Volunteer.gov/gov Online Help

---

INTRODUCTION
Welcome to the Volunteer.gov/gov Help Page. This online help file is designed to provide you with basic help for using the Volunteer.gov/gov web application. If you need additional help or if you need to reach the support team, please use the Contact Link on the Volunteer.gov/gov home page or email Volunteer.gov/gov Support Team support@volunteer.gov.

WEB BROWSER REQUIREMENTS
The web browsers that have been tested for the application include Microsoft Internet Explorer Versions 5, 6, 7 and 8; Mozilla Firefox (all versions); Opera (all versions); Safari (all versions); and Google Chrome (Version 1). Additionally, your web browser must have its cookies and JavaScript enabled; these are the default settings for most web browsers. This web application uses session cookies only. There are NO persistent cookies and NO cookies written to your hard drive. Should you need assistance with your web browser cookie and/or javascript settings, please consult your web browser help file.

CONTACTS
To reach Volunteer.gov/gov personnel, it is best to start with the contact person listed for each individual opportunity. If you need to reach the Volunteer.gov/gov program office, please use the Contacts Link on the Volunteer.gov/gov home page. The Contacts Link includes a listing of key Volunteer.gov/gov staff. The If you have an urgent web page related issue, please email the web support team at support@volunteer.gov.

FIND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The Volunteer.gov/gov web site allows you to search and find volunteer opportunities using several different search methods. You can search for Volunteer Opportunities from the Volunteer.gov/gov home page and most linked pages (See Figure #1). Each of these search methods is described below.

Please note: you can use any combination or all of the search methods together to find the ideal volunteer opportunity. The more search methods you use, generally the more refined your results will be. If you need to broaden your search results, try using less search methods. If you click just the Find button with no search methods, all Opportunities in the database will be displayed.

Here is an example of a narrow (refined) search: Keyword: Kiptopeke; State: Virginia; City: Charles City. This search currently returns 2 volunteer opportunities.

Here is an example of a broader search: State: Virginia; Opportunity Type: Campground Host. This search currently returns 78 volunteer opportunities.

Again, try to broaden your search if you do not find volunteer opportunities matching your interests or if you want to find more opportunities. Alternatively, to refine your search to more specific areas or keywords, try entering more search terms and/or selecting more search items (state, city, partner, etc.) to show fewer volunteer opportunities matching your search criteria.

FIGURE #1: Find Volunteer Opportunities Page

1. Search by Keyword(s):
   In the top middle section of the Volunteer.gov/gov home page (below the Find a Volunteer Opportunity title), there is a text box where you may enter a keyword or phrase you can use to search for volunteer opportunities. For example: if you wanted to find volunteer opportunities containing the keywords "Golden Gate"; type in Golden Gate in the keyword text box and click the FIND button. All volunteer opportunities containing your keywords will be displayed. Please note: volunteer opportunities will be searched with your keyword(s) by the volunteer opportunity title, location, and description. So, using the keywords "Golden Gate" will return volunteer opportunities at the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as well as volunteer opportunities at Alcatraz Island (associated with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area) and the Presidio (associated with Golden Gate National Park). If your search produces more than 200 results, try entering several keywords or phrases. If your search does not produce any results, check the spelling of your keyword or type in a partial keyword. Please note, you can use the Keyword(s) search method in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search.


2. Search by State: In the Find a Volunteer Opportunity box on the Volunteer.gov/gov home page, there is a drop-down select list box which includes all states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories/protectorates. If you want to find all volunteer opportunities in a given state, click on the State drop-down box and choose the state. Once you have selected your state, click the FIND button to search for all volunteer opportunities in your selected state. Please note: You can use the State drop-down selection list in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search.
   
3. Search by City:To find opportunities within a particular City (or Town), type in the city or town in the text box in the Find a Volunteer Opportunity section on the home page, then click the Find buttonIf your search does not produce any results, try selecting an entire state to find more results. Please note: You can use the City search method in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search.
   
   Special Note: Many of the volunteer opportunities on Volunteer.gov/gov are located on large tracts of U.S. Federal Government land. The field office and/or volunteer office for several large tracts of land (such as National Forests and National Parks) may be located in a nearby town. As such, the location of the field office and/or volunteer office may not necessarily help you find your opportunity. Therefore, please understand that if you use the City search method and you do not get any results, try expanding your search to a State and do not enter a city. Also try using the Keyword search and/or other search methods to help find what your are looking for.
   
4. Search by Agency:To find volunteer opportunities for a particular Volunteer.gov/gov Agency, click the down-arrow to the right of the word Agency, select the Agency, then click the FIND button. For example, if you wanted to find all volunteer opportunities with the National Park Service, select the National Park Service from the Agency list then click the FIND button to display all National Park Service volunteer opportunities. Please note: You can use the Agency search method in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search.
   
5. Search by Opportunity Type:To find volunteer opportunities for a particular Opportunity Type, click the down-arrow to the right of Opportunity Type, choose the type, then click the Find button. For example, if you want to find all volunteer campground host opportunities, select Campground Hosts from the Opportunity Type list then click the FIND button. Please note: You can use the Opportunity Type search method in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search.
   
6. Search by Newest Opportunities:To find opportunities which have been added and/or updated in the past 30 days, click in the Newest Opportunities checkbox within the Find a Volunteer Opportunity section. Then click the Find button. This will return ONLY the opportunities which have been added and/or updated within the past 30 days from the date of the current date. Please note: You can use the Newest Opportunities check box search method in combination with any/all of the other search methods to refine your search. Also, to remove the check in the Newest Opportunities check box, simply click the box to add/remove the check.



FIGURE #2: Quick Search U.S. Map

7. Quick Search Using the US Map:To find volunteer opportunities in a given state, use the State Search Method described in item #2 above or simply click on the State abbreviation (the state name will be displayed in a pop-up box for confirmation)on the blue-colored U.S. Map near the bottom left of the Volunteer.gov/gov home page (see Figure #2). Please note: For scale reasons, this map does not show the Mariana Islands and Guam. To find Volunteer Opportunities in the Mariana Islands and/or Guam, please use the State Search method described in item #2 above.
   

   FIGURE #2A: Map Title Text Detail

   
   Special Note: Because of size limitations, several of the smaller U.S. States are quite small on the map and/or may be listed only by their 2 letter state abbreviation. To ensure that you are clicking on your desired state, place your mouse (cursor) over your desired state. A small text title will appear next to your cursor identifying the state your cursor is over. If your cursor is not over your desired state, move your cursor slightly towards your desired state and wait for the small title text to appear. When the title text for your desired state appears, click and you will see all the opportunities for your desired state. See Figure #2 A for an example (Vermont was used as the example).
   
8. Featured Opportunities Quick Search: The Volunteer.gov/gov home page includes a listing of "Featured Opportunities" located in the middle of the home page. Featured Opportunities are existing volunteer opportunities which are being featured on the home page to highlight special volunteer programs and/or special volunteer program needs. Featured Opportunities are rotated on a daily basis. To access any of the Featured Opportunities, click on the small numbered tabs [ 1] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] to the right of the "Featured Opportunities" title. A summary description of the featured opportunity is displayed below the tab. There is a ... more link at the end of the abbreviated description which links to the full featured opportunity description and application page.

FIGURE #3: Volunteer.gov/gov Results Page

SEARCH RESULTS
The search results page will return a listing of the volunteer opportunities matching your search criteria. Each listing shows the opportunity details (position, location, activities, dates, agency/partner, etc.) as well as the description for the volunteer opportunity so you can choose the opportunity that best matches your interests. In addition, each opportunity includes external links to state volunteer resources for the state where the opportunity is located. Please see Figure #3 for a sample search results page.
If you are interested in applying for a selected volunteer opportunity, click on the Apply Online Now link to fill out an online volunteer application.

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION The Volunteer Application form allows you to apply for a specific volunteer opportunity online. Once you complete the application, a confirmation email will be sent to you. A volunteer coordinator will contact you within 10 working days (depending on the volume of applications received) regarding the status of your application.

Please make sure to fill in the form completely. The following instructions explain how to complete the volunteer application form:

Online Volunteer Application Instructions

1. Personal Information:
• Last Name: enter your last name here (required)
• First Name: enter your first name here (required)
• Middle Name: enter your middle name or middle initial here (optional)
• Age: enter your age here (required) Note: Please do NOT enter anything other than a number here. For example, do not enter 17+. If you are 17, enter 17 with NO + symbol. If you are completing an application for a group or your family, enter the age for the person completing the application. Again, enter only a number for the age.
• Street Address 1: enter the first line of your mailing address here (required)
• Street Address 2: if you have a second line for your address, enter it here (optional)
• City: enter your city here (required)
• State: enter your city here (required)
• Zip: enter your zip code here (required)
• Phone: enter your phone number here (required)
• Email: enter your email address here (required)
2. Work Categories:
• Work Categories check boxes: this item includes one or more check boxes which are the available work categories for the selected volunteer opportunity. Check one or more boxes corresponding to the work categories relative to your interest. For convenience, each of the work categories check boxes is pre-checked for you. Please review these work categories. (required)
3. Qualifications/Skills/Experience/Education Check Boxes:
• This section includes check boxes of general skills for the selected volunteer opportunity. Check all of the boxes where you have skills, qualifications, or experience. There is also an "other" text box where you may enter one of your skills/experiences not included in the list. (required)
4. Qualifications:
• Qualifications area: enter any qualifications you may have relative to the volunteer opportunity you have selected. For the best chance of obtaining your selected volunteer position, it is recommended that you provide as much detail as possible regarding your qualifications specific to your selected volunteer opportunity. (required)
5. Volunteer Experience:
• Enter your previous/current volunteer experience (if any). If you have previous volunteer experience, please let us know where and when and the nature of your experience (optional)
6. Supervision:
• Check the box if you would like to supervise other volunteers (optional)
7. Objectives:
• List your objectives for working as a volunteer. So that we can do our best to match your skills and interests and objective to the best volunteer position available, please provide the details of your objectives in seeking this volunteer position (optional)
8. Physical Limitations:
• List any physical limitations that may influence your volunteer activities. Since many volunteer positions may involve strenuous physical work, we need to know if you have any physical limitations so that we can best match you to the appropriate position (required)
9. Schedule:
• Schedule check boxes: place a check in the boxes for the Month(s) and the Day(s) you are available to volunteer. Also type in the total hours per week you are available to volunteer (required)
10. Lodging:
• Indicate whether you will provide your own lodging or will need assistance with lodging for the volunteer opportunity (required)
  Special Note: There are some volunteer opportunities where housing may be available. The volunteer.gov/gov web portal is adding new information to the volunteer opportunity description which will provide details about housing where available. Housing is not guaranteed, so you must contact the respective volunteer coordinator to get information about housing.
11. Assignment:
• Indicate whether you would like your volunteer application forwarded to another location or federal agency if there are no opportunities at your selected location (required)
12. Comments:
• Enter your comments regarding the volunteer opportunity here (optional)

Once you have reviewed your application and are ready to submit your application, click on the SUBMIT APPLICATION button. Notification will be sent to the volunteer coordinator that you have submitted an application. This completes your online application process. Note: When you complete an application, your form entries are remembered as long as you are still on the Volunteer.gov/gov web site. Therefore, if you choose to complete another application, the form will be prefilled for you. You would only need to edit your information for your selected position. This will save you time if you decide to complete more than one application.

FIGURE #4: Volunteer Events Calendar

FIGURE #5: Comments Spam Filter Box