Volaby lets admins and managers send email or SMS messages directly to volunteers from their profile. Use this for one-on-one follow-ups, quick reminders, or reaching a small group. You can also send from the Communicate button on The Communications Page.
Sending an email
Navigate to the volunteer's profile in Volunteer Database, or click their name anywhere in Volaby
Click Contact
Select Email
Enter a Subject and compose your message using the rich text editor
Optionally change the Reply to address (defaults to your organisation's reply address)
Click Send
You can add more recipients by clicking Add more and selecting additional volunteers.
Sending an SMS
SMS is available when your organisation has SMS enabled.
Navigate to the volunteer's profile in Volunteer Database, or click their name anywhere in Volaby
Click Contact
Select SMS
Choose a Sender name (your organisation name, or your name + organisation)
Turn on Allow replies if you want the volunteer to be able to reply (see below)
Compose your message (up to 1,600 characters)
Review the cost estimate displayed below the message
Click Send
SMS pricing is AU$0.07 per message unit for Australian numbers and AU$0.09 for international numbers. A single message fits 160 characters, or 70 if it includes emoji or other special characters. Longer messages are split into units of 153 characters (67 with special characters).
Allowing replies
With Allow replies turned on, the SMS is sent from a number volunteers can reply to, instead of your organisation's sender name. Replies appear in the Inbox on The Communications Page, and you'll get an email when one arrives. With it off, the message is sent from your sender name and can't receive replies.
Allow replies is available on plans with Advanced Communications.
Multiple recipients
Both email and SMS support multiple recipients. Add volunteers using the Add more button. When sending to more than 10 recipients, Volaby will suggest using Bulletins for more efficient bulk communication.
Permissions
Only Admins and Managers can send ad-hoc communications.
Related guides
Curating Bulletins — for communicating with larger groups
Customising Communications — configuring organisation-wide communication settings
The Communications Page — for SMS replies and everything sent across your organisation