Welcome to CircleBuilder!
Use the table of topics below to assist you with using the site.
If you still have questions, feel free to contact us.
Getting Started
Logging in with CircleBuilder Connect
Editing your profile and choosing your interests
Adding a new group within your organization
Inviting others to join your group
General Procedures
Setting up an event
Adding a comment to an event
Adding a prayer request / praise
Adding a document
Viewing a document
Adding a media file
Making online donations
Communications
Sending a message to a group member
Sending a message to all members of a group
Adding a blog post
Adding video clips to your blog post
Commenting on a blog post
Editing a blog you’ve posted
Deleting a blog you’ve posted
Creating a discussion topic
Adding video clips to your discussion
Commenting on a discussion topic
Editing a discussion topic you’ve posted
Deleting a discussion topic you’ve posted
Logging in with CircleBuilder Connect
You can sign into CircleBuilder using your log-in info from another service, such as:
- MySpace
- Yahoo
- AOL
To sign in using CircleBuilder Connect the first time:
1. Click on the logo of the service you use.
2. A second window will open where you will be asked to verify your log-in information.
3. Review your profile information making changes as necessary. When finished, click the “Sign Up” button.
4. You will be logged on to CircleBuilder and taken to the Account Settings page. Modify your personal settings, or click “Home” in the right side panel to begin using the site.
To sign in using CircleBuilder Connect subsequent times:
1. Click on the logo of the service you used to sign up initially. It will be the first icon in the group and have a star on it.
2. A logged-in confirmation window will pop up briefly and then you will be taken to your home page.
Editing your profile and choosing your interests
Your profile contains your photo, interests and information about you. You can make your profile private here as well.
To edit your profile:
1. Click on “My Profile” in the top navigation menu.
2. On the left side of the personal info area, click “Edit Profile”.
3. Scroll down and edit sections as desired.
4. When finished, click the “Update” button.
Note: Choosing at least one interest from the list provided will allow you to receive a weekly custom email with events and information personalized to your specific interest.
Adding a new group within your organization
1. Click on “Groups” in the top navigation menu.
2. Click the "Create a group" button.
3. Fill out the new group information including group name, description, interests, address, photo/logo and notification settings.
4. At the bottom of the form choose the Parent Group. This is the group under which your new group will be organized.
5. Click the “Create” button.
Depending on your organization's moderation settings, your new group may need to be approved by a moderator.
Inviting others to join your group
1. Click on “Groups” in the top navigation menu.
2. Click on the name of the group to which you’d like to invite others.
3. On the left side of the organization info area, click “Invite”.
4. Type in the email address/es for the person or people you’d like to invite and an optional message.
5. When finished, click the "Invite" button.
1. Click on “Events” in the top navigation menu
or in the right side menu.
2. Click on "Create an event".
3. Select the group to which the event applies.
Note: Only groups to which you are a member will be shown in the list.
4. Fill out the event details. Event Name and at least one Interest are required.
When finished, click the “Create” button.
Begin at the home page by clicking on the group’s name in the top navigation menu.
Depending on which group has listed the event, you will follow one of these two processes:
If the event is listed under the main group:
1. Scroll down to the "Upcoming Events" area.
2. Locate the event on which you'd like to comment and click on the event name.
3. Type your text into the "Post a Comment" box.
4. When finished, click the "Post" button.
If the event is listed under a sub-group:
1. Scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area and click on the name of the group that is holding the event.
2. In the "Upcoming Events" area, locate the event on which you’d like to comment and click on the event name.
3. Type your text into the "Post a Comment" box.
4. When finished, click the "Post" button.
Depending on moderation rules, your comment may post immediately. If not, the moderator will need to approve it.
Adding a prayer request / praise
You can add “interactive” prayer requests and praise. Once a request is approved (if applicable) and posted, members can add comments.
To add a prayer request / praise:
1. Click on “Prayer Requests” in the right side navigation.
2. Click the “Add prayer request” button.
3. Select whether your submission is to be a prayer request or praise.
4. Type a brief name into the “Title” box.
5. Type the content of your prayer request or praise into the “Details” box. You may use the optional formatting tools to customize your text and layout, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
6. Select the Group under which your prayer request / praise should be listed.
7. Optional - To add an attachment, click the “Browse” button to locate the file on your computer. Once you have located the file, double-click on it to select it. You may repeat this process multiple times.
To remove an attachment, click the blue “X”.
8. Choose the desired privacy level:
- visible to everyone
- visible to only logged-in members, or
- visible to only members of the specific group to which you are posting
9. When finished, click the "Save" button.
Note: Requests, by default, are moderated by the Administrator. If moderated, you will receive a notification when approved.
You can upload document files to share with your group. The following document files types can be uploaded: .txt, .doc, .pdf
To add a document:
1. Click on “Documents” in the right side navigation.
2. Click the “Add document” button.
3. Type a brief title for the document into the “Title” box.
4. Type a description of the document you are uploading into the “Description” box. You may use the optional formatting tools to customize your text and layout, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
5. Click “Browse” button and locate the document on your computer. Double-click the name of the file to select it.
6. Choose the group under which the document should be listed.
7. Optional - Additional attachments may be added by clicking the “Browse” button in the Attachments section. Locate the file on your computer then double-click the name of the file to select it. You may repeat this process multiple times.
To remove an attachment, click the blue “X”.
8. Choose the desired privacy level:
- visible to everyone
- visible to only logged-in members, or
- visible to only members of the specific group to which you are posting
9. Click “Save” to upload the document.
1. Click on “Documents” in the right side navigation.
2. Locate the document you want and click “View”. You will be taken to the document’s detail page.
3. Click the “Download” button.
4. You will typically have the option to either open the document or save it to your computer. To view the document immediately, choose the “Open with” option. To save it to your computer for offline viewing later, choose the “Save File” option.
Adding a media file(subscription)
If you organization has subscribed to the Media Files feature, you will have the ability to add unlimited media files (video and audio).
The following files types are allowed:
Video - .asf, .avi, .dv, .flv, .mov, .mpeg, .mpg, .mp4, .qt, .wmv, .3gp, .3g2
Audio - .amr, .mod, .mp3, .m4a, .qcp, .wav, .wma
1. Click on “Media Files” in the right side navigation.
2. Click the “Add media file” button.
3. Type in a Title and a Description
4. Click “Browse” and locate the media file on your computer. Once you have located it, double-click on it to select it.
5. Tick the “Terms and Conditions” box to accept the terms of use.
6. Click the “Upload” button. (It may take a few minutes to upload your video.)
7. Once the file is uploaded, choose the group under which it should be listed.
8. Select a privacy setting:
- viewable by all (may be posted on web)
- viewable by members of your organization, or
- viewable only by members of your group
9. When finished, click the "Save" button.
Making online donations (subscription)
If your organization has subscribed to the Donations feature, you will be able to make both cash and asset donations online. For cash donations, you can create your own account and set up single or reoccurring donations via check/debit or major credit card. For asset donations, you can donate items such as cars, boats, RVs, timeshares, jewelry and more.
To make an online cash donation:
1. Place your cursor over the main group’s name in the top navigation bar to activate the drop-down menu. Click “Donate”.
2. Click on “Setup Online Donation”.
3. Create an account or log in if you have already created an account. (Note: This account is on a separate server and is not tied to your CircleBuilder account.)
4. Set up a single donation (Tithe) or reoccurring donation (Auto-Tithe).
You can access your account, change donation levels, review payment history, and update credit card information at any time.
To make an online asset donation:
1. Place your cursor over the main group’s name in the top navigation bar to activate the drop-down menu. Click “Donate”.
2. Click on “Donate Non-Cash Assets”. This takes you to your organization’s asset donation portal.
3. At the asset donation portal, click on the type of asset you want to donate.
4. Fill out and submit the required information.
Your donation will be sold and the funds will be sent to your organization. You will receive copies of the receipts for tax purposes.
Sending a message to a group member
1. Click on “Inbox” in the top navigation menu.
2. Your Inbox will appear. Click the "Compose” button.
3. In the “To” box, type a few letters of the group or person’s name to whom you’d like to send a message. A drop-down list of matches will appear. Click on the group or person’s name to add them to the list of recipients. Repeat as necessary.
4. Type a brief subject line into the “Subject” box.
5. Type the content of your message into the “Message” box. You may use the optional formatting tools to customize the text and layout of your message, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
6. When finished, click the "Send" button.
Sending a message to a group member:
1. Click on the main group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. Locate the Members area and click the photo of the person to whom you would like to send a message.
- or -
To send a message to a member of a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group to which they are a member,
then locate and select their photo.
3. On the left side of the personal info area, click "Message to user".
Continue as detailed in steps 3-6 above.
Sending a message to all members of a group
1. Click on the main group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. To send a message to the members of the main group, click on “Message to group” in the left side of the personal info area.
- or -
To send a message to the members of a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group you’d like to message, then click “Message to group” as shown above.
3. The member’s name will already be filled in to the “To” box.
4. Type a brief subject line into the “Subject” box.
5. Type the content of your message into the third box. You may use the optional formatting tools to customize your text and layout, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
6. When finished, click the "Send" button.
Note: You have to be a member of a group to send messages to its members.
Blogs can be posted to either the main organization or to a specific group.
1. Click on the main group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. To add a blog for the main group, click the “Add blog post” button at the top of the Recent Activity area.
- or -
To add a blog for a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group under which you want to blog, then click the “Add blog post” button at the top of the Recent Activity area as shown above.
3. Type a brief title for the blog into the “Title” box.
4. Type the content of your blog into the “Message” box. You may use the formatting
tools to customize your text and layout, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
5. Optional - To add an attachment, click the “Browse” button to locate the file on your computer. Once you have located it, double-click on it to select it. You may repeat this process multiple times.
To remove an attachment, click the blue “X”.
6. Choose the desired privacy level:
- visible to everyone
- visible to only logged-in members, or
- visible to only members of the specific group to which you are posting
7. When finished, click the "Save" button.
Depending on moderation rules, your message may post immediately. If not, the moderator will need to approve it.
Adding video clips to your blog post
1. When you are writing your blog, click on the icon that looks like a monitor.
2. In the popup box, select the type of media you are embedding.
3. Type the URL (web address) of the video into the "File/URL" box.
4. The video should visible in the Preview area.
5. Click the “Insert” button within the popup box.
6. When finished adding your blog post, click the “Save” button.
You can add a comment to a blog you’ve posted or to a blog which was posted by someone else.
1. Click on the group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. To view blog posts for the main group, click “Blog Posts” in the right side navigation menu.
- or -
To view blog posts for a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group under which the blog is posted, then click “Blog Posts” in the right side navigation menu as shown above.
3. Locate the specific blog post on which you’d like to comment and click "View".
4. Type your comment into the Post a Comment box.
5. When finished, click the "Post" button.
1. Navigate to the blog you’d like to edit by following steps 1 & 2 in the “Commenting on a blog post” section above.
2. Click “Edit”.
3. Make any desired change to the title, message, group, attachments and/or privacy settings.
4. When finished, click the "Save" button.
1. Navigate to the blog you’d like to delete by following steps 1 & 2 in the “Comment on a blog post” section above.
2. Click “Delete”.
3. Click “OK” in the confirmation pop-up.
Discussions can be created for either the main organization or for a specific group.
1. Click on the main group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. To add a discussion for the main group, click the “Add discussion” button at the top of the Recent Activity area.
- or -
To add a discussion for a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group under which you want to create the discussion, then click the “Add discussion” button at the top of the Recent Activity area as shown above.
3. Type a brief title for the discussion into the “Title” box.
4. Type the content of your discussion into the “Message” box. You may use formatting tools to customize your text and layout, run a spell check, and embed a media file.
5.
Optional - To add an attachment, click the “Browse” button to locate the file on your computer. Once you have located it, double-click on it to select it. You may repeat this process multiple times.
To remove an attachment, click the blue “X”.
6. Choose the desired privacy level:
- visible to everyone
- visible to only logged-in members, or
- visible to only members of the specific group to which you are posting
7. When finished, click the "Save" button.
Depending on moderation rules, your message may post immediately. If not, the moderator will need to approve it.
Adding video clips to your discussion
1. When you are writing your discussion, click on the icon that looks like a monitor.
2. In the popup box, select the type of media you are embedding.
3. Type the URL (web address) of the video into the "File/URL" box.
4. The video should visible in the Preview area.
5. Click the “Insert” button within the popup box.
6. When finished adding your discussion, click the “Save” button.
Commenting on a discussion topic
You can add a comment to a discussion topic you’ve posted or to a discussion topic which was posted by someone else.
1. Click on the group’s name in the top navigation menu.
2. To view discussions for the main group, click “discussions” in the right side navigation menu.
- or -
To view discussions for a sub-group, scroll down to the “Groups within this group” area, click on the name of the group under which the discussion is posted, then click “discussions” in the right side navigation menu as shown above.
3. Locate the specific discussion topic on which you’d like to comment and click "View".
4. Type your comment into the Post a Comment box.
5. When finished, click the "Post" button.
Editing a discussion topic you’ve posted
1. Navigate to the discussion topic you’d like to edit by following steps 1 & 2 in the “Commenting on a discussion topic” section above.
2. Click “Edit”.
3. Make any desired change to the title, message, group, attachments and/or privacy settings.
4. When finished, click the "Save" button.
Deleting a discussion topic you’ve posted
1. Navigate to the discussion topic you’d like to delete by following steps 1 & 2 in the “Commenting on a discussion topic” section above.
2. Click “Delete”.
3. Click “OK” in the confirmation pop-up.