Events and Schedules are powerful tools for managing volunteer opportunities, but each serves a different purpose. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you decide which works best for your needs.
Events.
At Timecounts, the Events feature offers flexible formats to suit various needs. Whether you're planning a one-time event, a recurring opportunity, or an event with multiple shifts, our Events tool helps you manage all types of volunteer opportunities.
Key benefits of Events:
Event landing pages: Create a custom page for each event to share details like its purpose, expectations, and available volunteer roles. This helps with marketing and provides new volunteers with a clear understanding of the opportunity.
Forms: Attach customized forms to collect essential information from volunteers, such as t-shirt sizes, emergency contacts, or event-specific details. These forms streamline volunteer screening and ensure you have all the details before the event.
Customizable settings: Every event is unique, and with Events, you can tailor each one individually—from confirmation emails to signup options and visibility. Unlike Schedules, which are more set-and-forget, Events give you the flexibility to customize for every occasion.
Best suited for: Events are ideal for promoting volunteer opportunities within a specific timeframe. Whether it’s a one-day activity or a short-term event, you can share details, set clear expectations, and attract volunteers—all with a focus on a particular date or time window. Events also combine signup forms and shift selection in one smooth flow.
Schedules
Schedules are the go-to option for managing ongoing, recurring volunteer roles where volunteers sign up for available shifts over an extended period. They are simple, flexible, and designed for continuous or long-term volunteer needs.
Key benefits of Schedules:
Easy signups: Schedules provide a straightforward way for volunteers to book their spots quickly without any extra steps or details.
Flexible shift setup: Schedules let you copy shift patterns, making them ideal for recurring positions. This huge timesaver for organizers lets you quickly set up regular shifts and helps volunteers choose times that work for them.
Require pre-qualifications for positions: With Schedules, you can set up specific positions where only qualified or approved volunteers can sign up. This flexible feature is useful for specific positions that need extra screening and gives you more control over who fills those shifts.
Best suited for: Schedules are great for ongoing roles with regular shifts. Think of it as your organization's master calendar. It offers a simple signup page, optional volunteer screening, and a single calendar to manage and filter available shifts.
So, Which Should You Use?
Both formats work well together, giving you the flexibility to manage everything from one-time events to ongoing roles. You can mix and match as needed—use Events to promote campaigns, special activities, or orientations, and use Schedules for regular shifts or more specific scheduling needs. The best part is that you can combine them however it makes sense for your organization, allowing you to tailor the volunteer experience to fit your unique needs.