Volunteers and Non-Profits Need Background Screening Too!
If you are managing a workforce that is made up of volunteers, you may think that everyone you work with will be caring, honest people that want to donate their time and talent to help the community and your organization. Although this is going to be true a lot of the time, you cannot assume it is always the case.
All you need to do is follow the news to know that not everyone is someone you want in your organization. When it comes to liability, non-profits are affected by lawsuits too. Just because you have volunteers instead of paid employees, that does not release your organization from responsibility.
In many non-profits, volunteers are actually the public face of your organization
Priority one is always to protect the vulnerable people your volunteers are serving. Older adults, children, disabled people and animals should never be put at risk by your volunteers. In addition to this risk to your clients, there are multiple opportunities for your volunteers to engage in dishonest practices with fund raising and accounting.
With tight budgets, non-profits are frequently looking for ways to cut costs. However, don’t skimp on background checking for volunteers. If you think you can’t afford it, think about the expense of a lawsuit! And the damage to your organization’s reputation will affect your ability to serve your community for years to come.
So, which background searches are best for non-profits?
A lot depends on what the volunteer will be doing for your organization. The basics for all volunteers should be a national criminal search, a county criminal search for the county in which your volunteer lives and an MVR (motor vehicle record) search. If your volunteer handles money or financial records, a credit report should be considered. A drug test will give you even more peace of mind that your volunteer will be able to function safely in your organization.
Again, don’t skimp on this important safeguard! Use a professional CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) for screening your volunteers or job candidates. An experienced CRA will save you time and money while staying in compliance. They will go through all the gathered information and verify that it is accurate. For a free consultation or more information, contact Genesis Background Screening Services at 866 944-0041 ext 101. Online, you can email or visit www.genesisbackgroundscreening.com. You can sign up to be emailed whenever we post a new blog at https://genesisbackgroundscreening.com/blog/
Genesis Background Screening is not a law firm and provides our blogs for informational purposes only. Blog is not a substitute for experienced legal advice. Research laws or regulations mentioned in our blogs and ask your legal counsel any questions you have to be sure your organization is within the law and compliant with regulations.
Jacqueline McClure
Genesis Background Screening Services
