Volunteer Info & FAQs

Three smiling women sitting closely on a bench outdoors, with trees in the background, enjoying a joyful moment.

Becoming a residential volunteer is a meaningful commitment, and we believe the fit should feel right for you as well as for our community. This section offers a clearer picture of the qualities, expectations, and realities of life-sharing at Innisfree, inviting you to reflect on how your values, strengths, and hopes align with this experience.

A Thoughtful Match

  • The volunteer serves as a residential caregiver to a small group of residents (co-workers), facilitating and supporting in various therapeutic workstations, and fully contributing and participating in community life and events. This position supports the mission of Innisfree Village as an intentional lifesharing community with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    • Assures the daily care, health, and human rights of those with whom they live and/or supervise

    • Oversees the upkeep and maintenance of the house in which they live

    • Manages household finances, keeping an eye on frugal spending, maintaining adequate balances, paying all outstanding bills, and completing monthly ledgers

    • Attends all periodic community meetings

    • Works daily in community workstations

    • Reads past records and completes all required written reports in a timely fashion

    • Works in close liaison with the Director, office, board, families, and fellow volunteers in all decisions which have a great impact on the lives of those who make Innisfree home

    • Abides by all guidelines and policies set forth by the Village Handbook

    • Fulfills the length of service commitment made at the time of acceptance, giving two months’ notice of departure

    • Exhibits a full and rich participation in community life and activities

  • Requirements

    • Be at least 18 years old

    • Be able to make at least a one-year commitment of service

    • Have the equivalent of a high school diploma

    • Be willing to abide by Innisfree policies and guidelines

    • Ability to pass a background check and meet any additional screening requirements

    Qualifications:

    • Compassionate and empathetic attitude towards individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

    • Ability to work collaboratively within a diverse and inclusive community setting

    • Effective communication skills to engage successfully with others

    • Capacity for patience, flexibility, and problem-solving in diverse and challenging situations.

    • Receptive attitude towards learning and embracing the unique culture and lifestyle of Innisfree Village

    • Commitment to personal and professional growth, embracing opportunities to expand skills, deepen understanding, and cultivate meaningful connections within our community

    • Dedication to fostering a supportive and nurturing environment that aligns with the mission of Innisfree

    • Interested in rural community living

  • Innisfree does not require residential volunteer applicants to have previous experience working with people with disabilities or in specific workstation areas. An extensive orientation and training period are provided for each volunteer.

    Volunteering at Innisfree is deeply rewarding, but it also comes with the realities of caregiving and community living. Being aware of your own emotional health, setting healthy boundaries, and practicing self-care helps you have a positive, sustainable experience. Taking care of yourself means you’ll be able to give your best to the community while enjoying the journey.

Two smiling women, one older with glasses and a crown, and a younger woman with curly hair, are close together indoors with colorful artwork in the background.

Volunteering at Innisfree Village is more than giving your time—it’s an opportunity to live, learn, and grow in a supportive community. We provide a range of benefits and accommodations to make your experience both comfortable and rewarding. These perks are designed to help you focus on what matters most: building relationships, developing skills, and making a meaningful impact every day.

Volunteer Benefits

  • Each residential volunteer receives:

    • Room and board (accommodations in one of our residential homes and all meals)

    • Monthly stipend of $800 (This personal allowance is not compensation, but rather a provision to cover day-to-day incidental expenses such as toiletries, transportation, and personal needs incurred during your stay)

    • Health Insurance (U.S. volunteers only)

    • Access to community vehicles

    • 15 days of vacation per year ($75 per day allowance for incidental expenses)

    • 5 days of holiday vacation per year (3 for Christmas, 1 for Thanksgiving, and 1 for Easter)

    • 2 full days of personal time each week to rest, explore, and recharge

    • Access to the onsite fitness facility

    • One-time transition allowance at the end of your community participation ($65 per month of service)

    • Student Loan Deferral, financial loan support offered after one year

    • Training in first aid, CPR, medical assistance, and personal care

  • As a residential volunteer, you’ll have a comfortable and welcoming place to call home while you’re here:

    • Your own private bedroom in a cozy, family-style home

    • A bathroom shared with just 1–2 other housemates

    • Shared kitchen, dining area, living room, and laundry facilities for everyday convenience

    • Access to Wi-Fi and a shared house computer to stay connected

    We aim to create a space where you feel comfortable, supported, and part of our close-knit community.

Two men sitting in the front seat of a vehicle, one smiling and wearing glasses, the other driving, both dressed warmly for outdoor weather.

Volunteering means more than lending a helping hand—it’s about becoming a full part of a close-knit, caring community. Residential volunteers share in daily life, support coworkers in meaningful ways, and contribute to the rhythms and responsibilities that make our village thrive. This section highlights the key ways volunteers help shape our community and the meaningful impact they have on those around them.

Community Impact

  • Work alongside other volunteers and staff to support the care, health, and well-being of our coworkers.

  • Join in three to four days a week, helping coworkers explore skills, creativity, and meaningful therapeutic work.

  • Engage in daily routines, social gatherings, and special village events, helping bring our community to life.

  • Take part in regular meetings and special committees to help shape life at Innisfree.

  • Respect and abide by the policies outlined in the Innisfree Village Handbook to ensure a safe and supportive environment for everyone.

Ready to Apply? Start here!

Things People Often Ask

If you are thoughtfully considering volunteering at Innisfree Village, you probably have a lot of questions—and that’s completely normal! We’ve put together answers to some of the most common questions about the application process, daily life, accommodations, and what it’s like to be part of our community. Our goal is to help you feel informed, confident, and excited about the possibility of joining us.

Volunteer Life

  • In our experience, the most successful volunteers possess the following: patience, a desire to live in a rural community setting, a sense of humor, compassion and empathy, a positive attitude, the ability to work as part of a team, good communication skills, and an ability to deal with challenges in a mature manner.


  • No, prior experience is not necessary to volunteer with Innisfree Village. While previous experience might be a plus, Innisfree provides training and support to all volunteers to ensure they can effectively contribute to the community.

  • Volunteers support coworkers with personal care tasks like bathing, toileting, dressing, and toothbrushing and well as emotional support. Training is provided, and volunteers gradually take on these responsibilities while building trust and rapport.

  • Since Innisfree Village is a life-sharing setting where life and work are woven together, it is different from a job that involves punching a time clock and where there is a strict separation between work and life.

    A typical day starts around 7:30–8:00 a.m. and ends 8:30–9:30 p.m., with workstations from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Evenings may include household activities or social time.

  • Volunteers usually spend about three days a week in workstations, totaling roughly 15 hours.

  • The first month is a “trial period” with workstation rotations, in-house training on caregiving, house management, and medical orientations. Community-wide orientation covers Innisfree’s history, mission, policies, and financial practices. An informal evaluation occurs at the end of this period where a volunteer confirms their one year commitment.


Commitment and Eligibility

  • We ask our residential volunteers to commit to at least one year of meaningful service at Innisfree. This allows our volunteers to learn, grow, and develop into their caregiving role while also acclimating to community culture and dynamics. Because we emphasize the importance of developing meaningful connections and relationships with residents and other community members, a year long commitment facilitates this while also giving volunteers a more fulfilling experience.

    After 10 months, if a volunteer is interested in extending their time beyond one year, they are eligible to submit a written proposal to extend that the community will consider. After gathering community input, the volunteer application committee meets to decide on the proposal. We do value having longer-term volunteers at Innisfree.


  • Yes, we regularly accept volunteers from around the world, though we currently are accepting a limited number per year.

    Volunteers who have a current and valid B1/B2 visa as well as those whose home country falls under the U.S. Visa Waiver are more likely to be selected as candidates.

    Volunteers must apply for a B1 or B2 visa in order to join us. Once a volunteer has applied and been accepted, Innisfree provides guidance and documentation for the visa interview. If the request is denied by the embassy, unfortunately, Innisfree cannot appeal or assist in changing the embassy’s decision.

  • Yes, volunteers must be able to effectively communicate in English.

    Moderate to advanced conversation skills and comprehension is preferred.

    Being able to communicate effectively in English greatly enhances the volunteer experience, as it facilitates interaction with coworkers who may have limited communication skills.

  • Innisfree welcomes families to apply, however, due to limited space in the village for families, we consider these applications on a case by case basis. 

  • No, we do not allow one-year volunteers to bring pets. If you have an official service or emotional support animal with the proper certification, we can consider your application on a case-by-case basis.

    Volunteers who extend beyond one year of service are eligible to make a pet request to the community for review. 

Logistics and Benefits

  • Volunteers do not receive a salary or wage for their volunteer participation and service. For the duration of a volunteer commitment, Innisfree provides each volunteer with room and board and meals, along with a modest monthly stipend to offset personal expenses only. 


  • Currently, Innisfree can only provide basic health insurance for U.S. volunteers.

    International volunteers are encouraged to purchase a modest travel insurance policy that will provide basic medical care coverage in case of an emergency.

    Innisfree does however, have potential funds available to both U.S. and international volunteers under emergency circumstances. 

  • Yes, each volunteer is responsible for covering their travel expenses in order to join us; i.e. airfare, car, train, or bus transportation. This includes arrival and departure costs once a volunteer’s commitment is complete. Innisfree does offer pick up and drop off at major transportation hubs.

  • No, you do not need to bring a personal car, but you are welcome to do so. The benefit of bringing a personal car is that it provides a volunteer with freedom and mobility, and the drawback is the expense of maintenance, insurance, gas, etc.

    If a volunteer uses a personal car for community use (e.g. taking a coworker to a medical appointment, out shopping, etc.) they will be monetarily reimbursed for it.

  • Yes, you can still apply to Innisfree if you don’t have a driver’s license. However, the community needs a certain number of volunteers who are cleared to drive in order to take coworkers to medical appointments, on outings, to grocery shops, etc.

    Volunteers who do not drive have the added task of relying on others in the community for transportation on their days off and for their personal wants and needs.

  • Village drivers may provide access to and from Crozet and Charlottesville, but there is no public transportation between Innisfree Village and Charlottesville. Within the city of Charlottesville, there is a local bus service. Furthermore, Charlottesville is serviced by the Amtrak train as well as by Greyhound bus service. The Charlottesville-Albemarle airport is about a 35-minute drive from Innisfree Village.

  • There are a few essentials you'll want to bring along.

    Firstly, make sure to pack comfortable clothing and sturdy shoes suitable for outdoor activities and potentially varied weather conditions as it is usually hot and humid in the summer and cold (and sometimes snowy) in the winter in Virginia.

    Additionally, it's a good idea to bring any necessary personal items such as toiletries, medications, and any specific items you might need to make your stay more comfortable.

    Bedrooms comes fully furnished with bed, storage, closets, desk, etc, and your house will also be stocked with linens, kitchenware, and other household items.

  • Volunteers often get together in the evenings to watch movies, play games, make music, or simply sit around a chat in one of the houses or around a campfire. Our natural setting provides lots of opportunities for those who enjoy hiking, walking, running, biking, or other outdoor activities. The close proximity to Charlottesville also provides ample opportunities for cultural enrichment, community events, shopping, restaurants, and even sporting events.