Everything about how VolunteerBadge screens your volunteers lives in one place: Settings → Screening. The defaults are chosen to be safe and minimal, so most organizations never have to touch them — but every option is here when you need it. The screen is grouped into four sections.
Where to find it
Dashboard → Settings → Screening tab. Changes apply to future checks (they don't re-open reports you've already run). Click Save screening settingsat the bottom when you're done.
Search scope
Controls what kinds of records a check looks for. Felonies are always included and can't be turned off.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Include misdemeanors by default | Off | Felonies are always included. Turn this on to also surface misdemeanor records on every check. |
| Include traffic violations | Off | Turn this on to include driving/traffic records. Minor citations (e.g. speeding) stay excluded even when it's on; DUI/DWI are always reported regardless of this setting. |
Turning on traffic violations
Many programs enable this for volunteers who drive on trips or transport others. When it's on and we find a traffic record, it's reported to you only after our CRA team verifies the record genuinely belongs to your volunteer — that verification step is required under the FCRA and protects everyone from mismatched records.
Identity & payment
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Require identity verification (free, recommended) | On | Each volunteer confirms their identity with a government ID + selfie (~1 min), tying the real person to their check. It's free — it doesn't use a credit. See Identity verification. |
| Allow screening without a U.S. SSN | Off | When enabled, applicants and direct checks can opt in for foreign nationals currently in the U.S. Same $5 pricing; searches U.S. records only — no SSN trace or SSN-derived address history. See Screening without a U.S. SSN. |
| Volunteers pay their own $5 fee | Off | Invited volunteers pay $5 at apply time; your org spends no credit and results still stay with you. Overridable per invitation. See Who pays. |
Applicant communication
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-reply to new applications | Off | When on, a message you write is automatically sent to the volunteer the moment they submit an application — it's posted into their conversation thread and emailed to them, and they can reply right back (in their portal or by email). Great for an instant thank-you or a “here's what happens next” note. |
Setting up your auto-reply
Flip the toggle on, then write your message. A few suggested templates are provided — click one to drop it in, then edit it however you like. You can use
{{first_name}} and {{org_name}}and VolunteerBadge fills them in for each applicant. It sends once per applicant. Prefer to just ask? Tell the in-app assistant “set up an auto-reply for new applications” and it will turn it on and draft the message for you.Automation
Hands-off screening. Each of these needs the volunteer's FCRA authorization on file, and each pauses safely rather than skipping anyone if you run out of credits.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-run the check when a volunteer applies | Off | Orders the check automatically the moment a volunteer submits their application (1 credit, or $0 when the volunteer pays). Needs FCRA authorization; skips if you're out of credits. |
| Re-screen interval (months) | 3 | How often you intend to re-screen volunteers. Drives both the auto re-run below and the monthly “who's due” reminders. We recommend quarterly (3 months). |
| Auto re-run checks when due | On | Emails volunteers a short FCRA authorization link when they reach your re-screen interval — the $5 check runs when they sign. Pauses and emails you if out of credits. See Automatic re-screening. |
| Auto-recharge credits when they reach 0 | Off | When your balance hits 0, we automatically buy more with your saved card so screening never stops. Choose the recharge amount when you switch it on. |
Invite links
How long the applications you send stay valid before they expire.
| Setting | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Shareable link expires after (days) | 30 | Lifetime of a public shareable application link before it stops accepting new applicants. |
| Email / SMS invite expires after (days) | 7 | Lifetime of a one-to-one application invite sent by email or text. |
Report PDF password
Below the settings form, you can optionally set an organization-wide password that's required to open the background-report PDFs your team downloads. The same password applies to every report PDF; leave it blank to keep downloads unprotected.
A safe starting point
Leave identity verification on, everything else at its default, and you're running accurate, FCRA-aligned checks out of the box. Revisit this screen when your program adds drivers (traffic), wants hands-off screening (automation), or needs stricter report handling (PDF password).