HelpVolunteersPost a shift

Post a shift

A shift is a time you need volunteers. Post it once or on repeat, and volunteers can sign up the moment it is posted.

Updated September 20263 min readFor owners, admins and staff
Before you start

Shifts belong to one of your programs. If none is offered, ask an owner or admin to add a program for the work.

Post a shift

  1. Open Volunteers, then Schedule

    Press Post a shift.

  2. Say what you need

    What do you need? is the shift's headline. Lead with the difference it makes. A description is optional.

  3. Choose the program, date and times

    An end time earlier than the start means the shift runs past midnight.

  4. Set how many volunteers you need

    The shift fills when that many have signed up.

  5. Choose if it repeats

    Just once, every day, every week, every 2 weeks or every month. Leave Until blank to keep going; Ember schedules 120 days ahead.

  6. Press Post shift

    Ember shows your sign-up link to share. Share your volunteer sign-up page explains it.

Change or cancel a shift

  • Open the shift and press Edit shift to change the headline, description, number needed, location or lead. Changes apply to that date only, not the rest of a repeating series.
  • To cancel, press Cancel this shift in Edit shift, then Cancel the shift. It comes off the schedule and your sign-up page. Ember emails the volunteers signed up for it, but not the waitlist.
  • To move a shift to another time, use Reschedule. Ember does not message anyone about it, so let volunteers know yourself. Check the schedule the next day, as the original time can come back and need cancelling.

Use a waitlist

An owner or admin turns on Waitlist in Edit program, under Volunteers. When a shift is full, people on your public page can join its waitlist. Nobody moves up on their own. When a spot opens, or you raise the number needed, open the shift and press Move up. Ember emails them.

Common questions

Does Ember remind volunteers before their shift?

Not at the moment. Send a reminder yourself before the shift.

Full shifts show Full instead of offering a waitlist.

Switch Waitlist off and back on in the program's settings. That saves the setting, and full shifts then take names.

Where do I set a location?

Post the shift first, then open it and press Edit shift. Location is set there, one date at a time.

Who can post shifts?

Owners, admins and staff.

Related

Not using Ember yet?

Ember brings your programs, volunteers, grants and donors into one place. Built only for nonprofits, and free if your budget is under $50K a year.

No credit card · Unlimited users included

We use cookies for analytics and, if you opt in, advertising. See our Privacy Policy.