Rooted is a mobile app that connects people with local volunteer opportunities through personalized matching, gamification, and social features. By simplifying discovery and fostering community, it empowers both individuals and organizations to create meaningful impact.
Volunteering is often fragmented and hard to track, with students relying on word-of-mouth instead of centralized tools. Organizations also face challenges with outreach, onboarding, and retaining volunteers.
Rooted streamlines volunteering through an intuitive platform where users can find tailored opportunities, track hours, and engage with friends. For organizations, it provides event management, clear role listings, and tools for effective volunteer coordination.
We surveyed 80+ students and professionals and interviewed 50+ organizations. Findings showed 81% discover opportunities via word-of-mouth, and 93% would volunteer more if friends joined. Organizations emphasized the need for clear sign-up processes and integrated scheduling, leading to features like social leaderboards, intelligent matching, and calendar integration.
Building Rooted taught me the importance of designing for connection, not just convenience. I learned how to translate research insights into human-centered features that make volunteering more accessible and social. This project pushed me to think beyond functionality and create a platform that reflects my belief in design’s power to strengthen community.
Created with lots of cookies and caffeine by © Mandy 2025
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