Free · Certificate included
Volunteer Screening Fundamentals
Build one consistent, fair, defensible screening process — and use it for every volunteer.
What you’ll learn
- Build a repeatable, multi-step screening process instead of relying on a background check alone
- Match the level of screening to the real risk of each volunteer role
- Know what a background check does — and does not — catch, and cover the gaps
- Make fair, consistent, well-documented decisions that protect the people you serve and your organization
Screen your volunteers for $5
VolunteerBadge runs FCRA-compliant background checks for just $5 — with identity verification built in. No monthly fees, no contracts.
Create a free account →Course outline
- 1
Screening is a process, not a single check
Most organizations think "screening" and picture a single background check.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 2
Match the screening level to the role’s risk
The biggest shift in screening over the last decade is the move away from one-size-fits-all.
6 min Quiz Interactive - 3
The application and interview
The background check confirms history. The application and interview tell you about fit — judgment, motivation, and how someone will treat the people you serve.…
6 min Quiz Interactive - 4
Reference checks — the most undervalued tool
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center calls reference checks the most valuable screening tool — and the one organizations most often skip or rush.
5 min Quiz Interactive - 5
What a background check does — and doesn’t — catch
Background checks are essential, but they have real blind spots.
6 min Quiz Interactive - 6
Making fair, documented decisions
A record on a report is not an automatic "no." How you handle it determines whether your decision is fair, consistent, and defensible — or a discrimination claim…
5 min Quiz Interactive - 7
Put it together: build your screening system
You now have all five pillars. The last step is turning them into a written system you run the same way every time — and keep current as volunteers come and go.
5 min Interactive
Sources & further reading
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center — Background Screening for Nonprofits: What to Consider
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center — There’s No Mystery to Your History: Using Background Checks in Screening
- VolunteerHub — Volunteer Screening: An 8-Step Best Practices Guide for Nonprofits
- SHRM — How to Conduct Individualized Assessments in Background Checks
- Federal Trade Commission — Using Consumer Reports: What Employers Need to Know
VolunteerBadge Academy courses are provided free for general educational and informational purposes only. Every course is researched from reputable, authoritative sources (cited on the course), but VolunteerBadge and ScreenForge Labs, LLC make no representations or warranties of any kind — express or implied — as to the accuracy, completeness, currentness, reliability, or suitability of the content for any purpose. Content may contain errors or omissions and may become outdated, and laws, regulations, standards, and best practices vary by jurisdiction and change over time. This material is not legal, medical, mental-health, clinical, financial, safety-certification, or other professional advice, and completing a course or earning a certificate creates no professional relationship, license, accreditation, or endorsement and is not a substitute for training, certification, supervision, or policies required by law, your organization, your insurer, or a licensing body. Always follow your organization's own policies and applicable law, use your own judgment, and consult a qualified professional (such as an attorney, licensed clinician, or medical provider) about your specific situation. In an emergency, call 911 (or, for a mental-health crisis, 988). To the fullest extent permitted by law, VolunteerBadge and ScreenForge Labs, LLC disclaim all liability for any loss or harm arising from reliance on this content or participation in any course.