What tools and criteria should you use to identify the best applicants for volunteer work, and when to turn someone away? Some background checks are required by law. Know what you're required to do and what you need to do.
The Volunteer Application Form, Susan J. Ellis and Katherine Noyes Campbell, Proof Positive: Developing Significant Volunteer Recordkeeping Systems, 21st Century Edition, pp. 5-6, Energize, Inc
Researched and produced by Verified Volunteers, offers essential insights on the practices, challenges and concerns of organizations relying on volunteers, with screening tips to help you compare, measure and improve your organization’s volunteer screening program.
Excellent list of resources for any mentoring program from the Mentoring Partnership of Southwestern PA. Includes materials on recruiting, screening and training volunteer mentors, many of which can be used in any type of volunteer effort.
Major source of information and publications on all aspects of risk and liability for nonprofit organizations in the U.S. (much is relevant in other countries, too). Volunteer risk management is one of their featured areas: https://www.nonprofitrisk.org/areas-of-expertise/volunteer-management/.
Free information center on how to screen volunteer applicants, with reports, white papers, case studies, and how-to checklists for volunteer resources managers, provided by Verified Volunteers, a company that provides background screening services to organizations. Also have a blog.
Excellent overview of the rationale for and steps of effective volunteer screening from Volunteer Canada. Includes The Screening Handbook and "Screening in Faith" PDF for faith communities.
A Tongue-in-Cheek Look at the Trials of Volunteering (animated 3:50 min. video): from tobijohnson.typepad.com, 2011 -- discusson starter on volunteer interviewing
