What is the best volunteer management app?

With an arguable rise in flexible volunteering bought about by remote volunteer management, volunteer management apps have become more common place in order to facilitate this approach.

Volunteer management apps are a digital tool that allow both Volunteer Managers and volunteers to access a volunteer management platform where they can engage with the system and its respective processes. This streamlined approach allows them to access key features from a remote location, such as:

• Rota management
• Messaging
• Event management
• Task management
• Profile editing
• And much more

Both parties are therefore provided with the flexible ability to coordinate, communicate, and support each other remotely from either a mobile device or tablet. By taking this approach, valuable time is freed up as tasks can be completed outside of your premises, ensuring that your processes run smoothly and swiftly.

Find out more about Access Assemble’s app

The best apps for volunteer management should consist of a set of features that provide the same experience via a desktop as you would a smartphone or tablet. The only difference is that your volunteers and Volunteer Managers are able to do so remotely.

Mobile accessibility

With smartphone experiences becoming more prevalent, it makes sense that mobile accessibility is a must. A good volunteer app should therefore be intuitive, simple to navigate, and compatible with both iOS and Android. 

Real-time communication tools

Real time communication tools such as internal messaging, notifications, and news feeds ensure that your volunteers remain informed. These features reduce the reliance of more traditional approaches such as emails and help to improve responsiveness and can be applied to scenarios such as:

• Last-minute shift changes
• New role opportunities
• Task-related reminders

Find out more about our communication feature

Self-serve shift management and event sign-ups

Self-serve functionality is key to a volunteer management app. For example, volunteers can browse information such as upcoming events and rotas and mark their availability where they see fit. This can ensure that both your rotas and events experience full attendance, avoiding any unwanted gaps.

Find out more about our rota feature

Volunteer profile management

Time is a key factor, especially for Volunteer Managers. And they’ll be glad to hear that a volunteer management app can free up valuable time by providing volunteers with the autonomy to take on certain admin tasks such as updating their profile information, including:

• Contact information
• Skills
• Interests
• Availability
• Preferences

Access to key documents

With a cloud-based approach to document storage, you can ensure that your materials are always up to date and easily available. This in turn supports better preparedness and compliance across your team.

Your volunteers can therefore access documents including:

• Training materials
• Onboarding guides
• Policy documents
• And more

Custom branding

A consistent visual identity improves trust and helps volunteers feel connected to your mission. This can be facilitated with a volunteer management app as it can extend your brand with:

• Custom colours
• Logos
• Visual elements

For those who use spreadsheets or other manual systems, there are a number of tangible benefits to investing in a volunteer management app. These benefits all fall under the umbrella of one key component: flexibility. 

With flexibility on your – and your volunteers’ – side, you can experience benefits such as those outlined below.

Higher volunteer engagement

With a volunteer management app, volunteers are able to access the system from anywhere – providing that they have access to the internet. If this is the case, this means that they can log into the app remotely, making it easier to engage with your organisation which therefore encourages them to do so.

Easier communication and updates

Looking for quicker responses? No problem. With a volunteer management app, volunteers will be able to see notifications sent to their smartphone. Whether it is to respond to a direct message from their respective Volunteer Manager or perform a task remotely, they can perform actions easier and at a far quicker rate.

On-the-go access to opportunities 

The use of a volunteer management app means that volunteers can take the initiative – even from a remote location. For example, volunteers can access the app to look at new opportunities such as vacant roles or events and make a decision if they wish to pursue these. 

With more volunteers being able to do this in the comfort of their own surroundings, it will inevitably lead to increased applications and attendance.

Empowers volunteers to self-serve

Volunteers taking the initiative can be furthered still with self-serve functionality. A common scenario here is volunteers logging into the app to view rotas. From here, they can see where there are gaps and make an informed decision to request certain shifts. This not only frees up valuable time for the Volunteer Manager, but also ensures shift gaps are avoided!

Strengthens connection with your cause

Volunteers can not only receive notifications on their smartphone, but they can also use the app to actively engage with your organisation. For example, volunteers can keep up to date with the latest organisational news to keep them feeling enthused about their role, and in turn feeling a deeper connection with your cause.

When looking at the best apps for volunteer management, it’s essential to put certain steps in place to ensure that you invest in a suitable piece of software.

These can be broken down by the below. 

#1 Aligning features with organisational needs

First and foremost, it’s wise to understand the why. Why do you require volunteer management software? What do you want the outcome to be from this?

It’s therefore crucial that you identify your organisational needs – in other words, your pain points.

These can include areas such as:

• Not recruiting enough volunteers
• Taking too long to onboard them
• A need for better communication
• A paper-based rota system
• Volunteer Managers spending too much time on admin

Once you gain an understanding of what needs to be improved, you can confidently move forwards with the decision to look into volunteer management software.

Find out more about common volunteer sector challenges

#2 Prioritise user experience for volunteers

Remember, your volunteers are the catalyst behind your operations – so prioritise their experience. Whether you currently use a paper-based system, have a current volunteer management system (or both), it’s essential to gain their feedback.

A great approach is to use feedback forms and gain answers to key questions such as:

• Did you find the application process simple?
• Did the onboarding process run smoothly?
• How often do you communicate with your Volunteer Manager?
• Do you feel like a valued member of the team?
• Do you always know what is expected of you?

And don’t forget to provide a section where the volunteer can include additional feedback – they may unearth a topic you previously didn’t think of!

Discover why you should embrace volunteer management processes

#3 Consider potential costs

When considering potential costs of a volunteer management software app, there are certain factors that come into play. In particular, they can be:

• The size of your organisation (in terms of the number of volunteers and Volunteer Managers)
• How much training will be required in order to use the system properly
• The scalability of the system

Once you get an idea of these factors, you can raise them with software suppliers, who should then be able to provide an accurate breakdown of their pricing structure.

Find out how to build a competent business case for your new volunteer management software

Access Assemble is a market-leading volunteer management system that provides the power of our software in your pocket. 

We appreciate that volunteering doesn’t stand still, so we provide the opportunity for an on-the-go experience with our volunteer management app.

Our app is free for both iOS and Android and offers outstanding features, including: 

• Seamless profile editing
• Internal messaging and news articles
• Document and resource hub
• Integrated scheduling and navigation
• Custom branding that reflects your organisation

Rachel Stewart, Head of Volunteering at Dorothy House Hospice, endorses Access Assemble’s volunteer management app by sharing:

"We had 637 volunteers last month who completed 2,908 activities. The app allows volunteers to report hours and activities quickly, enhancing our ability to capture vital data and see the true impact our volunteers make each month."

Book a demo to see our software in action

With Access Assemble’s volunteer management app, both you and your volunteers will be provided with the flexibility to engage with the key areas of your organisation from anywhere. Whether it is undergoing the onboarding process through to self-assigning rota shifts, our app covers all bases.

Are you interested to find out more about our market-leading software?

Speak to a member of the team