to job-preparation and placement costs. We strive to handle with great care the money donors have so generously given. We were chosen in 2005 and again in 2009 as “one of the best small charities” in the Greater Washington region by the Catalogue for Philanthropy, selected on merit, service, and financial accountability; we remain on that list. Our finances are audited annually. We have a dedicated Board of Directors committed to our mission and a caring staff, deeply involved with applicants and our important mission—to connect the unemployed and underemployed with work for sustenance, dignity and hope.

Can I Volunteer? How?

Yes. Talented volunteers from all walks of life find rewarding opportunities at Jubilee Jobs as well as flexible hours, including evenings and lunchtimes. Volunteers lead workshops on interviewing skills, conflict resolution, and goal setting, or facilitate Hope Circle meetings and serve as mentors. They help applicants get together resumes or do online applications—an extremely important contribution these days when more and more employers require them. We also host monthly Job Friends dinners for applicants who are working, where volunteers serve the food and have a chance to interact with our clients. The Jubilee Jobs Corporate Advisory Board and the Benefit Committee are made up of volunteers who help extend the reach of the organization by broadening community connections and providing business and program suggestions. We are actively searching for volunteers for the new Southeast satellite office to work in all areas, but others for the Northwest office would be very welcome as well. To volunteer, please contact Jacqueline Conerly at (202) 667-8970 or jconerly@jubileejobs.org.