First steps:
Before using the site we recommend watching United Way of Central Ohio's pre-recorded training video or signing up for a live training led by our site's vendor, Galaxy Digital. The live training is done on a test site so the site and language may look slightly different but the steps for navigating the site will be the same. Here is also a quick video on how to post opportunities/needs on the site also led by our vendor so the site may look a bit different.

Nonprofit Resources

 

To Request an Agency Account Click Here

 

Volunteer United is a tool to help our partner nonprofits recruit, manage and engage volunteers. Please review these frequently asked questions, and if you have any additional questions please feel free to contact volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.org. Thank you!

 

Website Terminology:

Please note that our website uses different terms than our vendor’s (Galaxy Digital) Help Center but they have the same meaning. Here is a list of our language override glossary:

Galaxy Digital’s Terms

United Way’s Terms

Need, Needs

Opportunity, Opportunities

Event, Events

Community Event, Community Events

Agency, Agencies

Organization, Organizations

Fan, Fans, Fanned

Follower, Followers, Followed

Interest, Interest

Activity, Activities

Cause, Causes

Focus Area, Focus Areas

Team, Teams

Group, Groups

General FAQs

Q: Do you have Terms and Conditions?

A:Yes, click here to read!

Q: Can I "Bulk Upload" opportunities or users/volunteers?

A: 

USERS

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, volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.org. 

 

OPPORTUNITIES

At this time we can only import what we call "ongoing" opportunities (things that don't have a specific date and time) and "Happens on" opportunities (which take place on a specific date). We do not have the ability to import shift-based opportunities, unfortunately. If you'd like to import some opportunities, you can use this template. The columns in red are required, and then everything else is optional. Once the template has been completed please send it to, volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.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 opportunities under one organization and add multiple organization managers to your profile (ex: Boys and Girls Club is the organization and all branches post through this one account). Each manager can post opportunities using their site’s address.

Please contact volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.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 follower of your organization. The organizations that they choose to follow will show up on their dashboard and populate suggested volunteer opportunities based on who they are following and the activities they have selected.

 

 

Q: Can you simply “fan” an opportunity vs. an entire organization? 


A: No, you 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.

 

 

Opportunity and Event FAQs

Q: What is the difference between “Events” and “Opportunities”?


A: An 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. An Opportunity is when you are recruiting volunteers to do a specific activity. Opportunities can be listed as ongoing, date specific, or shifts. Events may need volunteers – in which case you would list as an opportunity and link to each other.

 

 

Q: How do I post an opportunity?


A: Here is a video on how to post opportunities or events.

 

 

Q: How do I view volunteer responses?


A: 

1. Login to your account.

2. Click on the MY NONPROFIT PARTNER button in the top menu bar.

3. Click on the OPPORTUNITIES button under the pink tool box.

4. Click on the "Response" link under the opportunity title that you are interested in viewing.

5. Click the EXPORT RESPONSES button in that view.

6. 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.

7. 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 opportunity?


A: Yes, you will get an email from volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.org when a volunteer has responded to your opportunity. 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 opportunity description?


A: Yes

 

 

Q: How to I bump up my opportunity 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 opportunity button. Recently updated listings are also highlighted on the landing page that volunteers see.

 

 

Q: How do I use keywords to get my opportunity 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 opportunity 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 opportunities or events? 


A: You may post as many opportunities 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: Can volunteers search for family or group opportunities? 


A: Yes! Volunteers can search for group and for family friendly opportunities.

 

 

Q: Can you add a photo to an opportunity or event? 


A: Yes! Just use the text editor's "Insert/Edit Image" icon.

 

 

Q: Is it possible to only allow one team to sign up per opportunity? 


A: There is the option to select "Teams Only" when creating an opportunity. 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 opportunity. Once you clone the opportunity, 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 an Opportunity.

 

Q: Is there a way to require a volunteer to do additional training after a certain level of hours are reached?

A:  Please contact volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.org to request these changes.

 

Q: Can you change your interests/skills after initially stating them?


A:  Please contact volunteerunited@uwcentralohio.org to request these changes.