Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about joining Impact Lynk, logging community service hours, posting volunteer events, and managing your school's chapter program.
Getting Started
- What is Impact Lynk?
- Impact Lynk is a teen-led service network that connects high school students with nonprofits and volunteer opportunities. Students log community service hours, schools verify participation, and nonprofits post and manage events — all in one platform.
- Who can join Impact Lynk?
- Impact Lynk is open to high school students, school advisors (teachers and administrators who oversee service programs), and nonprofit organizations looking to engage teen volunteers. Students must join through a chapter at their school.
- How do I sign up?
- Visit the sign-up page and choose your role: student, school advisor, or nonprofit. Students will need their school's unique chapter code to join — ask your school advisor or check the Find page to locate your chapter.
- Is Impact Lynk free to use?
- Yes. Impact Lynk is free for students and schools. Nonprofit partners can contact us to discuss partnership options.
For Students
- How do I find my school's chapter code?
- Ask your school's service program advisor or use the Find page to search for your school. Your chapter code is unique to your school and lets you join the right chapter.
- How do I log community service hours?
- Once you're signed in and joined to your chapter, navigate to your student dashboard and submit an hour log. Include the event, date, number of hours, and any supporting information. Your school advisor will review and approve the submission.
- Can I log hours for events outside of Impact Lynk?
- Yes. Students can log hours for any qualifying community service activity, not only events posted on the platform. Your school advisor sets the rules for what counts toward your chapter's requirements.
- How do I use Impact Lynk hours for college applications or transcripts?
- Your school advisor can export a complete record of your approved service hours directly from Impact Lynk. This official log can be attached to college applications, scholarship forms, or academic transcripts at your advisor's discretion.
- What happens if a photo verification is rejected?
- Photo submissions are reviewed by your school advisor according to your chapter's standards. If a submission is rejected, you will receive a notification and can resubmit with the requested changes.
For Schools
- How does my school start a chapter?
- Contact the Impact Lynk team through our contact page or email us directly. We will walk your school advisor through setup, including creating your chapter code, onboarding students, and configuring your service-hour requirements.
- Can multiple teachers or advisors manage the same chapter?
- Yes. Multi-advisor chapters are supported. Each advisor can review hour submissions, manage students, and export records independently.
- How do we export student service records?
- School advisors can download a complete export of all approved student hours from the school dashboard at any time. Exports are formatted for easy submission to transcript offices, college counselors, or district administrators.
- Does Impact Lynk work for schools with multiple campuses?
- Yes. Multi-school chapters are supported. Contact us when setting up your chapter and we will configure the right structure for your district or multi-campus program.
For Nonprofits
- How do nonprofits partner with Impact Lynk?
- Nonprofit partners apply to join the network through the sign-up flow or by contacting us directly. Once approved, you can post volunteer events, receive registrations from students in partnered chapters, and track participation.
- What kinds of volunteer events can we post?
- Any community service event suitable for high school students — from one-time service days to recurring commitments. Events should specify date, time, location, hours offered, and any requirements for volunteers.
- Can we see which students have signed up for our events?
- Yes. The nonprofit dashboard shows registrations for each event, including student names from partnered chapters. This gives you a real-time view of expected volunteer turnout.
- How do we connect with a specific Impact Lynk chapter?
- Nonprofit events are visible to all partnered chapters in your area. You can also contact us to request a direct partnership with a specific chapter or school.
Platform & Privacy
- How does Impact Lynk protect student data?
- Impact Lynk is designed with student privacy as a core requirement. Student profiles are not publicly visible. Hour logs and service records are only accessible to the student and their school advisor. See our Privacy & Safety page for full details.
- What photo standards does Impact Lynk use for hour verification?
- Photos submitted for hour verification must clearly show the student at the service location. Faces should be identifiable but may be obscured per your chapter's consent policies. Photos are stored securely and are only visible to school advisors reviewing the submission.
- Can parents or guardians access a student's service record?
- Currently, service records are accessible to the student and their school advisor. Parents seeking official records should request them through the school's standard transcript process.