Verification System Documentation - Give Protocol Documentation

This document provides detailed information about Give Protocol’s multi-tier verification system, which ensures trust, transparency, and security across the platform.

Overview

Give Protocol’s verification system establishes trust between donors, organizations, and volunteers through comprehensive identity validation, document verification, and ongoing compliance monitoring.

Verification Benefits

For Organizations: Increased donor trust and higher donation rates
For Donors: Confidence in legitimate charitable giving
For Volunteers: Safe and verified opportunities
For the Platform: Reduced fraud and enhanced reputation

Verification Levels

Basic Verification

Requirements:

Email confirmation
Phone number verification
Basic profile completion
Terms of service acceptance

Features Unlocked:

Create and browse listings
Send and receive messages
Basic platform access
Limited transaction amounts

Standard Verification

Requirements:

Government-issued ID
Address verification
Social media linking
Background check consent

Features Unlocked:

Full platform features
Higher transaction limits
Priority support
Verification badge display

Enhanced Verification

Requirements:

Video verification call
Professional references
Financial documentation
Extended background check

Features Unlocked:

Premium features access
Unlimited transactions
API access
Custom integrations

Organization Verification

Nonprofit Status Verification

Required Documents:

Tax-Exempt Status
- IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter (US)
- Charity registration (International)
- Current tax-exempt certificate
Governance Documents
- Articles of incorporation
- Bylaws
- Board of directors list
- Conflict of interest policy
Financial Documentation
- Recent Form 990 (US)
- Audited financial statements
- Annual report
- Budget documentation

Verification Process

flowchart TD
    A[Organization Applies] --> B[Document Submission]
    B --> C{Initial Review}
    C -->|Pass| D[Database Verification]
    C -->|Fail| E[Request Additional Info]
    E --> B
    D --> F{Charity Database Check}
    F -->|Found| G[Financial Review]
    F -->|Not Found| H[Manual Review]
    G --> I{Compliance Check}
    H --> I
    I -->|Approved| J[Verified Status]
    I -->|Denied| K[Rejection Notice]
    J --> L[Annual Renewal]

Verification Timeline

Initial Application: 1-2 business days
Document Review: 3-5 business days
Database Verification: Automated
Final Approval: 7-10 business days total

International Organizations

Additional Requirements:

Country-specific charity registration
Translated documents (certified)
International banking verification
Local compliance certificates

Supported Countries:

United States
Canada
United Kingdom
Australia
European Union members
Additional countries evaluated case-by-case

Donor Verification

Identity Verification

Standard KYC Process:

Document Upload
- Government-issued photo ID
- Selfie with ID
- Proof of address
Automated Checks
- Document authenticity
- Facial recognition matching
- Address validation
- Sanctions screening
Risk Assessment
- Transaction history analysis
- Behavioral patterns
- Geographic risk factors
- PEP screening

Verification Tiers

Tier 1 - Basic ($0-$1,000/year)

Email verification only
No documentation required
Anonymous donations allowed

Tier 2 - Standard ($1,001-$10,000/year)

ID verification required
Address confirmation
Source of funds declaration

Tier 3 - Enhanced ($10,001+/year)

Enhanced due diligence
Wealth verification
Ongoing monitoring
Dedicated support

Privacy Protection

Data Handling:

End-to-end encryption
Minimal data retention
GDPR/CCPA compliant
Right to deletion

Anonymity Options:

Anonymous donations under thresholds
Pseudonymous giving
Private donor advised funds
Blockchain-based privacy

Volunteer Verification

Background Checks

Standard Screening:

Identity verification
Criminal background check
Sex offender registry
Reference checks

Enhanced Screening (for sensitive roles):

FBI fingerprinting
Child abuse clearances
Professional license verification
Drug screening (if required)

Skills Verification

Professional Skills:

License verification
Certification validation
Portfolio review
Skill assessments

Verification Partners:

Sterling background checks
Checkr integration
Professional boards
Educational institutions

Technical Implementation

Verification API

Initiate Verification:

POST /api/v1/verification/initiate
Authorization: Bearer your_api_key
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "entity_type": "organization",
  "entity_id": "org_123abc",
  "verification_level": "standard",
  "documents": [
    {
      "type": "501c3_letter",
      "url": "https://secure.give.io/docs/..."
    }
  ]
}

Check Status:

GET /api/v1/verification/status/{entity_id}
Authorization: Bearer your_api_key

Response:
{
  "entity_id": "org_123abc",
  "status": "in_review",
  "level": "standard",
  "checks": {
    "identity": "completed",
    "documents": "in_review",
    "database": "pending"
  },
  "estimated_completion": "2024-01-20T10:00:00Z"
}

Webhook Events

Verification Events:

// Verification completed
{
  "event": "verification.completed",
  "data": {
    "entity_id": "org_123abc",
    "entity_type": "organization",
    "level": "standard",
    "status": "approved",
    "expires_at": "2025-01-15T00:00:00Z"
  }
}

// Verification failed
{
  "event": "verification.failed",
  "data": {
    "entity_id": "org_123abc",
    "reason": "Invalid documentation",
    "required_actions": [
      "Submit updated 501c3 letter",
      "Provide board resolution"
    ]
  }
}

SDK Integration

JavaScript Example:

import { Verification } from "@give-protocol/sdk";

const verification = new Verification({
  apiKey: "your_api_key",
});

// Start organization verification
const result = await verification.initiate({
  entityType: "organization",
  entityId: "org_123",
  documents: [
    { type: "501c3", file: file1 },
    { type: "board_list", file: file2 },
  ],
});

// Monitor progress
const status = await verification.getStatus("org_123");
console.log(`Verification ${status.complete ? "completed" : "in progress"}`);

Verification Standards

Document Requirements

Acceptable Formats:

PDF (preferred)
JPG/PNG (for IDs)
DOC/DOCX (for letters)
Maximum file size: 10MB

Document Quality:

Clear and legible
Complete documents only
Recent dates (within 12 months)
Official letterhead required

Compliance Framework

Regulatory Compliance:

FinCEN guidelines
OFAC screening
State regulations
International standards

Industry Standards:

FATF recommendations
ISO 27001 certification
SOC 2 Type II compliance
PCI DSS for payments

Verification Maintenance

Renewal Requirements

Annual Review:

Updated documentation
Continued compliance
Activity verification
Fee payment (if applicable)

Triggers for Re-verification:

Change in leadership
Address changes
Suspicious activity
Regulatory updates

Verification Revocation

Grounds for Revocation:

Fraudulent documentation
Criminal activity
Terms of service violations
Regulatory non-compliance

Revocation Process:

Notice of concern
Opportunity to remedy
Final determination
Appeal process

Trust Indicators

Verification Badges

Badge Types:

Basic Verified ✓
Standard Verified ✓✓
Enhanced Verified ✓✓✓
Specialized badges (e.g., “Child Safety Verified”)

Display Guidelines:

Prominent profile placement
Search result indicators
Transaction confirmations
Marketing materials

Trust Score

Calculation Factors:

Verification level
Platform history
User feedback
Compliance record
Update frequency

Score Ranges:

0-40: New/Unverified
41-70: Basic Trust
71-90: High Trust
91-100: Exceptional Trust

Fraud Prevention

Detection Systems

Automated Monitoring:

Pattern recognition
Anomaly detection
Cross-reference checking
Real-time alerts

Red Flags:

Duplicate applications
Mismatched information
Suspicious documentation
Unusual activity patterns

Response Procedures

Investigation Process:

Automated flag trigger
Manual review initiation
Entity notification
Evidence collection
Decision and action

Protective Actions:

Account suspension
Transaction holds
Enhanced monitoring
Law enforcement referral

Support and Appeals

Verification Support

Help Resources:

Detailed guides
Video tutorials
Live chat support
Email assistance

Common Issues:

Document quality
Missing information
Technical problems
Timeline concerns

Appeals Process

Filing an Appeal:

Submit appeal form
Provide new documentation
Explain circumstances
Await review

Appeal Timeline:

Initial review: 48 hours
Full review: 5-7 business days
Final decision: 10 business days

Best Practices

For Organizations

Prepare Documents Early
- Gather all required documents
- Ensure current dates
- Verify document quality
Maintain Compliance
- Update documents annually
- Report changes promptly
- Keep records organized
Build Trust Gradually
- Start with basic verification
- Add enhanced features over time
- Maintain active presence

For Donors

Verify at Appropriate Level
- Match verification to giving level
- Provide accurate information
- Keep documents updated
Protect Your Privacy
- Understand data usage
- Use privacy features
- Report concerns promptly

For Developers

Implement Properly
- Use webhooks for updates
- Handle errors gracefully
- Cache verification status
Maintain Security
- Encrypt sensitive data
- Use secure connections
- Follow best practices

Overview

Verification Benefits

Verification Levels

Basic Verification

Standard Verification

Enhanced Verification

Organization Verification

Nonprofit Status Verification

Verification Process

Verification Timeline

International Organizations

Donor Verification

Identity Verification

Verification Tiers

Privacy Protection

Volunteer Verification

Background Checks

Skills Verification

Technical Implementation

Verification API

Webhook Events

SDK Integration

Verification Standards

Document Requirements

Compliance Framework

Verification Maintenance

Renewal Requirements

Verification Revocation

Trust Indicators

Verification Badges

Trust Score

Fraud Prevention

Detection Systems

Response Procedures

Support and Appeals

Verification Support

Appeals Process

Best Practices

For Organizations

For Donors

For Developers

Future Enhancements

Planned Features

Research Initiatives

Search Results