Overview
Switchboard has introduced a new feature allowing Great Commission Organizations (GCOs) to easily share volunteering opportunities with their existing communities. This guide will teach you why and how to use this feature to mobilize volunteers effectively.
This video gives a great overview of how it works:
Why Share Opportunities?
Sharing your opportunities directly with your community helps:
Mobilize volunteers who are already connected with your ministry.
Engage supporters in meaningful ways beyond prayer and financial support.
Streamline the process for new volunteers to join and serve.
Step-by-Step Guide
Accessing Your Opportunities:
Log in to your Switchboard account
Navigate to the Virtual Roles section of your dashboard.
Generating a Shareable Link:
Find the 'Share Available Roles' button.
Click on it to generate a unique link for your available volunteering opportunities.
Copy the link to your clipboard.
Sharing the Link:
Try distributing the link through various channels:
Website: Embed the link as a button on your ministry's website under a section like "Volunteer Opportunities."
Newsletter: Add the link to your monthly newsletter with a section titled "Come and Serve with Us Remotely."
Social Media: Post the link on your social media platforms to reach a broader audience.
If I send this to someone to invite them to volunteer, what will they see?
What Volunteers See:
When someone clicks on the link, they are directed to a unique view of your opportunities, even if they have never heard of Switchboard before.
They can browse the roles and click on any that interest them. This action prompts them to sign up or log in.
Simple Sign-Up Process:
Sign-Up Steps for New Volunteers:
Enter their email address.
Complete a short, two-step process to create a profile.
They will then be routed back to the specific opportunity they selected, ready to start serving.
Conclusion
You don't need to go at it alone in ministry. You already have family, friends, former colleagues, old roommates, and supporters ready to serve with you. Share opportunities with them, so you can go at it together.