FAQ’s
Q: What is the difference between “Community Events” and “Needs”?
A: A Community Event is used when you want people to attend (not volunteer at) an event such as a fundraiser, walk-a-thon, community meeting, training, etc. A Need is when you are recruiting volunteers to do a specific activity. Needs can be listed as ongoing, date-specific, or shifts. Events may need volunteers – in which case you would list as a need and link to each other.
Q: Is there a manager training:
A: Yes! Click here to view the manager training video.
Q: How do I post a need?
A: Here is a video on how to post needs or events.
Q: How do I view volunteer responses?
A:
- Login to your account.
- Click on the MY ORGANIZATION button in the top menu bar.
- Click on the NEEDS button under the pink tool box.
- Click on the "Needs" link under the need title that you are interested in viewing.
- Click the EXPORT RESPONSES button in that view.
- A spreadsheet of your responses will be exported into excel. In the spreadsheet you can view who signed up including if they are a part of a team or are an individual and you can see who the project leader of each group is. Remember to connect with the project leader(s) of a group as well as individuals not associated to a group. Any blank spaces are spots held for a group. You can encourage the project leader of the group to make sure they get their team members signed up.
- After step 4 you can also click on the MESSAGE RESPONDERS button to message all the people who have signed up for your project with last minute reminders. This email comes from no-reply@galaxydigital.com so just remember to note your email so folks can respond.
Q: Do I get notified when someone has responded to my need?
A: Yes, you will get an email from no-reply@galaxydigital.com when a volunteer has responded to your need. Then you can log-in to your profile to see the details. You will also receive an in-app message. Please update your email settings to make sure that no-reply@galaxydigital.com is not going to your junk mail so you receive future communication from our site.
Q: Can I add links to an application or registration platform within my need description?
A: You cannot add links in the description of your need that lead to other registration forms. The way we measure how effective our website is for our nonprofit partners is by tracking the referrals that come through the site. The referrals are created when a potential volunteer clicks the RESPOND button on your need page. When a volunteer responds through the site, you will get an email from no-reply@galaxydigital.com (make sure this is not going to your junk mail) and will be able to log in to your account and manage volunteers that have responded as well as easily communicate with them directly through our tool. All their information lives in your organization’s profile and can be exported.
Q: Can I link the needs I post on United Way’s website to my organization’s website?
A: Yes! To find the link, log into your organization profile, click on the need tab and select the need you would like to link, then scroll down to “Need Links” and copy and paste the link to be used on your website, newsletter, emails, social media, etc.
Q: How do I bump up my need listing to the top of the page?
A: Our site ranks volunteer listings that have been created or updated more recently than those that have not been modified in a while. To help your listing rise to the top of volunteer searches, make sure to update them frequently (once a week or once every two weeks) by clicking on the blue update need button. Recently updated listings are also highlighted on the landing page that volunteers see.
Q: How do I use keywords to get my need listing noticed?
A: Often, when a volunteer conducts a search on the volunteer site, they type a keyword into the search box related to the type of need they are looking for. When you write your volunteer listings, think about what terms someone might use to search for it and include those words in the title and/or description of your listing.
Q: Can we post unlimited needs or events?
A: You may post as many needs and events you have; no limit. You have unlimited characters for descriptions; however, we recommend keeping it short and to the point, especially for mobile users.
Q: When a volunteer uses the location search for needs, if my organization has alternate sites where the need can take place, will it know the organization spans a greater area than just my headquarters?
A: The system is not able to recognize additional locations unless there are needs posted for those locations. Our best suggestion is that if a need spans multiple locations, to use the “Clone Need” feature and create needs for those specific areas you are targeting.
Q: Can volunteers search for family-friendly or group needs?
A: Yes! Volunteers can search for group and for family-friendly needs. When searching for a need, just click on the dropdown menu next to “filter by” and select what you would like to search for.
Q: Is there a way for court-ordered volunteers to only see court-ordered volunteer needs?
A: Yes, they can filter by clusters. Clusters are how we group needs together. Simply select the court-ordered cluster within your need and it will show up when a volunteer is searching for needs that accept court ordered volunteers. A volunteer can search for this by going to Keyword, and searching for “court-ordered”.
Q: Can we add more than one waiver?
A: No, however you can attach one document with multiple pages and forms. The volunteer will need to print out and return to you.
Q: Can you add a photo to a need or event?
A: Yes! Just use the text editor's "Insert/Edit Image" icon.
Q When posting a community event can they make the event exclusive/only invite a particular audience or set of people vs. making public to the ENTIRE site?
A: No-Anything posted as an event will be visible to the entire site.
Q: Can I "Bulk Upload" needs or users/volunteers?
A: We can bulk upload volunteers/users, using this template. Please keep in mind that anything in red is required to import, but everything else is optional. Once the template has been completed please send it to, mcataldo@uwbroome.org.
Q: What should we do if we are an organization with multiple sites and different volunteer management staff?
A: If your volunteer management is centralized, it is easiest to list all your needs under one organization and add multiple organization managers to your profile (ex: YMCA is the organization and all branches post through this one account). Each manager can post needs using their site’s address.
Please contact mcataldo@uwbroome.org if you have specific questions about this or would like advice on how your organization should be set up.
Q: Can an organization enter multiple Facebook pages on their organization profile?
A: Not at this time. Currently, you can only enter a single URL for Facebook and a single URL for Twitter.
Q: Is there a way to send notifications to volunteers via text?
A: Not at this time.
Q: From a volunteer’s perspective – what does “fanning” an organization mean?
A: Volunteers can choose to “Become a Fan” of your organization. The organizations that they choose to follow will show up on their dashboard and populate suggested volunteer needs based on who they are following and the activities they have selected.
Q: Can you simply “Fan” a need vs. an entire organization?
A: No, volunteers can only “Fan” an organization.
Q: What will happen if I select more than one “cause”? Will it make the volunteer search less effective?
A: “Causes” are either/or, not “and”. The volunteer will still be able to match a “cause” just as effectively if the organization selects one or five causes.
Q: Is it possible to only allow one team to sign up per need?
A: There is the option to select "Teams Only" when creating a need. This article provides additional details on Posting and Managing Needs from the Agency Manager perspective.
Q: Is there something that can flag people to fill out their profile once they have created their accounts?
A: When a volunteer registers on the site, it will require the volunteer to fill out all "Required" information in their profile. If the volunteer has skipped any information in their profile that is "Required" the site will ask them to complete this information on their next login.
Q: Is it possible to deselect “family-friendly” once that was chosen?
A: The only way to change the "Family-Friendly" option once it has been selected is to "Clone" the need. Once you clone the need, you will just choose not to select this option, or you can mark it as "No". Here is an article from our help center that gives more info on Cloning a Need.
Q: Is there a way to require a volunteer to do additional training after a certain level of hours are reached?
A: Please contact mcataldo@uwbroome.org to request these changes.
Q: Can you change your interests/skills after initially stating them?
A: Please contact mcataldo@uwbroome.org to request these changes.
Q: I need to add a custom question to my need. How do I do that?
A: Please contact mcataldo@uwbroome.org to request a custom question.
For more information, visit here.
