4. Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q1. What are “other prohibited activities” or projects that should not be posted on JustServe.org?

Prohibited activities for JustServe projects include:

1. Attempting to influence legislation.

2. Organizing or engaging in protests, petitions, boycotts, or strikes.

3. Assisting, promoting, or deterring union organizing.

4. Impairing existing contracts for services or collective bargaining agreements.

5. Engaging in partisan political activities or other activities designed to influence the outcome of an election to any public office.

6. Participating in or endorsing events or activities that are likely to include advocacy for or against political parties, political platforms, political candidates, proposed legislation, or elected officials.

7. Engaging in religious instruction, conducting worship services, providing instruction as part of a program that includes mandatory religious instruction or worship, or engaging in any form of religious proselytization.

8. Providing a direct benefit to:

   • A business organized for profit.

   • A labor union.

   • A partisan political organization.

   • A nonprofit organization that fails to comply with the restrictions contained in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 related to engaging in political activities or a substantial amount of lobbying.

9. Conducting a voter registration drive or raising funds for voter registration drives.

Q2. What projects are appropriate for Church-coordinated volunteers (whether missionaries or Church groups)?

Not all projects posted on JustServe.org may be appropriate for Church-coordinated volunteers or families. To ensure that opportunities are suitable, read the project description carefully before volunteering.

Church-coordinated volunteers should not undertake projects that require them to work one-on-one with children or vulnerable adults, to operate vehicles or equipment that require training, to handle cash, or to render a professional opinion unless the faith, nonprofit, community, or government organization assumes responsibility for their service. (Priesthood and Relief Society leaders should comply with all other applicable policies relating to Church activities. Please see Handbook 2: Administering the Church [2010], chapter 13.)

Q3. What about liability insurance for those who volunteer through JustServe.org?

The Church does not provide liability insurance for volunteers. Some other volunteer organizations may. Please check with the organization for whom you are providing services. (See Handbook 2, 13.6.9.)

Q4. Will the Church pay for background checks or permits for volunteers?

No. Generally, volunteers or the organizations requiring background checks or permits pay for this documentation. As a courtesy, organizations requiring background checks or permits should be made aware that LDS missionary volunteers do not have funds for this purpose and have frequent turnover.

Q5. May we post priesthood and Relief Society assignments?

JustServe.org is a community resource and should not be used to post projects that should be assigned under the direction of the priesthood or Relief Society (facility cleaning, welfare assignments, disaster relief assignments, etc.). A primary objective of JustServe is to encourage service in the facilities of other faith-based, nonprofit, and community organizations.

Q6. May we post Eagle Scout projects?

Eagle Scout projects should not be posted, although JustServe.org is a good place to find prospective Eagle Scout projects.

Q7. Should JustServe participants wear Mormon Helping Hands vests?

No. In order to align with the spirit and objectives of JustServe, members should not wear Mormon Helping Hands, JustServe, or Church or mission branded vests, uniforms, or clothing during their regular community service. In emergencies or natural disasters, officials may require volunteers to wear identification vests, uniforms, or clothing.

Q8. What are some things to watch out for?

JustServe should not be introduced to ward members until there are at least 15–20 projects in or near your stake boundaries listed on JustServe.org. Members may become discouraged if they go to the website and find few or no opportunities applicable to their circumstances and interests.

Be careful not to overwhelm members with JustServe. This initiative and website are designed to help parents and leaders find opportunities to provide service and teach their families, quorums, Relief Societies, and classes to serve. It is a resource to help add a service component to many types of existing teaching activities.

While we do not give assignments to participate in JustServe, if there is a project of particular merit, or if a ward, quorum, or class chooses to adopt a project for service, invitations, announcements, and bulletins may be used to make members aware of the opportunity.

JustServe.org

Q9. Who posts the service projects on the JustServe.org website?

The stake chairman of the JustServe committee may designate any or all members of the committee to post projects. They must be given basic administrator status on the website by the coordinating council director of public affairs or JustServe specialist.

Faith-based, nonprofit, community, and government organizations may also be given authorization by the coordinating council director of public affairs or specialist to post their own projects on the website.

Anyone who has a project proposal that meets the JustServe general guidelines may submit a proposal through the website for consideration by the local stake JustServe committee.

Q10. How is an organization authorized to post projects?

Faith-based, nonprofit, community, or government organizations with a history of using volunteers or posting projects that comply with JustServe general guidelines (see page 3, “Successful Ways to Approach Outside Organizations”) may be given basic administrative rights to post projects to JustServe.org without first obtaining approval from the JustServe committee. Coordinating Council JustServe specialists or directors of public affairs have administrative rights to add administrators to the website. Nonprofit organizations who wish to post projects must verify their nonprofit status, for example, by providing an IRS determination letter in the U.S. before they receive administrative rights to post projects directly to the website.

Q11. Once an organization receives authorization to post its own projects on the website, are those projects still approved by the stake JustServe committee?

No, because we trust that those organizations will post projects that fit the JustServe guidelines. However, the Church, area, or coordinating council specialists have the ability to delete a nonconforming project, if necessary.

Q12. Many projects require you to serve in a physical location. What about projects involving the gathering of supplies or materials for an organization? Can those be posted on JustServe.org?

Any project that meets the JustServe guidelines can be posted on the website. This could include projects such as a food drive, collecting coats, making blankets for a hospital, and so forth.

Q13. What about duplication? Is it a problem if service projects are listed both on JustServe.org and another website?

This is not a problem because more exposure for the projects to prospective volunteers is a positive thing. You may want to provide a link to the other organization’s website on the JustServe site.

Q14. Can we use JustServe.org to respond to an emergency or natural disaster?

Yes. Community requests for volunteers may be posted on JustServe after an emergency or natural disaster. Everyone in the community may then be directed to JustServe.org to find ways to help. Priesthood-directed relief assignments should not be posted on JustServe.org (see Q5).

Q15. Can a couple who shares an email address both register using that address?

No, each person who registers on JustServe.org needs a unique email address.

Projects

Q16. Will service organizations be disappointed if no volunteers show up?

Manage the expectations of organizations. Never make a commitment for the number of volunteers who may sign up for a posted opportunity.

Q17. Are there suggestions for helping stake committees identify service opportunities?

Cities and counties usually need help with their parks and recreation departments, community centers, and senior centers. Identify the faith-based organizations, and see if there are ways we might help in their local charitable ministries.

United Way hosts a website that identifies organizations that provide many services to assist those in need. To find organizations in your area, simply go to the internet and search “211” and your state, county, or city name. Most local governmental entities also maintain websites that identify charitable organizations, as do local food banks.

Q18. What if projects cross stake boundaries?

If a project crosses stake boundaries, the stakes should decide at the coordinating council level which stake will be the liaison with the service organization.

Q19. How can someone volunteer an entire group to participate in a service project?

If an organization has permitted groups to volunteer, you may sign up your group (for example, a Scout troop, quorum, or class) on JustServe.org or contact the sponsoring organization.

Q20. Do I have to sign up for a project within my stake boundaries?

No, you may volunteer for any project on the website.

Q21. How do annual Church service projects and JustServe complement each other?

Large annual service projects can meet local priesthood objectives. Local committees should work with their priesthood leaders to determine what works best for their areas. This may include asking Church members to give service to JustServe projects on a specific date or time period in support of a larger state or Church area initiative.

Q22. How can we overcome the reluctance of some organizations or churches to work with us?

Begin with organizations with which you already have a relationship. Then build on the success of those relationships as you reach out to other organizations. Encourage JustServe participating organizations to share their successful experiences with others. Emphasize that we want to help them with their projects.

Q23. Will missionaries register for projects on JustServe.org?

In missions where missionaries have electronic tablets, they may download the JustServe app, register, and use the app to find and volunteer for projects near them. In missions without tablets, the mission JustServe specialist, coordinating with stake JustServe committees, may invite missionaries to participate in appropriate community service projects.

Other

Q24. How can we continue to remind each other to serve and use JustServe.org as a resource for meaningful service?

Sharing positive stories about service is vital to the success of JustServe. The website is a good place to share success stories, but it helps to publish and share good experiences and ideas in other ways. Wards may place a short description of member JustServe experiences in the sacrament meeting program. Social media is another way to share service experiences. Priesthood leaders may share stories and experiences in leadership meetings. There are many ways to share the joy of Christlike service.

Q25. Should we send out press releases on JustServe projects?

No. Any contact with the media should come through the sponsoring organization.

Q26. How can we share photos from JustServe projects?

Please contribute these photos through the create.lds.org website: http://www.lds.org/topics/service/create/photos/get-involved.

Please tag your photo with the phrase “JustServe.” In the description section, please include “JustServe” again, along with any essential details about the project or location. You may also share experiences and pictures on the JustServe.org Facebook page.