Creating a volunteer application

This feature is available on the Grow and Pro Plans.

If you're looking to create a signup process for all new volunteers, we recommend starting with Onboarding instead. Most organizations use onboarding as the first step for new volunteers and applications for role-specific recruitment later. Applications are used to recruit and qualify volunteers for specific roles, programs, or projects.

It's also important to note that Applications are not Forms. Forms are groups of questions that can be attached to applications to collect additional information from volunteers during the signup process.
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Go to the Applications tab in the main navigation and click New Application in the top-right corner.
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Enter a name for your application, select a time commitment, and add a location. You can enter a city or create a custom location without a specific address.

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After creating your application, you'll be taken to the Edit Application page.

Here, you can upload an image and add content to the description sections. Think of this page as a volunteer recruitment page. The more information you provide about the role, expectations, responsibilities, and benefits, the easier it will be for volunteers to decide whether the opportunity is right for them.
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Use the custom sections to explain what volunteers can expect, what qualifications you're looking for, and any other information that may help them apply.

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Opening an application for signups is optional. If you already know which volunteers should be assigned to a role, project, or program, you can manually qualify them without creating a signup page or accepting applications.

To make an application available for signups, click the Closed to Signups button in the top right corner and switch to Open to Signups.

Choose when signups should open and close. By default, applications open immediately and remain available until you choose to close them, but you can also schedule opening and closing dates in advance.

Unlike events and schedules, applications don't require start or end times. You can open and close applications whenever you're actively recruiting and pause signups once you've received enough applicants. Any time commitment or scheduling expectations should be included in the application content so volunteers know what to expect before applying.
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If you'd like volunteers to answer questions when applying, you can attach a form to your application. This step is optional, as Timecounts automatically collects a volunteer's name and email address during signup.
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To attach a form, go to the Details tab, scroll to the New Applicants Form section, and select a published form from the dropdown menu.

You can also add a Success Screen Message, which appears after a volunteer submits their application. This is a great place to thank applicants or let them know what to expect next.

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Before opening your application to signups, review the settings available under the Details tab. Here, you can control application visibility and choose whether applicants are approved automatically or require manual review.

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Once your application is open to signups, it will appear on your Hub based on the visibility settings you've selected.

We recommend visiting your Hub and reviewing the application from a volunteer's perspective. This is a great opportunity to confirm that your title, photo, description, and signup form provide volunteers with the information they need before applying.

You can also customize the name of the Applications section on your Hub. Many organizations choose a more descriptive title such as Volunteer Roles, Join a Team, or Apply to Volunteer to better reflect the experience volunteers will have when browsing available applications.