Communicating with volunteers: cool tools

Facebook groups

A place for a group of people to come together to share information, discuss and organise.

• Need to be a Facebook user.
• Can be public, require admin approval or private by invitation only.
• Posts in a group are included in the news feeds of its members.

Facebook Workplace

A collaborative platform run by Facebook that offers the social networks features in an organisational/corporate environment.

• Free for all charities.

Facebook Messenger

Like texting but works with your data plan.

• Need to be a Facebook user.
• Can create groups and have group conversations.
• Can be accessed on computer or phone.

WhatsApp

Free messenger app for smartphones, like texting but works with your data plan.

• Can create groups and have group conversations.
• Can be accessed on a smartphone or computer.

Yammer

A free Microsoft social networking tool for organisations.

• Can be accessed on computer or smartphone (app available).

Slack

Free online collaboration tool that allows direct messaging, group communications, file sharing etc.

• Can be accessed on computer or smartphone (app available).

Google hangouts

Free communication platform developed by Google which includes instant messaging, video chat, text messaging, data phone calls.

• Need a Google account.
• Group video chat for up to 10 people.
• Can be accessed on computer or smartphone (app available).

Asana

Web and mobile application to help teams organise and manage their work.

• Free for basic version (up to 15 team members)

Doodle

Free online scheduling tool.

Skype

Free instant messaging app that provides online text message and video chat services using your data.

• Group video chat for up to 10 people. 

SurveyMonkey

Online survey tool.

• Free plan with limited (but sufficient!) features.

Meetup

Online social networking platform that facilitates offline group meetings in locations around the world.

Mailchimp

e-newsletter tool.

• Free to use for fewer than 2,000 subscribers and 12,000 emails per month.