The Galaxy Link is a technology that enables two or more Connect platforms to share data with each other. Platforms can choose to share (or not share) the following types of data:
- Content: agencies, needs, initiatives, events, advanced-event needs, and users
- Response Content: agency fans, event RSVPS, and need responses
- Reporting Data: information that shows up only in the Reports area
The Galaxy Link can be used for a variety of sharing relationships, including:
- A state site and local sites with in the state
- A volunteer center and various local nonprofits
- A United Way and local corporations
- A volunteer center and local campuses
As long as both parties have Connect software, and as long as both parties agree about the nature of the sharing relationship, they can share information so that volunteers have a variety of opportunities and events that are catered to their needs and preferred causes.
For more detailed information on how the Galaxy Link is used, see the following articles:
- Sharing Your Site's Content Using the Galaxy Link - Geared toward sites that are sharing content (agencies, needs, and events) with another site, this article explains what information is shared.
- Viewing and Managing Another Site's Response Content - Also geared toward sites that are sharing content, this article shows how the site manager can view and manage the response content (agency fans and need and event responses) coming in from another site.
- For Sites Receiving Content from Another Site - Geared toward the site receiving content, this article explains how shared content will look on that site and how the site manager can access and view shared data. It also explains the sharing of response content from the receiving site manager's perspective.
- Sharing Initiatives with the Galaxy Link - This article is for both the sharing and receiving sites and explains what can and cannot be shared in initiative-sharing between sites.
- The Galaxy Link for Agency Managers - This article shows how the Galaxy Link applies to agency managers.
- The Galaxy Link for Volunteers - This article shows how volunteers experience the Galaxy Link.
How to Turn On the Galaxy Link
If you wish to share data with another Connect platform, contact Galaxy Digital's Support Team. You and all other sites in question will be asked to provide documentation (such as a data-sharing agreement) confirming that all parties agree to the data-sharing relationship.
Once we have received this documentation, one of our Customer Care agents will turn on the connection for you.
Reports
If your site aggregates reporting data for other sites, your reports will have multiple sections, one for each site. In addition, you will have access to Connection Report data, located in the Reports area of your manager panel.
A site that is set up to aggregate reporting data for other sites will also have access to the other sites' users, both in their user-management area (Volunteerism > Users) and in any reports where volunteer data appears (such as "Top 50 Visitors" and "Details of Individual Hours" reports).
Note: It does not matter if this site is a hub or a portal (as in the setup for certain state sites), where the state site is the "portal" receiving data from the local sites, which serve as the "hubs."