Screening volunteers

Texting volunteers: SMS consent & opt-out

How VolunteerBadge texts volunteers, how consent works, and how STOP/HELP are handled.

When you invite a volunteer (or an event participant, for waivers) by text, VolunteerBadge sends the link by SMS (through our messaging provider, Twilio). Texting is optional — you can always invite by email or a shareable link instead — but it's the fastest way to reach people.

Free SMS limit — 20 per day

Texting is a free feature, capped at 20 SMS invites per organization per day (this covers both application and waiver texts; the count resets each day). Email invites and shareable links are unlimited and free — so if you hit the daily SMS limit, switch to email or share a link, and your SMS allowance is back tomorrow.

What we send

  • A one-time invitation text with a secure link to complete the application and background check, showing your organization's name.
  • Occasional reminders while the application is still pending.

Every message identifies your organization and includes opt-out and help instructions — for example: “Grace Community Church invited you to apply as a volunteer. Complete your background screening here: … Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to opt out.”

Consent — your responsibility

Text messaging rules (A2P 10DLC / TCPA) require that a person agreed to be contacted before you text them. Because you provide the volunteer's number, you collect that consent at intake — through your own volunteer application/sign-up (web form or paper) — where the volunteer gives their mobile number and agrees to receive texts about their application and background check.

What you're confirming

When you send a text invite, VolunteerBadge asks you to confirm the volunteer agreed to be contacted. Only text people whose consent you actually hold — never numbers from a purchased or rented list. VolunteerBadge never texts the general public.

Opting out & getting help

ReplyWhat happens
STOPThe volunteer is unsubscribed immediately and gets a confirmation. No further texts are sent.
STARTRe-subscribes a volunteer who previously opted out.
HELPReturns help info and points to volunteerbadge.com/support.

Opt-outs are honored automatically across your organization — once someone replies STOP, we won't text that number again unless they opt back in.

Privacy

We don't share or sell mobile numbers or SMS consent information for anyone else's marketing. Full details are in our SMS Terms & Opt-In Disclosure and Privacy Policy (Section 13).

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