By the end of this article, you will be able to:
Understand what Programs are and how they organize Opportunities
Explore different ways to structure Programs
Identify the role of Program Facilitators and how they support Programs
What Programs Do
Before posting volunteer Opportunities, your site must have at least one Program.
A Program acts as a container that organizes Opportunities—by location, task, department, initiative, or whatever fits your workflow. Programs are flexible and can scale with your organization.
Location-Specific
Use this setup when Opportunities take place at multiple sites or cities.
Example:
If you run soup kitchens in three neighboring cities, you could create a Program for each city. Each location can then post and manage its own Opportunities.
Typical naming convention:
Haven Soup Kitchen – Richmond
Haven Soup Kitchen – Ashland
Haven Soup Kitchen – Chesterfield
This keeps Opportunities organized and easy for staff and volunteers to navigate.
Task-Specific
Use this approach to organize Opportunities by type of work or initiative.
Examples:
A Program for back-to-school activities (e.g., backpack stuffing events)
A Program for tutoring and academic support
This method is helpful when multiple initiatives run simultaneously or require different volunteer skills.
Program Facilitators
You can assign Program Facilitators to support your Programs. Facilitators do not manage the Program directly but can:
Review volunteer hours, Opportunities, and schedules
Help with reporting
Serve as the point of contact for volunteers responding to Opportunities within that Program