Advice on setting up a volunteer database

[lsmith]

Dear group,

I am the new volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization in
Tucson, AZ. One of my main focuses is to develop our own volunteer
pool using either MS Access 2002 or Excel spreadsheets. I've used this
software in previous positions and was very comfortable with the
software but I'm a bit of a novice in setting up databases. However,I
learn quickly. I am looking for something like an Access database
template that I can use to keep track of volunteer hours logged, dates
and times of availability, contact information and interests etc. ...

Our organization is in a year of restructuring and we are in need of
basic forms and structure arrangements to start to build a volunteer
pool. If anyone has templates, spreadsheets or basic forms or any
other resources that they would be willing to share, I would really
appreciate it.
I would also greatly appreciate any information on:

· How to incorporate Excel spreadsheets into an Access database
· Sample Access data bases for other functions that could be adapted
for a volunteer pool (we have the northwind sample db)
· Any tips on how to use Access databases to track volunteer hours,
thank volunteers, send reports to staff members who may need to use
them to collect statistics for future grants, or how to use them in
future recruiting. (using either Access or Excel)
· Tips on using Access filters to create reports or ideas for
organizing a database to accommodate for rotating volunteer positions
or shared positions
· How to create a log in screen for volunteers to log their own hours

· How to create a very, very user friendly button for staff members
with Access/software anxiety to search the database for volunteers
with specific areas of interest or times of availability

I'm hoping there's a talented and generous expert out there who
considers this an interesting and challenging problem and would be
willing to share his/her talents with me.

If you're a member of any listserves or online groups that deal with
these topics, that info would be helpful too.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Laura

Please email me at: la***************@yahoo.com

[Bob Alston]

lsmith wrote:

Dear group,

I am the new volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization in
Tucson, AZ. One of my main focuses is to develop our own volunteer
pool using either MS Access 2002 or Excel spreadsheets. I've used this
software in previous positions and was very comfortable with the
software but I'm a bit of a novice in setting up databases. However,I
learn quickly. I am looking for something like an Access database
template that I can use to keep track of volunteer hours logged, dates
and times of availability, contact information and interests etc. ...

Our organization is in a year of restructuring and we are in need of
basic forms and structure arrangements to start to build a volunteer
pool. If anyone has templates, spreadsheets or basic forms or any
other resources that they would be willing to share, I would really
appreciate it.
I would also greatly appreciate any information on:

· How to incorporate Excel spreadsheets into an Access database
· Sample Access data bases for other functions that could be adapted
for a volunteer pool (we have the northwind sample db)
· Any tips on how to use Access databases to track volunteer hours,
thank volunteers, send reports to staff members who may need to use
them to collect statistics for future grants, or how to use them in
future recruiting. (using either Access or Excel)
· Tips on using Access filters to create reports or ideas for
organizing a database to accommodate for rotating volunteer positions
or shared positions
· How to create a log in screen for volunteers to log their own hours

· How to create a very, very user friendly button for staff members
with Access/software anxiety to search the database for volunteers
with specific areas of interest or times of availability

I'm hoping there's a talented and generous expert out there who
considers this an interesting and challenging problem and would be
willing to share his/her talents with me.

If you're a member of any listserves or online groups that deal with
these topics, that info would be helpful too.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Laura

Please email me at: la***************@yahoo.com

A great place for information on nonprofit software is www.techsoup.com


May I also suggest you have a look at
http://www.rovirinfo.com/

Free for 50 or less volunteers; $400 for unlimited volunteers/single
user; $750 multi-user/network/unlimited volunteers

Built in MS Access

Vendor provides a free online demonstration and a demo version of the
software.

Based on a brief review, it looks very complete and easy to navigate.


Another great source for nonprofit software is:
http://www.nonprofitexpert.com/technology.htm

Bob

[msg2hany]

Hi ,,,,

You have to have a look on many applications , that may fill your
requirements ...

You can check the following , you will find a lot of free
applications , tutorials , examples that would help you

http://www.access-forum.com/plus/viewforum.php?f=41
ADMIN
www.access-forum.com
Bob Alston ÔÇÑß ÈÜ:

lsmith wrote:

Dear group,

I am the new volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization in
Tucson, AZ. One of my main focuses is to develop our own volunteer
pool using either MS Access 2002 or Excel spreadsheets. I've used this
software in previous positions and was very comfortable with the
software but I'm a bit of a novice in setting up databases. However,I
learn quickly. I am looking for something like an Access database
template that I can use to keep track of volunteer hours logged, dates
and times of availability, contact information and interests etc. ...

Our organization is in a year of restructuring and we are in need of
basic forms and structure arrangements to start to build a volunteer
pool. If anyone has templates, spreadsheets or basic forms or any
other resources that they would be willing to share, I would really
appreciate it.
I would also greatly appreciate any information on:

· How to incorporate Excel spreadsheets into an Access database
· Sample Access data bases for other functions that could be adapted
for a volunteer pool (we have the northwind sample db)
· Any tips on how to use Access databases to track volunteer hours,
thank volunteers, send reports to staff members who may need to use
them to collect statistics for future grants, or how to use them in
future recruiting. (using either Access or Excel)
· Tips on using Access filters to create reports or ideas for
organizing a database to accommodate for rotating volunteer positions
or shared positions
· How to create a log in screen for volunteers to log their own hours

· How to create a very, very user friendly button for staff members
with Access/software anxiety to search the database for volunteers
with specific areas of interest or times of availability

I'm hoping there's a talented and generous expert out there who
considers this an interesting and challenging problem and would be
willing to share his/her talents with me.

If you're a member of any listserves or online groups that deal with
these topics, that info would be helpful too.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Laura

Please email me at: la***************@yahoo.com

A great place for information on nonprofit software is www.techsoup.com


May I also suggest you have a look at
http://www.rovirinfo.com/

Free for 50 or less volunteers; $400 for unlimited volunteers/single
user; $750 multi-user/network/unlimited volunteers

Built in MS Access

Vendor provides a free online demonstration and a demo version of the
software.

Based on a brief review, it looks very complete and easy to navigate.


Another great source for nonprofit software is:
http://www.nonprofitexpert.com/technology.htm

Bob

[Barry Edmund Wright]

Hi Laura,

Check out this free open source ms access database for managing
volunteers (VMS).
It can be downloaded from http://www.witstoronto.ca/databases/vms/download.html
There are plenty of How-To-Movies on the site and it has great context
sensitive help.

It can also be downloaded from download.com

Cheers,
Barry

On May 25, 5:27 pm, lsmith <[e-mail]:

Dear group,

I am the new volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization in
Tucson, AZ. One of my main focuses is to develop our own volunteer
pool using either MS Access 2002 or Excel spreadsheets. I've used this
software in previous positions and was very comfortable with the
software but I'm a bit of a novice in setting up databases. However,I
learn quickly. I am looking for something like an Access database
template that I can use to keep track of volunteer hours logged, dates
and times of availability, contact information and interests etc. ...

Our organization is in a year of restructuring and we are in need of
basic forms and structure arrangements to start to build a volunteer
pool. If anyone has templates, spreadsheets or basic forms or any
other resources that they would be willing to share, I would really
appreciate it.

I would also greatly appreciate any information on:

· How to incorporate Excel spreadsheets into an Access database
· Sample Access data bases for other functions that could be adapted
for a volunteer pool (we have the northwind sample db)
· Any tips on how to use Access databases to track volunteer hours,
thank volunteers, send reports to staff members who may need to use
them to collect statistics for future grants, or how to use them in
future recruiting. (using either Access or Excel)
· Tips on using Access filters to create reports or ideas for
organizing a database to accommodate for rotating volunteer positions
or shared positions
· How to create a log in screen for volunteers to log their own hours

· How to create a very, very user friendly button for staff members
with Access/software anxiety to search the database for volunteers
with specific areas of interest or times of availability

I'm hoping there's a talented and generous expert out there who
considers this an interesting and challenging problem and would be
willing to share his/her talents with me.

If you're a member of any listserves or online groups that deal with
these topics, that info would be helpful too.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Laura

Please email me at: [e-mail]