Volunteer Picker Wheel is a free name spinner for selecting among people who have already agreed and are currently available to help. It gives meetings, events, and group projects a transparent way to choose one volunteer without favoritism.
Wheel of Names
Elimination: OFFAccumulation: OFFAuto-Spin: OFFFair Rotation: OFF
Add entries and spin the wheel.
(()=>{
const r=document.currentScript.closest(‘.wnx-spinner’);
if(!r||r.dataset.ready)return;
r.dataset.ready=’1′;
const $=s=>r.querySelector(s),$$=s=>[…r.querySelectorAll(s)];
const params=new URLSearchParams(location.search),cfg=document.querySelector(‘.wnx-config’);
const mode=cfg?.dataset.mode||r.dataset.mode||’standard’;
const title=cfg?.dataset.title||r.dataset.title||document.querySelector(‘.wn-page h1′)?.textContent||’Wheel of Names’;
const raw=params.get(‘wnitems’)||cfg?.dataset.items||r.dataset.items||’Alice~Bob~Charlie~David~Eve~Frank’;
const palettes=[
((cfg?.dataset.palette)||r.dataset.palette||”).split(‘,’).filter(Boolean),
[‘#6366f1′,’#8b5cf6′,’#ec4899′,’#f97316′,’#14b8a6′,’#3b82f6’],
[‘#ef476f’,’#f78c6b’,’#ffd166′,’#06d6a0′,’#118ab2′,’#7353ba’],
[‘#22c55e’,’#06b6d4′,’#3b82f6′,’#8b5cf6′,’#ec4899′,’#f59e0b’]
].filter(x=>x.length>2);
let colors=palettes[0];
let entries=raw.split(‘~’).map(v=>{try{return decodeURIComponent(v)}catch(e){return v}}).filter(Boolean).map(v=>{
const p=v.split(‘|’);
const weight=mode===’weighted’?Math.max(1,Number(p.pop())||1):1;
return{name:p.join(‘|’),weight,count:0,last:-999,image:”};
});
let angle=0,busy=false,history=[],undo=[],redo=[],spinNumber=0,lastReceipt=null,preSpin=[];
let backgroundImage=”,centerImage=”,backgroundOpacity=.45,centerRadius=76,pendingEntryImage=”,pendingEntryFilename=”;
const imageCache=new Map();
const canvas=$(‘.wnx-canvas’),ctx=canvas.getContext(‘2d’),spin=$(‘.wnx-spin’),result=$(‘.wnx-result’),list=$(‘.wnx-list’);
const elimination=$(‘.wnx-elimination’),accumulation=$(‘.wnx-accumulation’),auto=$(‘.wnx-auto’),winnerCount=$(‘.wnx-winner-count’),duration=$(‘.wnx-duration’);
const balance=$(‘.wnx-smart-balance’),cooldown=$(‘.wnx-smart-cooldown’);
$(‘.wnx-title’).textContent=title;
elimination.checked=mode===’norepeat’||params.get(‘wnremove’)===’1′;
winnerCount.value=mode===’multi’?Math.max(1,Number(cfg?.dataset.count||r.dataset.count)||3):1;
$(‘.wnx-multi-field’).classList.toggle(‘wnx-hidden’,mode!==’multi’);
const escapeHtml=s=>String(s).replace(/[&”‘]/g,m=>({‘&’:’&’,”:’>’,'”‘:’"’,”‘”:’'’}[m]));
const snapshot=()=>JSON.stringify(entries);
const save=()=>{undo.push(snapshot());if(undo.length>25)undo.shift();redo=[];};
const randomInt=n=>{if(n=limit);return a[0]%n;};
function getImage(src){
if(!src)return null;
if(imageCache.has(src))return imageCache.get(src);
const img=new Image();
img.onload=draw;
img.src=src;
imageCache.set(src,img);
return img;
}
function drawCover(img,x,y,w,h){
if(!img||!img.complete||!img.naturalWidth)return;
const scale=Math.max(w/img.naturalWidth,h/img.naturalHeight);
const dw=img.naturalWidth*scale,dh=img.naturalHeight*scale;
ctx.drawImage(img,x+(w-dw)/2,y+(h-dh)/2,dw,dh);
}
function readOptimizedImage(file,maxSize=1000){
return new Promise((resolve,reject)=>{
if(!file||!file.type.startsWith(‘image/’)){reject(new Error(‘Please choose an image file.’));return;}
const reader=new FileReader();
reader.onerror=()=>reject(new Error(‘The image could not be read.’));
reader.onload=()=>{
const img=new Image();
img.onerror=()=>reject(new Error(‘The image format is not supported.’));
img.onload=()=>{
const scale=Math.min(1,maxSize/Math.max(img.naturalWidth,img.naturalHeight));
const w=Math.max(1,Math.round(img.naturalWidth*scale)),h=Math.max(1,Math.round(img.naturalHeight*scale));
const temp=document.createElement(‘canvas’);temp.width=w;temp.height=h;
const t=temp.getContext(‘2d’);t.drawImage(img,0,0,w,h);
const type=file.type===’image/png’?’image/png’:’image/jpeg’;
resolve(temp.toDataURL(type,type===’image/jpeg’?.86:undefined));
};
img.src=String(reader.result||”);
};
reader.readAsDataURL(file);
});
}
const smartOn=()=>!elimination.checked&&(balance.checked||Number(cooldown.value)>0);
function eligibleEntries(){
let pool=[…entries];
if(!smartOn())return pool;
const cd=Number(cooldown.value);
if(cd>0){const cooled=pool.filter(e=>spinNumber-e.last>=cd);if(cooled.length)pool=cooled;}
if(balance.checked&&pool.length){const min=Math.min(…pool.map(e=>e.count));pool=pool.filter(e=>e.count===min);}
return pool.length?pool:[…entries];
}
function segments(){
const total=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+e.weight,0)||1;
let used=0;
return entries.map(entry=>{const start=used/total*Math.PI*2;used+=entry.weight;return{entry,start,end:used/total*Math.PI*2};});
}
function draw(){
const size=900,center=450,radius=418,segs=segments(),allowed=new Set(eligibleEntries());
ctx.clearRect(0,0,size,size);
if(backgroundImage){
const img=getImage(backgroundImage);
ctx.save();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,radius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.clip();ctx.globalAlpha=backgroundOpacity;drawCover(img,center-radius,center-radius,radius*2,radius*2);ctx.restore();
}
if(!segs.length){
ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,radius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.fillStyle=’#0b1628′;ctx.fill();ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(129,140,248,.24)’;ctx.lineWidth=6;ctx.stroke();ctx.fillStyle=’#94a3b8′;ctx.font=’800 34px system-ui’;ctx.textAlign=’center’;ctx.fillText(‘Add entries’,center,center);return;
}
segs.forEach((seg,index)=>{
const dim=smartOn()&&!allowed.has(seg.entry);
const start=seg.start+angle,end=seg.end+angle;
ctx.save();
ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
ctx.beginPath();ctx.moveTo(center,center);ctx.arc(center,center,radius,start,end);ctx.closePath();
if(seg.entry.image){
ctx.save();ctx.clip();drawCover(getImage(seg.entry.image),center-radius,center-radius,radius*2,radius*2);ctx.restore();
ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.12:.22;ctx.fillStyle=colors[index%colors.length];ctx.fill();ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
}else{
ctx.fillStyle=colors[index%colors.length];
if(backgroundImage)ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.14:.72;
ctx.fill();ctx.globalAlpha=dim?.2:1;
}
ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(255,255,255,.82)’;ctx.lineWidth=5;ctx.stroke();
const mid=(seg.start+seg.end)/2+angle;
ctx.translate(center,center);ctx.rotate(mid);ctx.textAlign=’right’;ctx.fillStyle=’#fff’;ctx.shadowColor=’rgba(0,0,0,.55)’;ctx.shadowBlur=8;
ctx.font=`850 ${Math.max(18,Math.min(33,350/entries.length+16))}px system-ui`;
const label=seg.entry.name.length>22?seg.entry.name.slice(0,20)+’…’:seg.entry.name;
ctx.fillText(label,radius-34,10);ctx.restore();
});
ctx.save();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,centerRadius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.clip();
if(centerImage){drawCover(getImage(centerImage),center-centerRadius,center-centerRadius,centerRadius*2,centerRadius*2);}else{ctx.fillStyle=’#0b1628′;ctx.fillRect(center-centerRadius,center-centerRadius,centerRadius*2,centerRadius*2);}
ctx.restore();ctx.beginPath();ctx.arc(center,center,centerRadius,0,Math.PI*2);ctx.strokeStyle=’rgba(255,255,255,.24)’;ctx.lineWidth=10;ctx.stroke();
}
function updateBadges(){
[[ $(‘.wnx-badge-elimination’),elimination,’Elimination’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-accumulation’),accumulation,’Accumulation’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-auto’),auto,’Auto-Spin’],[$(‘.wnx-badge-smart’),{checked:smartOn()},’Fair Rotation’]].forEach(([el,input,label])=>{el.textContent=`${label}: ${input.checked?’ON’:’OFF’}`;el.classList.toggle(‘is-on’,input.checked);});
}
function balanceScore(){
if(!entries.length)return 100;
const total=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+e.count,0),mean=total/entries.length;
if(!mean)return 100;
const deviation=entries.reduce((s,e)=>s+Math.abs(e.count-mean),0)/entries.length;
return Math.max(0,Math.round(100-deviation/mean*100));
}
function updateDashboard(){
$(‘.wnx-balance-score’).textContent=balanceScore()+’%’;$(‘.wnx-smart-spins’).textContent=String(spinNumber);
$(‘.wnx-smart-counts’).innerHTML=[…entries].sort((a,b)=>a.count-b.count||a.name.localeCompare(b.name)).map(e=>`
${escapeHtml(e.name)}${e.count}
`).join(”)||’
No entries yet.
‘;
const status=$(‘.wnx-smart-status’);
if(elimination.checked&&(balance.checked||Number(cooldown.value)>0))status.textContent=’Smart Fair Rotation is paused while Elimination mode is active.’;
else if(!smartOn())status.textContent=’Pure random mode is active.’;
else{const parts=[];if(balance.checked)parts.push(‘least-selected priority’);if(Number(cooldown.value)>0)parts.push(`${cooldown.value}-spin cooldown`);status.textContent=`Smart mode active: ${parts.join(‘ + ‘)}. Dimmed slices are temporarily ineligible.`;}
}
function render(){
list.innerHTML=entries.map((entry,index)=>`
A volunteer picker wheel randomly selects from a consent-based list of available volunteers. It should never be used to treat unwilling or unavailable people as volunteers.
How to use the Volunteer Picker Wheel
Replace the sample entries with your eligible options.
Review the list, explain the selection rule, and press Spin the Wheel.
Confirm the result, record it when accountability matters, and remove it before another spin when repeats are not allowed.
Best uses for this Volunteer Picker Wheel
Event roles
Choose among people who opted in for check-in, setup, announcements, or cleanup.
Meeting support
Select an available timekeeper, note taker, or discussion starter.
Community projects
Distribute one clearly described task among eligible volunteers.
Volunteer Picker Wheel setup tips
Ask for consent before adding any name.
Confirm availability and accessibility requirements before the spin.
Use removal or history to distribute repeated opportunities fairly over time.