Volunteers pay for their background checks?

  • 16 Nov 2017 6:06 PM
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    Message # 5589939
    Deleted user

    Hi - I recently learned that another cultural organization in my area started asking their new core volunteers to pay $15 of a $25 cost for a criminal background check. How many of you have the volunteer pay for part or all of the cost? We currently pay the entire amount.

    Thank you, Jan Milroy

    Living History Farms - JMilroy@lhf.org
  • 17 Nov 2017 12:44 PM
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    Reply # 5591172 on 5589939
    Samantha Arceneaux (Administrator)

    Hi Jan,

          At Fernbank MNH,  the museum pays for the cost of background checks, but volunteers have to pay for the scarf/tie that is part of their uniform. The scarf/tie is at cost of $20- since the background check is $15  I think it would be cost prohibitive to require volunteers to pay for both. If we didn't have a cost like that, I think we may have asked volunteers to pay for their background check.

    Anyone else have a combination of costs or ask volunteers to pay for their background check?

    Samantha
  • 17 Nov 2017 5:54 PM
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    Reply # 5591837 on 5589939
    Jenny Woods (Administrator)

    Hi Jan,

    At Seattle Art Museum we pay for the entire cost of the background check. I am always worried about a fee being a barrier for someone deciding to volunteer with us. I know other organizations have waivers for those costs if it is a barrier, but sometimes folks find it embarrassing to ask for a fee waiver. The costs do seem to be going up each year, so we might reach a point where we have to ask for volunteers to pay, but we are not there yet.

    Jenny Woods
    Seattle Art Museum
  • 20 Nov 2017 8:02 PM
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    Reply # 5595264 on 5589939
    Deleted user

    At the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, we pay for the entire cost of the background check.

    Laura O'Brien - Manager, Volunteer Services
  • 29 Nov 2017 2:00 PM
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    Reply # 5606048 on 5589939
    Deleted user

    Thanks to everyone that responded.

    Jan Milroy

    Living History Farms 
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