Smart Grids allow administrators to display content in a customizable card-based layout that automatically updates as opportunities are added or changed in the platform.
Unlike manually curated pages, Smart Grids dynamically populate content based on rules you define, giving volunteers an intuitive way to browse, search, and filter opportunities.
Smart Grids are ideal for:
Volunteer Centers
Opportunity Directories
Community Impact Hubs
Employee Engagement Portals
Event and Campaign Listings
Admins can control which opportunities appear, how they are displayed, what filters are available to users, and how visitors interact with the grid.
Adding a Smart Grid to a Page
To add a Smart Grid:
Navigate to Pages.
Open the page you would like to edit.
Drag and drop a Grid component onto the page.
Select Opportunity Smart Grid as the grid type.
Configure your display settings, filters, and rules.
Save and publish your changes.
Once added, the grid will automatically populate with opportunities that match your selected criteria.
Controlling Which Opportunities Appear
By default, Smart Grids can display opportunities associated with a specific parent page or Volunteer Center.
Admins can configure rules to:
Display only child opportunities of a selected parent page
Display all available opportunities
Include or exclude past opportunities
Include or exclude full opportunities
Control future sorting and filtering behavior
This flexibility allows organizations to create highly targeted experiences for different audiences.
Search Functionality
Every Smart Grid includes a built-in search experience that allows visitors to quickly find relevant opportunities.
Volunteers can search by:
Opportunity name
Keywords
Descriptions
Related content
This helps users discover opportunities without manually browsing through large lists.
Adding Front-End Filters
Smart Grids support configurable filtering using Tag Groups.
Admins can choose which tag categories should appear as filters for users.
Examples include:
Impact Areas
Allow volunteers to filter opportunities by cause area, such as:
Education
Environment
Hunger Relief
Community Development
Age Requirements
Allow volunteers to filter opportunities based on participant eligibility, such as:
Youth Friendly
Family Friendly
Adults Only
Multiple filter groups can be added to a single Smart Grid, creating a highly personalized browsing experience for volunteers.
Card Display Controls
Admins can customize the appearance of every card displayed in the Smart Grid.
Show or Hide Logos
Choose whether organization logos or opportunity images appear on cards.
Show or Hide Date & Time Information
Display scheduling information directly on the card or remove it for a cleaner presentation.
Consistent Layout Controls
Display settings apply across all cards in the grid, making it easy to maintain a consistent visual experience.
Interaction Settings
Smart Grids provide multiple options for how users interact with opportunities.
Make Cards Clickable
Allow visitors to click directly into an opportunity.
Lock Card Interactions
Disable clicks while still allowing users to view opportunity information.
Choose Click Behavior
When a user clicks a card, you can choose whether they:
Navigate to the opportunity page
Open a sign-up modal directly from the grid
Control Link Behavior
Choose whether opportunities open:
In the same browser tab
In a new browser tab
Sorting & Visibility Rules
Smart Grids include configurable rules that help control what users see and how content is organized.
Available options include:
Exclude past opportunities
Include past opportunities
Exclude full opportunities
Include full opportunities
Custom sorting preferences
These settings help ensure volunteers always see the most relevant opportunities first.
Location-Based Filtering
Goodworld is expanding Smart Grid functionality with location-aware filtering and sorting options.
Proximity Sorting
Allow volunteers to share their location and automatically sort opportunities based on proximity.
City Filtering
Allow volunteers to filter opportunities by city, making it easier to find opportunities in specific communities.
These enhancements are designed to create a more personalized volunteer discovery experience while helping organizations surface the most relevant opportunities to each user.
Why Use Smart Grids?
Smart Grids transform static opportunity listings into dynamic discovery experiences.
With built-in search, filtering, customizable card displays, and powerful rules, organizations can create modern volunteer centers that help users quickly find and engage with opportunities that matter most to them.
Organizations will gain even more control over how opportunities are surfaced, filtered, and discovered across their engagement experiences.
If you have questions about Smart Grids, schedule a support call with our success team.