❖ Heads up! This article is only intended for Site Managers.
Waivers help ensure volunteers meet your Prerequisite or Qualification requirements for each Need or Opportunity. You can require waivers from adults only, minors only, or both—so how do you know which option to choose? Below, we break down each waiver type and when to use it.
ℹ️ So you know: Some sites have language overrides. For example, you might see Needs instead of Opportunities or Agencies instead of Programs.
Which Waiver is Best?
In most cases, we recommend using the Adults and Minors waiver type. It's the most flexible option—perfect when your Needs or Opportunities are open to both adult and minor volunteers.
Attach it to a Prerequisite or Qualification to make sure everyone signs before responding.
How it Works
When using the Adults and Minors waiver option, volunteers must enter their birthdate before signing. Based on the birthdate, the system automatically directs them to the appropriate waiver:
Minors (ages 13–17) are shown the Minor Waiver you’ve uploaded. After signing, they’ll be prompted to provide a parent or guardian’s name and email so you can request a co-signature. This step ensures liability protection for both the organization and the volunteer.
Adults (18 and older) are directed to the Adult Waiver. Once signed, that part of the Prerequisite or Qualification is complete.
Depending on your settings, you may need to manually approve the waiver submission before volunteers can respond to Needs or Opportunities.
Other Waiver Types
You can choose Adult Only or Minor Only waiver types, but we strongly recommend sticking with Adults and Minors if there's any chance both age groups will be volunteering.
Here’s why:
If you select Adult Only and attach it to a Prerequisite or Qualification, minors won’t be able to complete the requirement, which means they can’t sign up for the Need or Opportunity at all.
If you select Minor Only, adults bypass the waiver entirely, since it's not required for them, leaving you with incomplete liability coverage.
Adults can still sign up for the volunteer opportunity that has the waiver requirement, but it will be labeled as "No waiver needed" for their Qualification response.
The Adults and Minors option avoids both issues by automatically directing each volunteer to the correct waiver based on their birthdate.
How to Choose
While the Adults and Minors waiver covers most situations, there are times when selecting Adult Only or Minor Only makes sense:
Minor Only: Perfect for youth-focused programs, like summer camps, where volunteers aged 13 to 17 are the target participants.
Adult Only: Ideal when volunteer work involves sensitive subjects or requires participants to be 18 or older.
Use these options thoughtfully to match your program’s needs while keeping liability and volunteer experience in check.
