Engaging with Switchboard can be a game-changer for your ministry, providing access to knowledge, expertise, and willing volunteers ready to support your mission. Here’s a guide to composing requests that get filled!
The Two Ways You Can Connect with a Volunteer
Before we start, let’s talk about some basics. There are two ways that you can request help from a volunteer:
🕐 One-Hour Consultation
Great for quick questions, brainstorming ideas, scoping a project, or learning something new. These connections allow you to talk to an expert on a particular topic for about an hour. These connections usually happen within a few days.
💻 Virtual Role
Ideal for longer-term or more involved work. For example, you can request help updating your website, preparing financial statements, or with a small project. If you're asking someone to do the work, this is the format to choose. These are a much higher commitment, so they may filled immediately, or may never be filled - it depends on the request and the availability of volunteers with that capacity.
✨ IMPORTANT ✨: No matter which type of request you make, the requests that get picked up quickly are:
⛪️ Mission Forward - Believers volunteer their time when they connect with and believe in your mission! The first sentence of your request should be about the heartbeat of your ministry!
🧩 Bite-sized - Make sure your request is something that you can achieve in about an hour.
🥰 Meaningful - Volunteers want to see how their time will move your mission forward!
Note: The links below require that you are already signed in to your ministry account. Click here and enter the email that you used to create your ministry account.
How to Request a One-Hour Consultation
The easiest and fastest way to get connected to a volunteer is by requesting a One-Hour Consultation:
If you are new to Switchboard and would like to better understand how to quickly get value, request a quick consultation with a Switchboard Expert! Click here, click "Connect me to a Kingdom Consultant," complete the form, and submit! These experts understand Switchboard and understand where we have the most supply and demand! They want to understand your ministry and suggest the quickest way to get value!
If you already know an area in which you could use help, let's get started:
Select a skill, click "Connect me to a Kingdom Consultant," complete the form, and submit!
Want to see an example? Watch a two-minute video that walks you through the process.
Don't forget to review the green call-out box above! 🎗️ Requests that get filled are Mission Forward, Bite-Sized, and Meaningful!!
How to Request a Virtual Role
For help with a small project or work that needs to be done on an ongoing basis, request a Virtual Role. Virtual Roles are the best way to recruit volunteers who will come alongside your ministry on a long-term basis, but it is important to start small:
Define your Virtual Role with the Help of an Expert
When recruiting for a Virtual Role, it’s important to provide clear expectations for the required expertise and time commitment. Often, ministries request a one-hour consultation to frame up the issue correctly. A well-defined problem is the first step toward finding the right solution, and a Switchboard concierge can offer their keen insights to help you articulate your needs effectively. Once you have completed that one-hour call, you can create a much more accurate Virtual Role with realistic time-commitment expectations.
Consider asking for Advisors
Once the problem is defined, identify the specific areas where you need expert advice. SB offers a range of advisors with specialized knowledge. Consider requesting help from:CPA Advisor: For financial guidance and tax-related concerns.
HR Advisor: To address human resources issues.
PC/Tech Advisor: For technology-related support and troubleshooting.
Homeschooling Advisor: To assist field workers who want an experienced guide.
Break out a Big Virtual Role into Bite-Sized Pieces
Let's say you need to build a website. It's tempting to create a request to "Build My Website." But that is a big ask! It's more doable for you to schedule a few one-hour consultations to (1) clarify the purpose, (2) plan the content (pages, messages, assets), and (3) choose the platform and tools. Then, armed with all the info, you could create a Virtual Role to Create the Wireframes, then a Virtual Role to do Detailed Design, and then finally to Build the Website. Don't forget a proofreader or copy editor to review the final product! It takes a bit more work to piece together the requests, but you will be rewarded with bite-sized requests that a volunteer can tackle!Ready to Get Started? Log in to Switchboard. Look in the top right corner and select Connect on Switchboard / Add a Virtual Role. Follow the prompts to create your role. For more details, watch a video tutorial on creating a Virtual Role.
Remember - our Volunteers want to serve you and your ministry, but they also have full-time jobs and family commitments. The more that you can inspire volunteers with the heartbeat of your ministry, make the work bite-sized, and show how their time will contribute to your ministry, the more likely you are to get connected!