Getting Started with Voluntold

Self-serve signup

New groups can sign up anytime. Go to the Join page (or click "Get Started" / "Sign up" from the home page) and:

1. Enter your organization name and your name, email, and password
2. Submit the form
3. Check your email and click the verification link to activate your account
4. Sign in and you can start creating sign-up forms and polls right away

Create a sign-up form and add slots

Sign-up forms let you collect volunteer commitments. Each form has a title and description, and one or more slots (e.g. date, time, and how many people can sign up per slot).

1. In your dashboard, open the "Sign Up Forms" section
2. Click "Create" to add a new sign-up sheet
3. Give the form a title and description (what you're organizing)
4. Add slots: for each slot you can set a label, date, time, and maximum number of sign-ups
5. Save the form. You can edit it later, then publicize it using the link and QR code (see next section)

The link

Each sign-up sheet has a unique public link. You can copy it and use it anywhere:

• In emails: Paste the link into an email (or use "Broadcasting to Members" below to send it to your member list)
• On web pages: Add the link to your organization's website, newsletter, or social media
• In flyers or messages: Anyone with the link can open the form and choose a slot

QR code

The same Promote/Share dialog shows a QR code that points to your sign-up sheet. Use it for:

• Printing on flyers or posters so people can scan to sign up
• Displaying on a screen at events or in your building
• Sharing digitally so others can save or forward the code

You can copy the QR code image to paste into documents or presentations. Anyone who scans it will open the sign-up form in their browser.

Method 1: Manual Addition

1. Navigate to the "Members" section in your admin dashboard
2. Click "Add New Member"
3. Fill in the member's details: name, email, phone, and position (if applicable)
4. Click "Save Member"

💡 Tip: Email address is required as it's used for member authentication and communications.

Method 2: Bulk Import via CSV

1. Click "Bulk Import" in the Members section
2. Download the CSV template to ensure proper formatting
3. Fill in your member data with columns: First Name, Last Name, Email, Phone, Position
4. Upload your completed CSV file
5. Review the preview and confirm the import

Method 3: Comma-Separated Email List

1. Click "Quick Add by Email" in the Members section
2. Paste or type email addresses separated by commas
3. Example: john@email.com, jane@email.com, bob@email.com
4. Click "Add Members"
5. Members will be created with email addresses only - you can update additional details later

How to send sign-up forms to your members

If you've added members (see "Adding Members" above), you can email them the sign-up link directly from the dashboard. The link is the same one you get when publicizing your sign-up sheet.

1. From a sign-up form card in your dashboard, use the option to email members (or open the email/broadcast flow from that form)
2. Select which sign-up form to send and choose your audience (e.g. all members or specific groups)
3. Review the email preview
4. Send the email. Members receive a link to the sign-up form so they can choose a slot and sign up

What members receive

The volunteer experience

1. Receives email: Gets your email with a link to the sign-up form
2. Opens the form: Clicks the link and sees the form title, description, and available slots
3. Chooses a slot: Picks a slot (e.g. date/time) and signs up; they may enter or confirm their name and email
4. Confirmation: Can receive confirmation and add the commitment to their calendar

What you see as an administrator

Sign-up behavior

Creating a New Poll

1. Navigate to the "Polls" section in your admin dashboard
2. Click "Create New Poll"
3. Fill in the basic poll information:
   • Title: A clear, descriptive name for your poll
   • Question: The main question you're asking members
   • Poll Type: Choose between Yes/No or Multiple Choice
4. Configure poll options (see detailed sections below)
5. Set expiration and privacy settings
6. Save as draft or make active immediately

Poll Types

Setting Poll Expiration

1. In the poll creation form, find the "Expiration Settings" section
2. Choose an expiration date and time
3. Consider these timeframes:
   • Quick decisions: 3-7 days
   • Planning decisions: 1-2 weeks
   • Long-term planning: 2-4 weeks
4. Once expired, the poll automatically closes and no new responses are accepted

Anonymous vs. Identified Polls

Broadcasting Polls to Members

1. Create your poll and set its status to "Active"
2. Click the Email Members button to broadcast the poll to all members.
3. Select your recipient list (typically "All Active Members")
4. Review the email preview showing how the poll will appear
5. Send the broadcast to deliver poll invitations immediately

Managing Poll Results