In relief situations, ID cards can play a critical role in identifying resources for people affected by a disaster. Using an ID card printer, volunteer coordinators can quickly print photo identification for relief workers showing up on the site. Each of the photo IDs may be color coded to indicate differing levels of command and different volunteer activities in order to organize all of the volunteer resources more efficiently. ID cards can also be issued to people living in the region where the disaster occurred.

For more temporary volunteer operations, or volunteer programs with a large pool of rotating volunteers, ID badges can be created as each new volunteer pledges their time. At hospitals and schools where security is a concern, volunteer badges clearly identify and distinguish a volunteer’s role in the facility acting as a kind of visitor badge. When combined with ID card software, a volunteer ID card can even keep a log of individual volunteer hours.