FAQs

For Volunteers:

Q: How do I sign up as a volunteer?

A: First, you will need to create a profile. Navigate to https://www.volunteerlnk.org/user/register/. Enter you information and answer the additional questions when prompted. For those who are volunteering on behalf of a company or with a company, we suggest that you use your work email when signing up. This way, you will automatically be added into your organization’s User Group (see more about User Groups below). Once you have answered all of the sign-up questions, click continue. Your account is now set up and you are ready to volunteer!

Next, head to the “Opportunities” page located on the side navigation menu. Click View Details. This will open up the opportunity’s information page where you can learn more about it. On the right hand side towards the top of the opportunity, click Respond. Fill out the Need Response form and click Submit Need Response when done.

 

Q: Is there a way to volunteer without making an account?

A: Without an account, you will be unable to volunteer through https://www.volunteerlnk.org. You will be able to view opportunities and events, but you must make an account in order to interact with them.

 

Q: How to I edit my email, password, or other profile information?

A: Once logged in, select your profile picture/initials in the top right corner. From the drop-down menu select Edit Your Profile. Make any necessary edits and click the appropriate Update button when you are done.

 

Q: Can I sign up to volunteer as a team?

A: Yes! Instead of selecting, “Respond as an Individual” select “Respond as a Team.” On the next step you can enter a team name as well as volunteer information. You may also reserve spots without including individual information if you do not yet know who will be volunteering. TIP: when looking for opportunities, you can filter by those that “accept teams”

 

Q: How do I track my hours?

A: You can select Add Hours located on the bar in the top right hand corner and fill in the opportunity details.

 

Q: How do I track volunteer hours for my company/church/organization?

A: Tracking volunteer hours for a company/church/organization or even a club is done through User Groups. The great news is that many of Lancaster County’s workplaces have been pre-built for you as User Groups. When an employee creates a profile on volunteerLNK.org using their work email address, they will automatically be added to that company’s User Group. The point of contact for that company will be able to see and track hours for all volunteers for the company.

If your company does not have a pre-built User Group, please reach out to Kenzie Hansen at khansen@unitedwaylincoln.org for assistance. All other groups wishing to track group hours should also reach out to Kenzie.

 

Q: I signed up with my work email address, but I don’t have a User Group? What now?

A: Please reach out to Kenzie Hansen at khansen@unitedwaylincoln.org for assistance.

 

Q: If I don’t want to use my work email address, can I still join my company’s User Group?

A: Yes, if an employee does not want to use their work email, they can still be added to the company’s User Group. The company’s point of contact can send a link to the individual. Clicking on the link will add them to the company’s User Group.

 

Q: Can individuals be part of multiple User Groups?

A: Yes, an individual can be part of multiple User Groups (Company, Church, etc.). Some opportunities may only be visible to members of certain User Groups.

 

Q: Is there a difference between “Teams” and “User Groups?”

A: Yes. Teams are created and used when signing up for opportunities. Volunteers are able to manage the team themselves. Use Teams when you want to volunteer together. User Groups serve more as a way for organizations to track and schedule volunteer hours. The User Group Leader will be the only person who can see who is in the User Group. User Groups allow agencies to share specific, private needs with select volunteers apart of that User Group, Teams do not have that capability.

 

Q: What is the difference between Opportunities and Events?

A: Opportunities are occasions where agencies are asking for folks to actively participate as a volunteer. Some examples of opportunities might be: Plant in the Community Garden, Pack Backpacks with Food, or Play with Shelter Puppies. Events are times when an agency asks folks to attend, celebrate, or learn. Some examples of events might be: Community Block Party, Join Us for Our Annual Gala, or Come to Our Workshop.

 

Q: How do I access my Volunteer Resume?

A: Once you are logged into https://www.volunteerlnk.org, navigate to your Dashboard on the left side of the screen. Once you are on your Volunteer Dashboard, you can click on the View your full Volunteer Resume link, located right below the Hours by Interest section. This link takes you to the View Profile area where you can download your resume. Select the Start and End dates and click Go.

 

Q: What does it mean when you “Become a Fan” of an agency?

A: Becoming a Fan of an agency allows you to receive notifications about an agency’s latest needs and events. To fan an agency, first go to View Profile, click Add Agencies, and then you can either select the agency to be taken to its profile page or click Become A Fan.

 

For Agencies:

Q: How do I sign up as an agency?

A: Navigate to https://www.volunteerlnk.org/agency/signup/. Fill out all of the required information and select Request Account. You will then receive an email from no-reply@galaxyfigital.com with the subject line: ACTION REQUIRED: Agency Application Next Steps. Click on the link in the email and complete the requested information. Once United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County has received you application, allow two business days to be approved to post opportunities to the site.

 

Q: How do I post a volunteer opportunity?

A: First, make sure you are logged in as an Agency Manager. See the question above if you need help signing up. Then, go to My Agency from the top right hand corner and select Opportunities from the menu of options. Click on Add New Opportunity and fill out all of the required fields and any optional ones you want to include. Make sure to pay attention to whether you are making the opportunity public or private and if you are allowing team registration or not. Click Create Opportunity to finish.

 

Q: How do I post an event?

A: First, make sure you are logged in as an Agency Manager. See the question about signing up as an Agency if you need help. Then, Select My Agency from the top right hand corner and select Events from the menu of options. Click on Add New Event and fill out all of the required fields and any optional ones you want to include. Click Create Need to finish.

 

Q: I’m creating a volunteer opportunity for a specific group of volunteers. How did I do that?

A: After you create the opportunity, a section will appear at the bottom of the page and you will be able to select the specific User Group from the drop down menu. You can select a Company, or specific United Way User Group. You also are able to create a private opportunity only available by a link. If you need additional help with this topic, please contact Kenzie Hansen at khansen@unitedwaylincoln.org.