Needs and Claims FAQ — NeedBridge Documentation

This FAQ covers common questions about needs (requests for help), how to claim them, and what the different statuses mean in NeedBridge.

What is a need?

In NeedBridge, a need is a request for help that your organization posts--for example grocery help, transportation, or housing support. Case workers create needs; volunteers can see and claim them. Your organization may use a different word for this (e.g. Request or Opportunity); the label you see in the app is the one your organization chose.

See also: Needs Management

How do I claim a need?

Open the need's page and use the button to claim it (often labeled Claim or I'll help). You may be asked to enter your name, email, and phone. Submit the form; the case worker will be notified and you can complete the need together.

What do available, claimed, and completed mean?

Available: The need is open and waiting for someone to claim it.
Claimed: A volunteer has said they'll help; the need is in progress.
Completed: The need has been fulfilled and is done.

Your organization may use slightly different labels; check the status shown in your app.

See also: Needs Management

Can more than one person claim the same need?

It depends on how your organization set up the need. Some needs allow one volunteer per need; others allow multiple volunteers (e.g. for partial claiming or group tasks). If you don't see a claim button or get a message that the need is already fully claimed, that need isn't accepting more claims. You can browse other available needs.

See also: Needs Management

I see "This email is already subscribed to notifications" when claiming. What does that mean?

That message means the email you entered is already signed up to receive need notifications for this organization. You can still submit the claim form to respond to this need. You don't need to subscribe again--just complete the rest of the form and submit. If you see an error instead, try again or contact support.

See also: Needs Management

Why can't I claim a need?

Common reasons: the need may already be fully claimed, it may be closed or completed, or your account may not have access to that organization or area. If you're sure the need is still open and you have access, try refreshing the page and submitting again. If it still doesn't work, contact support.

Where do I see needs I've claimed?

After you claim a need, you'll usually see a confirmation and get an email. To see your claimed needs and their status, use your dashboard or the link in the confirmation email. Case workers and admins see claimed needs in the admin needs list.

How do I create a need as a case worker?

Go to your admin area and open Create need (or Needs > New). Enter a clear title and description, choose the area and category, set urgency or deadline if needed, and publish. Once it's published, volunteers in that area can see and claim it. Be specific about what's needed and where so volunteers can respond quickly.