Screening settings, explained

Every toggle on Settings → Screening — what it does, its default, and when to change it.

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 full background-report PDFs your team downloads. The same password applies to every full report PDF; leave it blank to keep downloads unprotected. This password never applies to the brief summary download (the privacy-safe version with all personal details stripped) — that one is meant to be stored freely, so it's never locked.

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).