Bringing Clarity to Volunteer Scheduling at Save the Chimps

When Care Is the Mission, Volunteers Make It Possible

Save the Chimps is home to chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, the entertainment industry, and the pet trade. Providing lifelong sanctuary and daily care for these animals takes more than compassion. It takes consistency, coordination, and a volunteer community that knows where and how to show up.

For this organization, that’s where SignUpGenius made a difference. 

Monica Naranjo, Manager of Volunteer & Outreach, coordinates nearly 100 volunteers who support everything from food prep and laundry to cleaning habitats, writing chimpanzee biographies, and helping staff large events like Member Day and the annual Chimpathon 16K. With that many moving pieces, the challenge isn’t finding people willing to help. It’s keeping everyone organized without adding friction.

“SignUpGenius is such a wonderfully easy and user-friendly program for both the administrator and, more importantly, the volunteers,” says Naranjo. “We moved to a very expensive scheduling system at one point, and it was complicated and unintuitive. One of my best days here was when we were able to come back to SignUpGenius.”

A Clear View of Who’s Helping and When

SignUpGenius gives the Save the Chimps team a quick, reliable way to see volunteer coverage at a glance. Organizers can confirm who’s signed up for each task, share important notes directly on the sign up, and make updates in real time, without endless back-and-forth or last-minute confusion.

Helpful features for managing volunteer shifts include:

• Automatic reminders that notify volunteers before their shift, reducing no shows and last minute scrambling
• Slot locking to ensure the right number of volunteers are assigned to each role
• Custom notifications that let organizers quickly share updates, instructions, or changes with specific volunteers or groups

Volunteers appreciate that same clarity. Many choose shifts together and enjoy working alongside familiar faces, turning routine tasks into shared experiences. Even folks who are less comfortable with technology can sign up with confidence!

Easy Access, Fewer Barriers

Mobile access has been especially helpful for volunteers who prefer to manage their schedules on the go. With the SignUpGenius app, they can check availability, sign up for opportunities, and stay informed without needing extra reminders or support from staff.

“I would encourage any organization, whether they’re just getting started or have been established for years, to check out SignUpGenius,” says Naranjo. “The value and ease of use truly exceed the cost. If you care about your volunteers, make it easy for them to say yes.”

For Save the Chimps, keeping volunteer coordination simple means more time and energy can go toward what matters most: providing exceptional care to animals who need it, every single day.

When the work is meaningful, the coordination doesn’t have to be complicated.

Organizing support for a cause you care about?