Nonprofits, school districts, businesses, governments, municipalities, and more now have direct access to on-demand volunteers via a new mobile application from Dallas-based technology nonprofit VolunteerNow.
Called an all-in-one volunteer solution, VOLY.org is VolunteerNow’s web-based recruitment, management, and reporting platform that’s meant to expand volunteer impact across all causes and industries. The proprietary software-as-a-service connects any entity to a free, niche workforce, building the capacity for communities to address various kinds of critical needs.
But as VOLY expands across the country, VolunteerNow noticed an easy-to-use mobile app was critical to allow more volunteers to serve. Plus, more than 90 percent of users were accessing VOLY.org from their smart phone in search of service opportunities. According to VolunteerNow, last year its volunteers gave 1.6 million hours to 3,500 local nonprofits, equating to a $41.4 million economic impact.
That’s when the nonprofit decided to create the VOLY Mobile app. Funded by a grant from the Hoblitzelle Foundation, a Dallas-based charitable trust focused on charitable, scientific, literacy, or educational contributions, the app allows all community members to volunteer and support their chosen cause.
With the launch comes enhanced services from VOLY.org, including a modern design, built-in notifications to remind users of upcoming commitments, and location services. Volunteers can search for opportunities, become a fan of a school or agency, and are thanked by the app when they complete their service.
“We know our innovative VOLY Mobile app will offer a more on-the-go friendly experience, making finding volunteer opportunities an easy and seamless process,” Tammy Richards, VolunteerNow’s CEO, said in a statement. “We currently have over 310,000 volunteers registered in VOLY, and we plan to have over one million volunteers in the next few years.”
The VOLY Mobile app is currently available for Apple and Android users.
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