❖ Heads up! This article is intended for Volunteers. Are you a volunteer looking for support with your volunteer account, or have questions about a specific site? See the How to Get Help with Your Volunteer Account section of the How to Find Your Organization's Site article for more information!
By the end of this article, you will be able to:
Understand why a parent or guardian consent form is required
Know how the consent process works
Manage and update parent or guardian email information
Overview
If your child is under 13 and wants to volunteer, you may receive an email requesting your signature on a consent form.
To support volunteering for all ages, a signed parent or guardian consent form is required for anyone under 13. This allows your child to create an account and participate in volunteer opportunities safely and responsibly.
It’s also how we comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). COPPA protects kids’ personal information online, preventing websites from collecting, using, or sharing their data without proper consent. By signing, you help us safeguard your child’s privacy while giving them the chance to make a difference in their community.
How it Works
If a volunteer is asked to provide their date of birth during account registration and enter a birthdate that indicates they're under 13, then the Parental Consent process begins:
Step 1: Create an account and enter your birthdate:
Step 2: The system requests a parent or guardian's email address based on the birthdate entered:
Step 3: The volunteer can use the site without limitation while the Parental Consent is still pending.
Their account is deleted after 30 days if the Parental Consent isn't signed and returned before then.
Important Timelines and Notifications
Please sign the parent or guardian consent within 30 days of the request.
If | Then |
If the consent form isn't signed and returned within 15 days | A reminder email is sent with a link to the form |
If the consent form isn't signed and returned within 29 days | Another notice is sent to let you know that the account will be deleted within 24 hours |
If the consent form isn't signed and returned within 30 days | The account and all of the user's information are deleted from the site |
Updating a Parent or Guardian Email
Want to check if the parent or guardian's email address is correct? You can update the email address if necessary!
Go to your Edit Profile area.
Click the Click Here in the banner that says "Account is still pending for Parental Consent. To update and resend the parent email, click here."
Check the email and make any corrections as necessary, then click Send Email when you're ready.
