Volunteer Background Checks: Giving Back without Giving Up on Privacy

How do nonprofit organizations screen volunteers? There are several options. The choices depend largely on the volunteer job involved and the organization’s policy as to what information is necessary to “clear” the candidate. Almost certainly, a volunteer background check will include a criminal history check.

To find out whether an applicant or volunteer has a criminal past, a nonprofit organization may have access to state and federal criminal history repositories. Organizations may also employ professional background screening companies. Many commercial companies that perform employee screening have established programs specifically for nonprofit organizations seeking to check volunteers.