Volunteers Quick Start
Add volunteers, schedule shifts, and track hours in Expirely. This page is built for the first roster cycle: add one volunteer, prove the shift flow, and make sure hours and activity tracking are ready before your program gets busy.
What this guide gets you
One volunteer record that the team can actually assign and revisit.
One shift or activity flow that proves scheduling is usable before demand grows.
One hours-tracking habit that supports reporting and recognition later.
Before you open Volunteers
- One real volunteer or applicant you can use as your live example.
- An upcoming shift, activity, or role that needs staffing.
- A rough sense of what information matters most: contact details, skills, certifications, or availability.
Start here
Use this order for your first volunteer session.
The goal is not to build the perfect volunteer program in one sitting. The goal is to get one person, one opportunity, and one reporting action working end to end.
Open the volunteer roster
Go to Volunteers in the top nav.
Create the first live volunteer record
Click Add Volunteer to create your first record.
Set up the next opportunity
Use Shifts to schedule upcoming opportunities.
Good day-one win
End your first session with one volunteer in the roster, one scheduled shift or activity, and one path for logging hours after the work happens.
Core workflows
These are the volunteer motions that matter once the roster is active.
Each workflow here helps you move from a static list of names to an actual volunteer program with scheduling, coordination, and measurable activity.
Roster
Add a volunteer
Start here when you need the first clean volunteer record that future scheduling and reporting can build on.
- 1Go to
Volunteers→Roster. - 2Click
Add Volunteer. - 3Enter name and contact info, then save.
Imports
Upload volunteers in bulk
Use this when the single-record flow is clear and you are ready to move a larger volunteer list into the system without retyping everything.
- 1Go to
Volunteers→Roster. - 2Click
Upload Volunteers. - 3Upload a CSV/XLSX file using the template.
- 4Confirm the import summary.
Scheduling
Schedule a shift
This is where the roster becomes operational. Use it to connect people to real opportunities with clear timing and roles.
- 1Go to
Volunteers→Shifts. - 2Click
Schedule Shift. - 3Add role details, date/time, and capacity.
- 4Assign volunteers or leave open for sign-up.
Impact
Log volunteer hours
Use hours logging to make volunteer work measurable for reporting, recognition, and future planning.
- 1Go to
Volunteers→Activities. - 2Click
Log Hours. - 3Select a volunteer, enter hours, and save.
Keep momentum
The habits that keep volunteer coordination reliable.
Volunteer systems get fragile when shifts, notes, and hours live in separate places. These habits help the roster stay actionable for the team.
Volunteer habits
- Track onboarding and background checks to reduce no-shows.
- Use tags and notes for special skills or certifications.
- Review the hours trend monthly for impact reporting.
Operations Quick Start
Use this when volunteer coordination needs stronger internal task management, reminders, or document organization.
Help center
Best for roster, shifts, activities, or reporting questions once you know the volunteer task you are working on.
Contact support
Use this if you need help structuring roster setup, volunteer intake, or scheduling workflows.
FAQ
Questions teams usually ask once volunteers are in the system.
These are the issues that tend to surface after the first records, shifts, and hours are live and the team is relying on the workspace.
Good stopping point for today
If one volunteer can be scheduled, one activity can be logged, and the team can find the record later, the volunteer workspace is already useful.
Where do I see volunteer impact?
Check the Volunteers dashboard and Reports tab for hours and trends.
Can volunteers sign up on their own?
Use the Volunteer Portal to collect applications and intake forms.
How do I export the roster?
Use Export CSV from the Roster view.