How Save the Chimps Simplifies Volunteer Scheduling
Posted by Trey Mosier
95
Volunteers Coordinated
2
Signature Annual Events Staffed
6+
Volunteer Task Categories Managed
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. The Florida sanctuary's mission is to give these animals lifelong care and a safe place to live out their lives.
That mission depends on people. , coordinates nearly 100 volunteers who support everything from food prep and laundry to cleaning habitats and writing chimpanzee biographies. Volunteers also staff two of the sanctuary's biggest events each year: Member Day and the Chimpathon 16K.
Monica Naranjo, Manager of Volunteer & Outreach
With that many moving pieces, the challenge isn't finding people willing to help. It's keeping everyone organized without adding friction.
A System That Made Simple Things Hard
Save the Chimps once moved to a more expensive volunteer scheduling platform, expecting more capability for the higher cost. Instead, the team got the opposite. The new system was complicated for staff to run and confusing for volunteers to use, which meant more time spent untangling the schedule and less time spent on animal care.
"We moved to a very expensive scheduling system at one point, and it was complicated and unintuitive," Naranjo says. Eventually, the team made the call to go back to what had worked before.
A Clear View of Who's Helping and When
Returning to SignUpGenius gave the team back a fast, reliable way to see volunteer coverage at a glance. Organizers can confirm who's signed up for each task, share notes directly on the sign up, and make updates in real time, without endless back and forth.
A few features do most of the work:
Automatic reminders that notify volunteers before their shift, cutting down on no-shows and last-minute scrambling
Slot locking, so the right number of volunteers land on each role
Custom notifications, so organizers can share updates or changes with specific volunteers or groups
Naranjo says the platform works for staff and volunteers alike. "SignUpGenius is such a wonderfully easy and user-friendly program for both the administrator and, more importantly, the volunteers," she says. "One of my best days here was when we were able to come back to SignUpGenius."
Mobile access has mattered too. Volunteers can easily check availability, sign up for shifts, and stay informed on the go, without needing extra reminders or support from staff. Many choose shifts together and work alongside familiar faces, turning routine tasks into something more social. Even volunteers who aren't comfortable with technology can sign up with confidence.
More Time for What Matters
With scheduling handled, the Save the Chimps team spends less time chasing sign-ups and more time on the animals in their care. Nearly 100 volunteers stay organized across daily tasks and two major annual events, and staff can trust the schedule instead of managing it by hand.
"The value and ease of use truly exceed the cost," Naranjo says. "If you care about your volunteers, make it easy for them to say yes."
Genius Tip
Running volunteers through recurring care tasks and one-off events? Use custom notifications to keep instructions specific to each shift, and let automatic reminders handle the follow-up.
Advice From a Volunteer Manager Who's Tried the Alternative
Naranjo has run volunteer scheduling on more than one platform, which makes her recommendation carry some weight. "I would encourage any organization, whether they're just getting started or have been established for years, to check out SignUpGenius," she says.
Her advice comes down to one idea: make it easy to say yes. For a sanctuary running on nearly 100 volunteers and two major annual events, that ease is what keeps the schedule, and the care, running without interruption.
Organizing Support for a Cause You Care About?
See how SignUpGenius can simplify volunteer coordination for your organization.
I just had to mention how in love I am with SignUpGenius! I recently volunteered to be the parent coordinator for my daughter's tennis team. I just do not have the time to do everything via phone and email. Oh my gosh, you have made it so easy! Thank you, thank you.
Posted by Trey Mosier
