Streamlining Volunteer Management at the University of Florida with Better Impact

Researchers in a crop field monitor soil moisture and irrigation, one using a tablet with a probe and the other recording notes on a clipboard.

Industry

Master Gardeners

Challenge

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program previously relied on a paper-based system and later a custom-built solution that was discontinued in 2019. The system lacked modern functionality, including slow reporting, no built-in texting, lack of a mobile app, incomplete volunteer profiles, no qualification tracking, and no integrated application process.

Results

Since implementing Better Impact, the University of Florida's IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency has seen significant improvements. Reporting has become faster and more visual, targeted communications are now effortless, administrative time has been drastically reduced, and dashboards provide instant insights into volunteer activities. The transition allowed the team to focus more on volunteer engagement and development.

Key Product

Better Impact

Reports

time cut in half

Updates

now take minutes

Admin

TIME REDUCED

We didn't just want something that met our current needs—we wanted a system we could grow into. Better Impact helped us see what was possible, not just what we knew to ask for. And I really felt like they cared about our success. They're always available and always helpful.

Wendy Wilber

Statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator

Ultimately, what I love most is the attitude of 'we're here to help.' Whether it's resources, hands-on assistance, or fast response times, Better Impact delivers. The system is intuitive, robust, and secure. About a year after we left the old system, it had a major data breach, so the timing was perfect. I feel like we made the right move, and I look forward to working with Better Impact for many years.

Wendy Wilber

Statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator

Scientist in lab coat examines citrus leaf samples under a microscope, with petri dishes and DNA data on a nearby laptop in a clean, organized lab.

About the University of Florida

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is dedicated to advancing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and life sciences. The Center for Land Use Efficiency within UF/IFAS supports sustainable land use and stewardship programs across Florida.

The Challenge

The Florida Master Gardener Volunteer program was grappling with an outdated volunteer management system. Initially relying on a paper-based system and later a custom-built solution that was discontinued in 2019, they faced numerous challenges. The existing system was slow in reporting, lacked built-in texting, had no mobile app, offered incomplete volunteer profiles, lacked qualification tracking, and had no integrated application process. This made volunteer coordination cumbersome and time-consuming.

The Solution

In search of a more efficient solution, the University of Florida's IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency discovered Better Impact’s Volunteer Impact software. They evaluated other solutions but were particularly impressed by Better Impact’s user-friendly features and robust capabilities. Wendy Wilber, the Statewide Master Gardener Volunteer Coordinator, noted, 'We didn't just want something that met our current needs—we wanted a system we could grow into. Better Impact helped us see what was possible, not just what we knew to ask for. And I really felt like they cared about our success. They're always available and always helpful.' The team transitioned to using Volunteer Impact, which simplified volunteer coordination, enhanced engagement, and provided comprehensive reporting tools.

The Results

After implementing Better Impact, the University of Florida's IFAS Center for Land Use Efficiency experienced significant improvements. Reporting became faster and more visual, targeted communications became effortless, and administrative time was drastically reduced. Dashboards now provide instant insights into volunteer activities, allowing the team to focus more on volunteer engagement and development. Wendy Wilber shared, 'Ultimately, what I love most is the attitude of 'we're here to help.' Whether it's resources, hands-on assistance, or fast response times, Better Impact delivers. The system is intuitive, robust, and secure. About a year after we left the old system, it had a major data breach, so the timing was perfect. I feel like we made the right move, and I look forward to working with Better Impact for many years.' With Better Impact, the program now manages over 4,000 volunteers across 67 counties, reaching 500,000 residents annually, all while maintaining a subscriber base of 8,000.