Getting Started with Voluntold

Complete the "Let's Get Started" Page

As Voluntold is currently in pilot mode, account creation is by invitation only. When you receive an invitation:

1. Fill out the organization setup form with your organization's details
2. Provide your contact information as the primary administrator
3. Submit the form and await email confirmation
4. You'll receive login credentials and setup instructions via email

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

Steps to Create a Project

1. Go to the "Projects" section in your admin dashboard
2. Click "Create New Project"
3. Fill in the project details:
   • Project Name: Choose a clear, descriptive name
   • Description: Explain the project's purpose and goals
   • Goals: Optional field for specific project objectives
4. Set the project status to "Active"
5. Click "Create Project"

Project Examples

Steps to Create a Sign-up Sheet (Opportunity)

1. Navigate to "Opportunities" in your admin dashboard
2. Click "Create New Opportunity"
3. Select the project this opportunity belongs to (from your created projects)
4. Fill in the opportunity details:
   • Title: Clear, descriptive name for the volunteer activity
   • Description: What volunteers will be doing
   • Date: When the volunteer activity takes place
   • Start Time: What time volunteers should arrive
   • Duration: How many hours the activity will last
   • Volunteers Needed: Maximum number of volunteers required
   • Location: Where the activity takes place
   • Skills Required: Any special skills or requirements (optional)
5. Review your details and click "Create Opportunity"

How to Send Opportunities to Your Members

1. Go to the "Email Broadcast" section in your admin dashboard
2. Click "Create New Broadcast"
3. Select one or more opportunities to include in the email:
   • You can select multiple opportunities for a single email
   • Only active, future opportunities will be available
   • Preview shows how each opportunity will appear in the email
4. Review the email preview to see how it will look to recipients
5. Choose your recipient list (typically "All Active Members")
6. Click "Send Broadcast" to deliver the email immediately

What Members Receive

The Volunteer Experience

1. Receives Email: Volunteer gets your broadcast email with opportunity details
2. Clicks Sign Up: Clicks the "Sign Up" button for an opportunity they're interested in
3. Enters Information: Fills out a simple form with:
   • Full name
   • Email address (must match their member record)
   • Confirmation of availability
4. Receives Confirmation: Gets immediate email confirmation with:
   • Opportunity details and location
   • Contact information for questions
   • Any special instructions or requirements
5. Calendar Integration: Can add the volunteer opportunity to their personal calendar

What You See as an Administrator

Signup Protection Features

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