NONPROFIT BACKGROUND SCREENING
Non-profit Background Screening: Protecting Your Mission, People, and Communities
Non profit and religious organizations play a vital role in supporting vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals in need. Because of this trust-based mission, non-profit background screening your candidates is not only a best practice—it is a critical risk management tool that helps protect the people you serve, your staff and volunteers, and your organization’s reputation!
At Reliable Background Screening, we bring more than 35 years of experience helping nonprofit and faith-based organizations implement compliant, accurate, and efficient screening programs for non-profit employees, volunteers, and contractors.
Why Nonprofit Background Screening Is So Important
Nonprofit organizations often provide direct access to sensitive environments such as schools, shelters, healthcare settings, community centers, and private residences. Individuals working or volunteering in these roles may have access to:
- Children and youth
- Elderly or disabled individuals
- Financial assets and donations
- Confidential personal information
- Homes, vehicles, and facilities
Without proper background screening, non profit organizations face increased risk of physical harm, abuse, theft, fraud, and reputational damage. A comprehensive background screening program helps identify potential red flags early and demonstrates due diligence to donors, regulators, insurers, and the communities you serve.
Who Should Be Screened
An effective non-profit background screening program should extend beyond full-time employees and include:
- Employees (full-time, part-time, and seasonal)
- Volunteers, especially those working with vulnerable populations or having access to donations/money.
- Independent contractors and consultants
- Drivers transporting clients, supplies, or donations
Consistent screening policies applied across all nonprofit organization roles help reduce liability and ensure fair, compliant, decision-making. All too often, non profit and religious organizations make the news for having a volunteer or employee commit inappropriate physical or financial theft action, hurting the organization, the public trust and supporters. As founder and CEO of Reliable Background Screening, Rudy Troisi, says, “If you could have known, you SHOULD have known®”. Negligent hiring is a real concern and can close down a nonprofit organization which would be greatly concerning, due to the wonderful support services nonprofit organizations provide the public.
Commonly Used Nonprofit Screening Services
While screening packages can be customized based on role and risk level, best practices for nonprofit background screening typically include:
Non-Profit Criminal Background Checks
- County Criminal Searches (primary source, where records are maintained)
- State and National Criminal Database Searches
- Federal Criminal Searches
- Sex Offender Registry Searches
- Terrorist, FBI/Most Wanted “Watch” Lists
These searches help identify histories of violence, abuse, theft, or other offenses that could pose risk to vulnerable populations. Reliable Background Screening can help provide the nonprofit screening package that is right for your organization.
Employment Verification for Nonprofit Organizations
Verifying past employment helps confirm a candidate’s work history, roles, and dates of employment—reducing the risk of resume fraud or misrepresentation. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) becoming more readily available and used by candidates, it is important to vet their “real” background.
Motor Vehicle Records (MVR)
For any non-profit employee, volunteer, or contractor who drives on behalf of the organization, an MVR is essential to assess driving history, license status, and safety risks which include failure to appear in court, DUI, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, etc.
Additional services may include education verification, social media screening, identity verification, drug testing and continuous criminal monitoring, depending on organizational needs.
Balancing Budget Constraints with Risk Reduction
We understand that non-profits are highly budget-conscious, and every dollar matters. However, the cost of not screening can far outweigh the investment in a background check. Incidents involving theft, abuse, or violence can result in:
- Legal liability and litigation
- Loss of donor and community trust
- Regulatory or insurance consequences
- Long-term damage to the organization’s mission and reputation
Background screening provides high value by helping prevent incidents before they occur, protecting both people and property.
Why Choose Reliable Background Screening For Your NonProfit Organization
Nonprofit and religious organizations trust Reliable Background Screening because of our long-standing commitment to quality and compliance:
- Over 35 years of background screening industry expertise
- Deep understanding of federal, state, and local compliance requirements
- Focus on accuracy and primary source verification
- Fast and reliable turnaround times
- High-touch, responsive client service and support
- All US based information and customer service is kept within the US
We partner with non-profit organizations to build background screening programs that align with their mission, risk profile, and compliance obligations—without unnecessary complexity.
Supporting Your Mission with Confidence
Non profit background screening is about more than checking a box. It is about awareness, preparedness, and protecting those who rely on your services. By implementing a thoughtful and compliant screening program, your organization demonstrates accountability, builds trust, and creates a safer environment for everyone involved.
Reliable Background Screening is proud to support nonprofit and religious organizations nationwide with screening solutions designed to reduce risk while strengthening your mission.
*Contact Us HERE to learn more about building a non-profit background screening program tailored to your organization’s needs.
