College Loans Outreach Officer

The Hebrew Free Loan Society (HFLS) advances financial stability and upward mobility for lower-income New Yorkers of all backgrounds by making safe, affordable interest-free loans.

HFLS is the largest nonprofit interest-free lender in the United States. We have been making loans based on financial need to borrowers of all backgrounds since 1892. Our repayment rate is 99%, the result of a unique lending model that relies on guarantors to prevent default. As our loans are repaid, the capital is lent out again and again, helping more people and multiplying impact over time.

HFLS has a strong and supportive work culture and a reputation for innovation and leadership in the field. This year HFLS will lend more than $33 million to nearly 2,000 households, and we strive to help more people every year.

College is increasingly expensive, and recent changes to the federal student loan program restrict the amount of government loans available to pay for college, forcing students into expensive private loans or leaving them without access to credit S interest-free College Loans can save students and their parents thousands of dollars, but not enough families know about them.

HFLS seeks a part-time College Loans Outreach Officer to increase awareness of and referrals to this program. The Officer will connect HFLS with colleges, organizations and individuals throughout the New York City area who are well positioned to refer students and families who may benefit from interest-free college loans.

The College Loans Outreach Officer will increase the number of qualified college loan applicants referred to HFLS by building, strengthening, and sustaining a focused network of referral sources. These may include high school guidance counselors, college access and success programs, financial aid offices and counselors, community organizations, social service agencies, and other organizations and groups that serve students and families planning or paying for college.

Unlike other outreach positions at HFLS, which promote the organization’s full range of interest-free loan programs, this role is dedicated exclusively to expanding access to HFLS’s interest-free College Loan Program. The College Loan Outreach Officer will be responsible for increasing awareness of the program, developing and implementing outreach strategies, building relationships with schools and community partners, and guiding prospective borrowers through the application process to ensure completed applications are submitted for loan committee review.

HFLS currently awards approximately 75 college loans each year. The primary objective of this position is to help double that number during the first year by increasing qualified applications and improving applicant engagement throughout the loan process.

• Research, identify, and prioritize high-value referral sources in the New York City area that serve students and families who may be eligible for HFLS interest-free college loans.
• With colleagues, create an outreach strategy that targets referral sources and partnerships with the highest potential return on investment.
• Build and maintain relationships with staff at schools, colleges, scholarship and support programs, and other organizations that can refer prospective college loan applicants.
• Develop and deliver in-person and virtual presentations and produce outreach materials for referral source staff, students, parents/guardians, and other relevant audiences.
• Train referral source staff on loan eligibility, the application process, required documents, and repayment terms; collect feedback to improve the program and process.
• Provide direct assistance to College Loan applicants during the application process,…