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Connect Form

Need Connect helps identify people with needs and those who can provide assistance. Approved Providers can claim and complete needs on the Connect Board. See the Quick Start for how to get started.

The Connect Form is available to anyone. Authentication is optional but makes it easier and faster to complete the form. People can complete the Connect Form multiple times, if needed. The system prevents creating duplicate needs, if possible. A duplicate is defined as a need that matches another incomplete need for the same User, Need Type, and Need Campaign.

The Connect Form provides a list of defined Need Types, which are set up in MinistryPlatform.

Note: Want to customize your Need Connect form? Check out Filtering Connect Form to make sure your form fits your church.
The Connect Form walks the person through this process:
  1. Either request help or provide help.
  2. Provide contact information.
  3. Verify the request (for unauthenticated users).

After that, the appropriate Platformrecords are created and confirmation emails are sent.

Request Help

Individuals can request assistance with a need.

  1. Open Need Connect.
  2. On the Connect Form, click I NEED Help.
  3. Select one or more items in the list that you need help with. Or, if the list does not have what you need and the option is available, select Other and enter a description for your request.
  4. Click Next, then continue to Provide Contact Information.

Provide Help

Individuals can offer to help with a need.

  1. Open Need Connect.
  2. Click I CAN Help.
  3. Select one or more items in the list that you can provide help with. Or, if the list does not have what you need and the option is available, select Other and enter a description for what you can offer.
  4. Click Next, then continue to Provide Contact Information.

Provide Contact Information

Individuals who make a request must provide contact information so the church can contact them about their request.

  1. If you log in and the information is known, then the First Name, Last Name, Email, and Phone Number automatically fill in. Otherwise, enter this information.
  2. If you're requesting help, enter the Postal Code so your need can be addressed accordingly.
  3. Select the I understand... check box to acknowledge that your contact information will only be shared with the assigned provider for the purpose of helping you with your need.
  4. Click Submit.

Verify Your Need Request

If you did not log in to complete the Connect Form, a Requester Confirmation or Provider Confirmation email is sent to the provided email address with a unique, encrypted verification link and a confirmation message that states that further action is required. The email validation link is live for 24 hours. Click the link to open Need Connect and view the confirmation message.

If you logged in to complete the Connect Form, this step is skipped.

Confirmation Emails

Unauthenticated users who requested help ("requesters") receive a Requester Confirmation email that includes the link to verify their Connect Form submission.

Unauthenticated users who offered to help ("providers") receive a Provider Confirmation email that includes the link to verify their Connect Form submission.

Admins, see Need Connect Email Templates for details on the automated confirmation emails.

Need Records in the Platform

Important: Unauthenticated form submissions do not create records in the Platform until the person clicks the verification link in their email. This protects your database and ensures the requesters are real people.
Requests for help create:
  • A new Need record per selected Need Type.
Offers to provide help create:
  • A new Provider record, if needed.
  • A new Need Type Provider record per selected Need Type.
Note: These items are not duplicated if there are multiple form submissions.
For the Requester or the Provider:
  • If a matched or authenticated user provides previously missing data (for example, their phone number), this new information saves to their existing Contact record. You cannot update existing data, which is presented as read-only.
  • If there is no match for the user's first name, last name, and contact information (such as email or phone), the Contact and Household records are created with the provided information. You can refer to the matching diagram for Default Contact, but the Default Contact is not used.

​​Admins, see Need Management for more on promoting and managing needs.