What is VolunteerSpot?
VolunteerSpot is a free, online sign-up tool that makes grass-roots volunteering easier. Volunteer leaders now have the ability to easily and quickly mobilize and coordinate volunteers in their community, congregation or social network.
VolunteerSpot is the brain child of Karen Bantuveris, an Austin, Texas, management consultant who launched the website in the fall of 2008. “I got involved with volunteering through leadership positions in PTA and Scouts,” she said. “Anyone who has volunteered knows how difficult it can be to organize groups of people. There are a lot of phone calls, sign-up sheets and back-and-forth e-mails. Good people sometimes stop volunteering because it’s such a hassle.”
How does VolunteerSpot work?
There are three simple steps.
- The leader creates a schedule of volunteer needs on the online calendar and invites people to sign up with an e-mail.
- Volunteers click a link to see what spots are available and choose when and how they want to help.
- VolunteerSpot sends automated confirmation and reminder messages which help everyone keep their commitments.
Because all of this happens in real-time, the schedule is always current. This significantly reduces coordination time and makes the process easier for everyone.
VolunteerSpot will always offer a free service to local-level volunteers. They will, however, charge corporations and groups wanting to brand the Web site, and will be adding premium features, such as hours tracking.
“We’re thrilled with the positive customer feedback and how fast we are spreading to new groups,” says Karen. “It feels good to already be helping so many people.”
Volunteer leaders have received a real gift from this free management tool. Karen’s goal is that grass-root groups and nonprofits from all over the United States will use their Web site to make a big difference in their communities.
