Connecting Schools With Great Fundraising Ideas.

Wow! I have to share an incredible piece of news with all of you who mange volunteers in your school. It doesn’t matter if the volunteers are for a classroom, the library, recess duty, or a fundraiser, if you have ever tried to get people to sign up and then show up, you’ve got to try this new piece to technology out.

It’s a web-based application called VolunteerSpot.com.

1. First you create a (free!) account.
2. Then you use a “planning wizard” to create files for all the events that require volunteers. You also type in the times and the job descriptions.
3. Next, you invite volunteers with an email or through a link.

Your potential volunteers will instantly receive an attractive email invitation in their inboxes, asking for help on the date you specified. The reader has the option of clicking a “No Thanks/Not This Time” or “Sign Up Now/Learn More” link.

“The Sign Up Now” link takes you to a very graphically pleasing calendar that has the exact times and jobs that are available. The program automatically tracks and edits who signs up for which jobs, and it will tell future volunteers when certain times/jobs are filled!  You, as the volunteer coordinator, just have to check back on the calendar to see which jobs are still open.  It’s amazingly simple.

Ok, so you’ve got to see this for yourself. Click here to go straight to their Try It Now page.  It only takes a second and you’ll quickly see how it can save you hours.

The best part about this is that the service is completely FREE!

Here is a list of features and benefits taken directly from their site:

Simplify recruiting- Invite volunteers to sign up simply and easily in one of three ways:

• enter email addresses in our simple planning wizard
• paste a URL link in your own email message or email group (listserve)
• put a sign up button on your website

VolunteerSpot is clipboard compatible- If you already have a list of assignments on a paper sign up sheet, enter them in VolunteerSpot and schedule automated email reminders.

Sign up volunteers easily and instantly- Allow volunteers to select assignments immediately upon entering VolunteerSpot. No phone-tag, no delays. Get them enrolled and committed while their interest is high.

Get started quickly- A simple organizer wizard allows you to completely customize volunteer activities. Create one-time events or volunteer activities that span multiple days, weeks or months. Enter job descriptions, shifts, and requests for supplies.

Eliminate the clutter- Ditch old-school paper sign-up sheets, index cards, clipboards and endless ‘reply all’ emails. Schedule events using our simple organizer wizard.

Keep organized- Print sign-in sheets and rosters. Quickly see who’s coming, what shifts are covered, what people are bringing.

Keep in touch- Communicate with your group and notify them of needs, changes, etc. Suddenly need 10 more people to help? Simply update your activity page and let VolunteerSpot do the work.

Schedule automated reminders- Stop making reminder calls. VolunteerSpot sends automated messages reminding your volunteers of their commitments.

Having worked at a school myself, I know how difficult it can be to organize a volunteer drive. However, an active and thriving volunteer network is essential if a school is going to raise the money it needs to provide a top-notch education for its students. VolunteerSpot.com looks as though it can be an incredibly useful tool for your volunteer recruitment efforts. Try it out!

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