Approximately 25%1 of the adult population volunteers – this equates to about 1 in 4 Americans volunteering. For many nonprofit organizations, volunteers play a critical role in helping them be successful. While we would like to think all volunteers have the best of intentions, unfortunately this isn’t always the case. Luckily, most nonprofits and volunteer programs now recognize the importance of conducting background checks on volunteers. You might even say that volunteer background screening is becoming the norm, but screening practices and policies still vary widely by industry, position/role, size of organization, and budget allocation.
For some, a background check may amount to no more than a simple online search or a couple of phone calls to work and personal references. For others, it may entail everything from checking work history to conducting drug testing, running criminal background checks, credit checks, and even social media checks. The vulnerability of those served by the organization may dictate the depth and breadth of the search and the rigor of the process.
What do you do when you are unsure of what is needed and how to go about putting the best protection into action? The good news is that you don’t have to worry about this problem yourself. Sterling Volunteers, a valued partner of 501(c) Services, produced a whitepaper, Counting the Cost of a Bad Volunteer, that provides key insights to help your organization mitigate risk and create safer work and volunteer environments. Key insights covered in this whitepaper include:
- Understanding why background checks are pivotal to preventing costly outcomes.
- Learning how bad publicity can hurt more than just your reputation.
- Recognizing how exposure to legal liability is a real threat to your organization.
Download Your Complimentary Copy
If interested in learning more about cost effective background screening options to help protect yourself and your organization, contact Sterling Volunteers or directly reach out to Kimberly Chochon, Partner Success Leader, kimberly.chochon@sterlingcheck.com | 206.300.6315.
Sterling Volunteers is the dedicated nonprofit and service sector unit of Sterling, a global leader in background and identity services and an accredited member of the Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA). Sterling is committed to global safety and helping organizations establish quality, compliant background screening programs for all employees and volunteers.
1 source: Nonprofit Source: Volunteering Statistics and Trends for Nonprofits
