Here's the fastest path from sign-up to a cleared volunteer. Most of it takes about ten minutes — and the check itself usually finishes in a few.
The short version
1. Create your account & organization · ~2 min
Sign up at volunteerbadge.com and complete the 6-step onboarding wizard. A starter application template is created for you automatically. Full detail: Create your account & organization.
2. Decide who pays the $5 · ~1 min
Two options — pick either:
- Your org pays: go to Billing → Buy Credits and grab at least one credit ($5).
- Volunteers pay: turn on Settings → Screening → “Volunteers pay their own $5 fee” and you spend no credits. See Who pays.
3. Invite your first volunteer · ~2 min
From the Dashboard or Volunteers page, click “Send Application,” pick your template, choose who pays, and send it by email or a shareable link. (Already have signed FCRA authorization for someone? Use a direct check instead.)
4. The volunteer applies and submits · ~2 min
They complete a short, mobile-friendly application that includes the FCRA disclosure and their signed authorization. When they submit, their profile is ready to screen. By default you start the check with one click — the big green “Run Background Check” button on their profile — so you stay in control of when each check is ordered. Prefer it hands-off? Turn on Settings → Screening → “Automatically run the check when a volunteer applies” and VolunteerBadge orders it for you the moment they submit. Either way, you're notified when the report is ready.
5. Read the result · ~1 min
Open the volunteer's profile. Clear means no reportable records — you're good to approve. If records are found, our CRA team reviews them by hand before anything reaches you, and the Compliance center walks you through adverse action if you're considering declining. See Read & act on results.
You just screened a volunteer 🎉