19 Top Volunteer Management Software Picks for Nonprofits

Volunteer management software helps nonprofits recruit, schedule, communicate with, and retain volunteers — all from one centralized platform. The right system can reduce administrative burden, improve volunteer satisfaction, and give your team a complete picture of supporter engagement across both volunteering and fundraising.

According to the 2024 Volunteer Management Progress Report, recruitment and retention are the top challenges for volunteer managers. In fact, recruitment was the top challenge for eight of the last nine years. Purpose-built software directly addresses both problems.

To combat these challenges, many organizations turn to volunteer management software. These tools help nonprofits better organize their volunteer programs by handling everything from scheduling to ongoing communication.

This guide reviews everything you need to know about volunteer management software in the following sections:

• What volunteer management software is and how it works
• Key features to look for
• The best volunteer management software solutions
• Frequently asked questions

What is volunteer management software?

Volunteer management software — also called a volunteer management system — is a platform designed to help organizations administer every stage of their volunteer program, from initial recruitment through long-term retention.

Core features typically include a volunteer database, online sign-up pages, shift scheduling, automated reminders, hours tracking, and multi-channel communication tools. More advanced platforms integrate directly with donor management or CRM software, giving nonprofits a unified view of every supporter relationship.

The volunteer management lifecycle: 6 key stages

Effective volunteer programs follow a repeatable lifecycle. Volunteer management software supports each stage:

1. Planning — Set program goals, define volunteer roles and descriptions, and establish metrics for success.
2. Recruitment and screening — Attract volunteers through social media, your website, and direct outreach. Screen applicants with background checks and custom application workflows.
3. Scheduling — Build volunteer shifts, match supporters to roles based on skills and availability, and manage group sign-ups.
4. Training and onboarding — Deliver orientation materials, collect required documents (waivers, certifications), and prepare volunteers to perform their roles effectively.
5. Engagement — Recognize contributions, send personalized thank-you messages, and invest in volunteers' personal growth to boost long-term retention.
6. Evaluation — Survey volunteers for feedback, review hours and attendance data, and report on program outcomes.

A centralized volunteer management platform lets your team execute all six stages without switching between disconnected tools.

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Why volunteer management software matters for nonprofits

The Time Well Spent 2023 report from NCVO found that volunteers feel most satisfied when they are recognized for their contributions, feel respected and trusted by the organization, and experience a sense of belonging. Volunteer management software directly supports all three of those drivers.

Specific benefits include:

• Keeping all volunteer data organized and searchable in one place
• Giving volunteers a self-serve way to sign up for shifts and log their hours
• Enabling two-way communication via email, SMS, and in-app messaging
• Reducing no-shows through automated reminders and easy substitute scheduling
• Generating reports on program performance, volunteer hours, and impact
• Recognizing high-performing volunteers with automated appreciation tools
• Uncovering crossover opportunities between your volunteer and donor bases

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What features should you look for in volunteer management software?

There are dozens of volunteer management solutions available, but not all of them will meet your specific needs. To find the right solution for your nonprofit, you first need to establish your organization’s long-term volunteer management needs and goals. What you need today may not be enough tomorrow.

With that in mind, here is a list of core features to look out for in a solution that can accommodate basic and more complex needs for the future:

Volunteer database features

• A secure database that stores all volunteer profiles and activity information
• Easy data filtering and sorting capabilities

Recruitment features

• Branded volunteer sign-up pages listing opportunities and available shifts
• Customized online volunteer application workflow
• Accommodation for group sign ups
• Ability to collect important documents like waivers

Scheduling features

• Easy schedule building with bulk actions and shift duplication capabilities for ongoing tasks
• Multiple scheduling views (calendar and list)
• Automated matching for volunteers with shifts based on qualifications, roles availability, and conflicts
• Group scheduling
• Mobile schedule management

Communication and engagement features

• Volunteer mobile app with a communication hub, personal schedules, and access to relevant documents
• Self check-in and attendance tracking for volunteers in the mobile app
• Multiple channel communication options (email, SMS, and in-app messaging)
• Ability to send personalized thank you messages through email or the mobile app

Tracking and reporting features

• Volunteer tracking and hours tracking with a summary of check-in/out timestamps
• Custom exports reporting on volunteer program data

The 19 best volunteer management software solutions

The platforms below represent a range of budgets, organization sizes, and feature depths. Use the comparison table to find the best fit quickly, then read each full review for a deeper look.

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1. Bloomerang Volunteer

Best for: Nonprofits that want volunteer and donor management in one unified platform.

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Bloomerang Volunteer combines volunteer and donor management into one unified system. Instead of having to learn two separate systems, your nonprofit’s staff has access to everything they need in one convenient place.

Plus, managing volunteers and donors together lets you discover hidden fundraising opportunities for volunteers and potential new volunteers within your donor pool. You can maximize the potential of both groups, providing sustainable support for your fundraising and volunteer initiatives.

Here’s what we love about Bloomerang’s system:

• Easy use for both staff and volunteers. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly. It’s also easy to customize settings to create flexible views tailored to your nonprofit’s top priorities.
• Makes recruitment and scheduling a breeze. Flexible recruitment workflows make it easy for volunteers to input their qualifications, preferred roles, and availability and sign up for shifts. Self-serve options give volunteers the independence to sign up for the roles that interest them most.
• Improves volunteer engagement and retention. Send timely, personalized thank you messages to volunteers recognizing them for their hard work. Use data to highlight volunteers’ impact on your mission. Grow relationships with volunteers by encouraging them to join your donor programs as well.
• Fully integrated into the Bloomerang Giving Platform. Your volunteer data will synchronize with Bloomerang Fundraising and Bloomerang CRM for a single nonprofit software solution!

Bloomerang also offers a mobile app to streamline staff and volunteer communications.

Take a look at how two inspiring customer organizations, ShowerUp and Compassion Delivered, used Bloomerang Volunteer to amplify their impact:

Pricing

We recommend the Bloomerang Giving Platform standard or Pro!

2. Double the Donation Volunteering

Best for: Nonprofits that want to maximize volunteer grant revenue.

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Double the Donation Volunteering isn’t a traditional volunteer management system, but it does offer a unique feature absent from almost all other platforms: a volunteer grant database.

Volunteer grants are monetary donations businesses give to the nonprofits where their employees volunteer. Double the Donation Volunteering specializes in helping volunteers discover if they are eligible for these programs through its searchable database.

Here’s what we love about Double the Donation Volunteering:

• User-friendly. Searching the volunteer grant database is simple. Volunteers just need to enter their company name into the streamlined search tool. The search will auto-complete to help supporters find the information they need in seconds.
• Embeddable search tool. Earn more volunteer grants by putting your volunteer search tool in front of as many supporters as possible. Embed it into your volunteer page or anywhere else on your website for easy access.
• Comprehensive data. Double the Donation Volunteering is the largest and most comprehensive matching gift and volunteer grant database available. With coverage for 99.68% of employee supporters, all of your volunteers will be able to find their eligibility information. Plus, 360MatchPro doesn’t just let supporters know if their employer offers a volunteer grant program—it also provides detailed information on hours requirements, grant totals, and volunteer time off programs.

If your nonprofit is interested in adding Double the Donation Volunteering to your volunteer toolkit, chances are that you can do so with ease thanks to its extensive array of integrations.

Pricing

Pricing starts at $999 per year for the small nonprofit plan.

3. SignUpGenius

Best for: Organizations that need a fast, simple way to collect volunteer sign-ups online.

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SignUpGenius simplifies the process of coordinating events and volunteers by providing online sign ups for all sorts of nonprofit events.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Establish an easy sign-up process
• Send automatic emails or text reminders
• Run volunteer hours reports for easy tracking and exports

This is a simple tool that’s great for organizations looking for a way to recruit volunteers online quickly.

Pricing

SignUpGenius offers a free plan. Paid options start at $8.99 per month.

4. POINT

Best for: Early-stage nonprofits that need free volunteer management tools.

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POINT offers free volunteer management tools to nonprofits, allowing up-and-coming organizations on a budget to connect with volunteers.

Here are the features that make the POINT app stand out:

• Manage data in a cloud-based dashboard and coordination platform.
• Integrate your volunteer sign ups with your website for easy access.
• Stay connected to volunteers with the POINT app on iOS, Android, or the web.

You can also create a POINT page, an online volunteer hub that includes your nonprofit’s profile information, event sign ups, donation link, and needs registry. You can easily share this link across your social media pages, website, and email newsletters to boost recruitment.

Pricing

POINT offers a free plan. Paid options start at $99 per month, billed annually.

5. VolunteerMark

Best for: Nonprofits that want a user-friendly platform for scheduling groups and individuals.

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VolunteerMark offers comprehensive volunteer management software that includes scheduling, communication, and reporting. Plus, their mobile app gives volunteers an easy way to keep track of their duties and schedules.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Invite both groups and individuals to volunteer opportunities, meaning that vetted volunteers can bring along family members or friends to work alongside them. This is a great option for nonprofits looking to recruit large groups of volunteers that don’t need to be thoroughly screened.
• Create fixed, flexible, and one-time volunteer shifts depending on your needs.
• Allow volunteers to create their own profiles and update their availability, skills, and interests, giving your nonprofit greater insight into their motivations.

VolunteerMark’s software was designed to be very user friendly, allowing volunteer managers to get up and running with the system quickly and easily.

Pricing

VolunteerMark offers a free plan. Paid plans start at $34 per month.

6. Golden

Best for: Organizations that need mobile-first management and instant background checks.

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Golden makes getting involved in volunteer opportunities easy for passionate supporters. With a mobile app for iOS and Android, volunteer managers can easily organize volunteer information and scheduling, even when out in the field.

This volunteer management system offers features like:

• Instant background checks to facilitate a speedy volunteer onboarding process and get volunteers up and running faster
• The ability to make top volunteers eligible to win raffles (supported by Golden) for valuable prizes
• Global support for operations in different countries

Nonprofits looking to get started with volunteer management software for the first time can begin on the free plan and scale up their involvement as needed.

Pricing

Golden offers a free plan to organizations that want to try the platform before investing. Paid options start at $1,200 per year.

7. Signup Zone

Best for: Schools and small organizations that need a quick, paper-free sign-up solution.

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Signup Zone is an online tool for coordinating volunteers. It is as easy to use as a paper signup but with all the convenience of being online. This solution is a good option for those simply looking to collect a list of contacts quickly.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Create volunteer sign up pages
• Require sign- ins for extra security if needed
• Create and share schedules
• Build a volunteer roster

Signup Zone offers a simple solution for organizations like schools to quickly collect parent and volunteer information online.

Pricing

Standard Signups are free. Additional features are available for small fees.

8. Giveffect

Best for: Nonprofits that want all-in-one software combining CRM, fundraising, and volunteer management.

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Giveffect is an all-in-one nonprofit software that provides robust volunteer management functionality. Volunteer shifts, hours, and contact information seamlessly integrate into the Giveffect CRM system, providing a comprehensive overview of your supporters.

Giveffect’s volunteer management features include:

• The ability to use your mobile device as a volunteer check-in kiosk, allowing you to facilitate faster check ins and automatically track volunteer hours
• Simple shift management and the ability to create public or private calendars.
• Robust reporting and data analytics, providing insight into everything from volunteer recruitment to the success of your volunteer newsletter.

With volunteer scheduling and tracking, a mobile volunteer check-in kiosk, and volunteer-to-donor conversion tracking, Giveffect consolidates your nonprofit operations and eliminates manual data entry.

Pricing

Schedule a demo and get pricing information on the Giveffect website.

9. Better Impact

Best for: Organizations with complex volunteer databases and self-scheduling needs.

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Better Impact offers supporter management features—from donor and client stewardship to volunteer and member management—for nonprofits and other organizations as well.

Here are the top volunteer management features of the Better Impact platform:

• The ability to create robust volunteer profiles and run search queries to easily look up volunteer data
• Individual and mass-targeted email and text communications that are personalized with volunteers’ names
• Self-scheduling for pre-qualified volunteers to provide more flexibility and control for supporters

This volunteer management solution offers customizable profiles, database management, volunteer recruitment, flexible scheduling tool capabilities, and reporting to help manage your volunteer team efficiently.

Pricing

Get a quote on the Better Impact website.

10. Helper Helper

Best for: Colleges, high schools, Greek life organizations, and multi-site nonprofits.

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Helper Helper’s software platform and mobile app help you easily coordinate and track service hours across your entire organization. Nonprofits, businesses, colleges, high schools, and Greek life organizations turn to this solution to manage their ongoing volunteer opportunities.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Send automated service reminders and push notifications to boost attendance.
• Brand your volunteer platform with your nonprofit’s logo and colors to promote brand recognition.
• Access an automated list of top volunteers and donors to ensure that you don’t forget to show appreciation to them.

This solution offers a centralized data source for your volunteer program that includes sign ups, reminders, kiosk check ins, and reporting.

Pricing

Helper Helper offers a free trial. Contact the platform for cost information.

11. Get Connected

Best for: Community organizations focused on volunteer screening and long-term engagement.

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Galaxy Digital offers an easy-to-use volunteer management system called Get Connected. This product makes it simple for volunteers to find and select the opportunities they are passionate about.

This volunteer management system allows nonprofits to:

• Find skilled volunteers by restricting access until volunteers have been screened for qualifications and approved.
• Create and promote compelling event landing pages with essential event day logistics.
• Integrate with your social media accounts for easy promotion and allow volunteers to share your content directly with their networks.

Ideal for everyday use, Get Connected can help increase volunteer engagement, develop long-term relationships, and track involvement.

Pricing

Contact Galaxy Digital for pricing information.

12. YourVolunteers

Best for: Small nonprofits looking for a free, cloud-based volunteer scheduling tool.

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YourVolunteers is a free volunteer management tool that supports registration management, scheduling, and volunteer profile creation.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Create notes about volunteers and easily share them with your volunteer managers.
• Let volunteers view all available shifts and add shifts to their schedules.
• Use the application on your mobile device, tablet, or computer depending on your needs.

This cloud-based tool provides an easy way to create and assign volunteer shifts and collect information from volunteers.

Pricing

YourVolunteers offers a free option or a premium option for $20 per month, as well as custom plans.

13. Timecounts

Best for: Growing organizations that need scalable tools and document management.

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Timecounts’ solution provides organizations with user-friendly, scalable tools to grow their volunteer programs.

This volunteer management software offers features like:

• Track applications, background checks, and volunteers’ skills and interests to streamline the onboarding process.
• Track volunteer information by importing unlimited contacts and attaching relevant documents to profiles.
• Easily schedule ongoing shifts to give volunteers a clear weekly or monthly schedule.

This solution removes friction between you and your passionate volunteers by providing a way to publish opportunities online, collect volunteer information, maintain a directory of volunteers, and maintain ongoing communication.

Pricing

Timecounts offers a free plan or a Pro plan for $59 per month.

14. Volunteer Scheduler Pro

Best for: Small nonprofits upgrading from spreadsheets or paper-based scheduling.

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Volunteer Scheduler Pro is a specialized volunteer scheduler that can also help you manage and communicate with volunteers as well.

This volunteer management system allows nonprofits to:

• Easily create schedules using a drag-and-drop editor.
• Effectively communicate with volunteers by sending personalized emails, texts, and even polls.
• Limit no-shows by allowing volunteers to find substitutes or cancel an assignment.

This solution is ideal for small organizations that need a simple upgrade from general office tools.

Pricing

Get a free trial or contact the platform for pricing information.

15. CERVIS

Best for: Nonprofits that want affordable, automation-focused volunteer coordination.

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CERVIS empowers nonprofits with volunteer management software that offers simple features for coordinating volunteers. Their solution includes tools for scheduling, communication, reporting, and more.

Here’s what you can do with this volunteer management software:

• Easily create online schedules and allow volunteers to quickly register online.
• Send out automatic shift reminders and thank you messages.
• Allow volunteers to create their own accounts to track their involvement and update their profiles.

They also offer impactful training resources for you and your team to get up to speed on effective volunteer management and software.

Pricing

Plans start at $25 per month.

16. Mobilize by Bonterra

Best for: Advocacy organizations, labor unions, and nonprofits running frequent, multi-shift events.

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Bonterra’s Mobilize offers a solution for mission-driven organizations to help manage events and recruit volunteers. This solution is used by nonprofits, progressive campaigns, advocacy organizations, labor unions, and more.

Mobilize’s volunteer management software allows organizations to:

• Set up recurring and multiple-shift events
• Automate email and text messages
• Ensure straightforward approval processes and permission levels

This solution makes sure volunteers sign up, show up, bring friends, and come back through its powerful and engaging platform.

Pricing

Contact Mobilize for pricing information.

17. isolved Giving & Volunteering

Best for: Employers and corporations managing employee volunteer and giving programs.

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isolved Giving & Volunteering is a corporate philanthropy platform that makes it easy for employers to facilitate giving and volunteering opportunities for their employees.

This volunteer management software offers features like:

• The ability to let employees choose where to direct their charitable giving and make the greatest impact possible
• Automatic donation and volunteer hours tracking to document your program’s impact
• The ability to spotlight top volunteers and communicate program milestones

This platform is best for professional businesses and healthcare services looking to better track their philanthropic activities.

Pricing

Contact the provider for pricing information.

18. ClickTime

Best for: Nonprofits that need grant-compliant volunteer hour tracking and budget reporting.

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ClickTime makes it easy to track, plan, and manage employee and volunteer time. This solution is great for organizations looking to report on impact for funding purposes.

ClickTime’s volunteer tracking system makes it easy to:

• Track the cost of your program to ensure you’re staying within your budget.
• Stay compliant with grant requirements regarding volunteer hour tracking.
• Understand your program’s impact and clearly convey it to prospective new volunteers, boosting your recruitment efforts.

With ClickTime, you can improve operations and increase team-wide employee productivity through easy-to-use timesheets you can access anywhere, anytime.

Pricing

Pricing starts at $11 per user per month.

19. Bugle Volunteers

Best for: Organizations that want to eliminate paper waivers and clipboards at volunteer events.

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Bugle Volunteers makes volunteer event management a breeze. Say goodbye to clipboards, paper waivers, and manual data entry.

Bugle makes it easy for:

• Volunteers to sign up for events and shifts
• Volunteers to check in and out of events digitally
• Organizations to communicate event outcomes

Organizing volunteer events is hard, but it doesn’t have to be with Bugle Volunteers.

Pricing

Bugle offers a free option. Paid plans start at $24.42 annually per employee.

How to choose the right volunteer management software for your nonprofit

With nearly 20 platforms reviewed above, the choice can feel overwhelming. Use this framework to narrow your options:

1. Define your must-have features. Start with your biggest operational pain point — is it scheduling chaos, poor communication, or missing hours data? Choose a platform that solves your core problem first.
2. Consider your budget. Several strong platforms (POINT, VolunteerMark, YourVolunteers) offer free tiers. Established programs with complex needs may justify the investment in a comprehensive solution like Bloomerang Volunteer.
3. Think about integration. If you already use donor management or CRM software, choose a volunteer platform that integrates directly — or one that includes both functions, like Bloomerang Volunteer or Giveffect.
4. Evaluate ease of use for volunteers, not just staff. A platform that confuses volunteers will reduce sign-ups. Look for mobile apps, self-serve scheduling, and clean, simple interfaces.
5. Plan for growth. Choose software that can scale with your program. Features you don't need today — like advanced reporting or group scheduling — may become essential within a year or two.

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Wrapping up

Volunteer management software provides the tools you need to manage your volunteer program and empower your volunteers to do their best work.

Because there are so many options available on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with choices. We recommend taking your time to define what you need from your volunteer management software before committing to any one solution. Remember, investing in a volunteer management software solution that offers everything you need to succeed—like Bloomerang Volunteer—instead of using multiple, disconnected solutions will serve you better in the long run.

Looking for more tips to help make your volunteer program management a success? Start with these additional resources:

• Volunteer Engagement | Strategies for Smart Organizations. Effective volunteer engagement increases volunteers’ satisfaction with your program. Use these strategies to create a better volunteer experience.
• 9 Proven Volunteer Retention Strategies for Nonprofits. Retaining volunteers for the long term helps build a reliable support system for your organization. Try these best practices to increase volunteer retention.
• The 9 Best Volunteer Apps for Better Engagement in 2024. Volunteer apps help nonprofits stay in touch with supporters between opportunities. Explore nine top options.