Agency Managers: Which Need Duration Type Do I Use?

Created by Brittany Crow, Modified on Fri, Jun 28 at 8:41 AM by Brittany Crow

❖ Heads up! This article is intended for Agency Managers. If you're a Site Manager, click here.

When you create Needs to share with your community of volunteers, you're able to establish the duration type for them. There are six duration types to choose from when creating a Need:

Picking the right duration type for your Needs depends on when they occur, if they repeat, and the number of required volunteers!

Duration types and when to use them

The six duration types include:

Duration Type	Description	Examples
Is Ongoing	These are Needs that are ongoing or always needed. You might choose this duration type if you're always looking for volunteers to perform certain roles and tasks. If the Need doesn't have a defined end date, then Is Ongoing is a good fit! These are great for Needs like: Donation-based Needs Help in the office, i.e., clerical work, filing, etc. Note: Needs with this duration type remain available until you manually deactivate it. The Self Check-In tool isn't available to volunteers for Needs with this duration type. ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to change an Ongoing Need to have shifts once you save the Need. Do not use this as a placeholder for Needs with shifts!	Knit blankets for newborn babies in your free time! Help organize our office records. Park cleanup crew wanted! We're looking for Stitchers to sew bereavement gifts for grieving families.
Runs Until	Do you have a Need that is ongoing, but has a defined end date? Then Runs Until is the right fit! Use this one for Needs like: Needs that are ongoing until a defined deadline Food Drives Summer opportunities Holiday-related events Note: A Runs Until Need shows in the volunteer view until it expires or reaches capacity. ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to change a Runs Until Need to have shifts once you save the Need. Do not use this as a placeholder for Needs with shifts!	Help us reach our Book Drive goals by December 31, 2023! Let's reach 1000 coats in our Coat Drive by January 1, 2024!
Happens On	Great for Needs that are scheduled for a specific date. Use this one for Needs like: One-time events that don't require special shifts. Note: A Happens On Need shows in the volunteer view until it expires or reaches capacity. ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to change a Happens On Need to have shifts once you save the Need. Do not use this as a placeholder for Needs with shifts!	We need 20 volunteers to stuff back-to-school backpacks on August 1, 2023! Elves wanted to help Santa on December 20th, 2023!
Multi-date	Got a Need that happens over a set of consecutive dates? Multi-date is great for Needs like: Mission trips that require a group to travel to a location Construction projects that require volunteers over a period of time Weekend-long events, etc. ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to change a Multi-Date Need to have shifts once you save the Need. Do not use this as a placeholder for Needs with shifts!	Our Secret Santa Workshop needs some helpers on December 15th, 16th, and 17th! Chaperones needed for our annual Lock-In, May 7-9th!
Custom Shifts	Do you want to set up Needs with shifts that occur on the same day at different times or on different days at different times? This is the duration type for that! ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to adjust the Need's duration once you choose Custom Shifts.	Tutors needed for 2.5-hour shifts at Hopeful Heart Elementary School's Writing Lab on Tuesday, March 5th from 8 am - 3 pm.
Recurring Shifts	Great for Needs that have shifts occurring at the same time and repeat daily, weekly, or monthly. ⓘ So you know: You will not be able to adjust the Need's duration once you choose Recurring Shifts.	Happy Paws and Claws needs Dog Walkers on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 8 am - 12 pm.