Anyone can visit HelpRoot.com and submit a need. Needs are reviewed by multiple organizations (called "Sponsors"), but can be sponsored by only one organization. The sponsoring organization works to validate the need, organize the efforts, gather a team of volunteers, and then fulfill the need. Interested volunteers can offer their help by signing up for projects available on HelpRoot and other HelpRoot partner websites. The sponsoring organization can these choose whether or not to assign the volunteer.
Needs
A need can be defined as anything that helps another person or community who cannot themselves fulfill that need. A need is not meant to be used by a business or otherwise commercial entity to receive benefit for something that generally costs the business financially.
Is there a cost to post a need?
No. Submitting a need at HelpRoot.com is free.
Is personal information publicly posted when a need is submitted?
No. When a need is posted, contact information is submitted only to sponsoring organizations. Interested organizations may request more information from the person or organization that submitted the need, but that information is for use by the sponsoring organization and is not posted by HelpRoot.
Once a need is submitted, how soon can volunteers sign up to help?
A need must be sponsored before volunteers can offer their help. If a need is not sponsored, it will go unfulfilled. Needs that are not sponsored cannot be viewed on HelpRoot. Volunteers should use their own judgement as to whether or not they want to help with any sponsored need.
Volunteers
A volunteer is an individual that is offering their time, abilities or other resources to help fulfill a need for someone else. The volunteer works with the Sponsor and often times other volunteers as a team. A volunteer must create a free account on the HelpRoot.com website or the website of a sponsoring organization.
As a volunteer, is personal information required?
When you become a member of the HelpRoot website, certain personal information is required. This information is used to help sponsoring organizations contact you and match your skills and time available to opportunities for volunteering. You have full control over your member account and can choose what information is otherwise publicly available.
Can volunteers sign up for any need?
Volunteers that offer help for any need are screened by the Sponsor of the project. They may be asked to provide verification for projects - especially those that require a license, certification, special skills or affiliation.
How should volunteers choose needs to offer help with?
Volunteers should use their own judgement as to whether or not they want to help with any sponsored need. They are also encouraged to contact the sponsor of a need to verify details and ask specific questions. It's especially rewarding when a volunteer feels a special connection with the work they are doing and the people they are working with.
Sponsors
A sponsor is an organization or entity that has the professional capability to research, organize and lead an effort to fulfill a need. A Sponsor can be a non-profit, a church, a business or other entity such as a charity or civic association. Being a sponsor on HelpRoot requires that the organization create and maintain an account (
pricing information here) with HelpRoot (Axletree Media, Inc.).
Is there a cost to be a Sponsor?
Yes. Organizations that wish to sponsor needs must register an account with HelpRoot (Axletree Media, Inc.) and pay a monthly fee to continue to sponsor needs. Owners of websites managed by the
E-zekiel.com,
Connect website management platform, and other HelpRoot website partners can also sponsor needs.
Can a need be submitted and sponsored by the same entity?
Yes. For example, a non-profit generally knows of specific needs and also works in many areas to be sure those needs are fulfilled. Volunteers should use their own judgement as to whether or not they want to help with any sponsored need.
Can a need only be posted on the Sponsor's website?
Yes. A need can be published only on a sponsoring organization's website without being posted on HelpRoot.
Can volunteer opportunities and projects be password-protected?
Yes. For example, a church using HelpRoot could post internal volunteer positions (such as nursery workers) on their website and require members to log in before they could see or sign up to help.
Technical
What's required to use HelpRoot?
To view projects on HelpRoot, you must have any Internet enabled computer or mobile device, such as an iPhone.
To post a need or volunteer on HelpRoot, you must have an Internet enabled computer or mobile device, such as an iPhone.
To sponsor needs, you must have an Internet enabled computer with Internet Explorer 5.5+ (Windows), Firefox 2+ (Mac or Windows), or Safari 3+ (Mac or Windows).
