Learn how to create a new volunteer opportunity in this step-by-step guide. This help guide will cover how to create a new volunteer opportunity.
Content
Creating a New Volunteer Opportunity
Instructions
Volunteer Settings
Before you create a volunteer opportunity, it is important to check your Volunteer Settings.
1. To do this, select the Settings icon at the top of the page. Then select Global Settings from the drop-down menu.
2. Navigate to the Volunteer section. Then select Settings.
3. On this page, you are able to change the following settings:
| Default Opportunity Image | Select the default image to be used for opportunities on forms if a specific image has not been uploaded to the opportunity. |
| Automatic Time Sheet Approval | Enable this setting to automatically mark volunteer time sheets entered in the Constituent Login Portal as Approved. If this setting is disabled, these time sheets must be manually approved by a system user. |
| Allow Volunteers to enter Time Sheets without Opportunities | Enable this setting to allow logged-in volunteers to record volunteer hours, miles, or expenses which are not linked to specific Opportunities. If this setting is disabled, volunteers can only enter time sheets which are linked to Opportunities. |
| Allow Volunteers to Remove Themselves from Opportunities or Shifts | Enable this setting to allow logged-in volunteers to remove themselves from Opportunities or Shifts via the Constituent Login Portal. You can also determine how soon before an Opportunity or Shift Start Date/Time this should be possible. |
| Restrict the Number of Sign-ups per Account | Enable this setting to restrict the number of Opportunities that a logged-in account can apply for within a defined time period. |
4. When finished, select Save.
Creating a New Volunteer Opportunity
For this example, Agloe Nature Center is having a volunteer project this summer to clean up a large, urban, greenspace. There are various volunteer roles. The volunteer project runs from July 5th through July 8th.
1. At the Mission Control Dashboard, navigate to Volunteer and select Opportunities.
2. To create a new opportunity, select Create Opportunity.
Note: You will see existing opportunities already listed on the page. These projects have a variety of items associated with them, including dates, volunteer numbers, hours, expenses, mileage, and status. The hours, expenses, and mileage comes from the volunteer time sheets.
3. Enter the Opportunity Name. You can enter a contact, category, and event If needed. This can help with reporting if a volunteer project is associated with an event or category.
4. Select the Start and End Date. Also, add a description.
5. You can add location information for this project.
6. Complete the last two sections that include linking an event and enabling mileage and expenses. When finished, select Next.
7. Turn the toggle to the On position if you would like to create shifts for this opportunity. Enter the shift information. When finished, select Next.
8. Turn the toggle to the On position if you would like to assign volunteer roles. Complete the information. When finished, select Next.
9. On the Forms Settings page, turn the toggle to the On position to make this Opportunity online and available on Volunteer forms. Here you also have the option to add a Photo and Form Description to this Opportunity.
On this same page you modify the Shift, Role, Opportunity Waiver Settings. When finished, select Create Opportunity.
10. You will now see the opportunity listed as the first item on the list. Select the opportunity name to see the opportunity details.
10. From this page you can see totals for volunteers, mileage, hours, and expenses. There is also a direct link to the opportunity sign-up page that you can use in marketing and other communications.
Note: This is also the page where you can add existing constituents and system users and volunteers for the opportunity, and send emails to opportunity volunteers.