While not always legally required for every volunteer role, it is strongly recommended as a best practice to screen all individuals who interact with vulnerable populations (children, the elderly, individuals with disabilities) to protect clients and the organization from liability

Nonprofits must comply with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) if they use a third-party screening agency. They also need to follow the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)  guidance and specific state or local laws.

The screening process and legal requirements (like the FCRA) are the same for both. The difference lies in the scope of the check, which should be appropriate for the level of responsibility and access the individual has. CoreScreening can assist you in creating a custom package based on role type as well as level of access the volunteer will have to sensitive information or populations.

The standard recommendation is to conduct complete background checks at least every five years, However, many nonprofits may have more stringent systems in place or choose to screen annually when volunteers are working with sensitive populations or data. Ultimately, criminal background checks are only as good as the day they were performed so it is important to establish a policy that works best for your nonprofit.

The most common criminal history checks include a nationwide and county criminal history search, an identity verification (SSN trace), and a national sex offender registry search. Additional checks like Motor Vehicle Driving or credit history checks are typically requested based on the specific role's duties.

The final decision rests with the nonprofit organization, not the background check provider. Corescreening’s platform provides users with the ability to accept or reject candidates directly within the background check report, based on their organizations policies.