Volunteer screening
Every EFF volunteer who works with students under 18 is background-checked.
EFF conducts criminal background checks on all volunteers who work with students under 18, using Checkr, a third-party background screening provider. No volunteer is placed with students until their check is complete and reviewed by EFF.
Schools and districts stay in charge of their own campuses. EFF's screening is in addition to — not instead of — a school's or district's own volunteer vetting, fingerprinting, badging, or clearance requirements. Any EFF volunteer serving on a school campus must also complete whatever process that school requires. Where a school's requirements are stricter than EFF's, the school's requirements apply.
What a background check does and doesn't do. A background check is one safeguard among several. EFF also requires volunteer training, adult supervision during student activities, and site-specific safeguarding and reporting procedures before any program runs. A completed check does not replace those.
For volunteers. By expressing interest in a volunteer or mentoring role, you're agreeing to complete a background check through Checkr before working with students. You'll receive your own copy of the results and can dispute any errors directly with Checkr under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Questions about screening: info@estherfundsfoundation.org
What we do not collect on interest forms
- Children’s full names, birth dates, student IDs, report cards, or IEPs.
- Medical information or household financial documents.
- Social Security numbers or background-check documents from potential volunteers.
- General permission to obtain school records.
Consent will be specific
Separate choices
Participation permission, mentoring permission, necessary data use, media permission, and promotional messages will not be treated as one blanket consent.
Participation without promotion
A child will not need to appear in promotional photos or messages to receive program services.
Future youth mentoring safeguards
Before any one-to-one youth mentoring opens, EFF will establish screening, training, caregiver preparation, program-approved communication channels, staff oversight, a clear reporting route, ongoing support, and planned relationship endings. No private off-platform contact between minors and mentors.
Accessibility and questions
Forms are designed for keyboard and screen-reader use, with clear labels, understandable instructions, useful error messages, and no unnecessary time limits.
For accessibility help, safeguarding questions, or privacy requests, contact k12@estherfundsinc.org.