VolunteerHub has added a feature that supports manual SMS messaging directly to volunteers’ cell phones. Administrators can now send a text message manually to a user group, an event group, or to users registered for a specific event.
Since cell carriers may charge for delivery of these messages, each volunteer must provide his/her mobile number and opt-in for the service.
See below to learn how to 1) add a mobile phone number prompt in the user form; 2) create an opt-in for text messages; and 3) manually text message volunteers.
Collecting a volunteer’s mobile number
To allow a volunteer to provide a mobile number (if you haven’t already), follow these steps:
Step 1. Click the Setup tab on the navigation bar.
Step 2. Click the User Form subtab.
Step 3. Click the Add Question subtab.
Step 4. For Question Type, select Phone Number.
Step 5. Set Prompt to Mobile Phone.
Step 6. For Token, select Mobile Phone.
Step 7. Click the Save Question button.
Creating an opt-in for text messages
To give volunteers the option to either allow or prohibit VolunteerHub SMS messages:
Step 1. Click the Setup tab on the navigation bar.
Step 2. Click the User Form subtab.
Step 3. Click the Add Question subtab.
Step 4. For Question Type, select Boolean.
Step 5. Set Prompt to Send SMS event reminders?
Step 6. For Token, select SMS allowed.
Step 7. Click the Save Question button.
Once this information is collected, VolunteerHub allows several ways to text message volunteers:
Sending a manual SMS to a user group
To manually text message a user group, follow these steps:
Step 1. On the navigation bar, click the People tab.
Step 2. Click the User Groups subtab.
Step 3. Click the name of the appropriate user group.
Step 4. Click the Email/Sms subtab.
Step 5. Scroll to bottom of the page.
Step 6. Locate the section labeled Sms.
Step 7. Type your text in the field labeled Message.
Step 8. Click the Send Sms button.
Sending a manual SMS to an event group
To manually text message an event group, follow these steps:
Step 1. On the navigation bar, click the Events tab.
Step 2. Click the Event Groups subtab.
Step 3. Click the name of the appropriate event group.
Step 4. Click the Email/Sms subtab.
Step 5. Scroll to bottom of page.
Step 6. Locate the section labeled Sms.
Step 7. Type your text in the field labeled Message.
Step 8. Click the Send Sms button.
Sending a manual SMS to users registered for an event
To manually text message volunteers registered for a specific event, follow these steps:
Step 1. On the navigation bar, click the Events tab.
Step 2. Click the appropriate event.
Step 3. Click the Registered Users subtab.
Step 4. Scroll to bottom of page.
Step 5. Locate the section labeled Sms Registered Users.
Step 6. Type your text in the field labeled Message.
Step 7. Click the Send Sms button.
