National Center for Safety Initiatives

What National Center for Safety Initiatives does

National Center for Safety Initiatives LLC (NCSI) is a private, Cleveland-based provider of background screening and safety-program services founded in 2005. It serves youth sports organizations, state and national governing bodies, civic and parks-and-recreation programs, volunteer organizations, schools, and some corporate employment buyers. Its use cases center on volunteer, coach, employee, and applicant screening, compliance support, liability reduction, and policy guidance for organizations serving children and other vulnerable populations.

NCSI’s core product is an online background-screening platform with organization account management and individual screening submission. The process combines identity verification, county and state criminal record searches, multi-jurisdictional criminal database searches, sex offender registry searches, FBI and international wanted-list checks, configurable screening criteria, and hands-on review by safety experts. Adjacent services include motor vehicle reports, social media screening, education and employment verification, risk management support, and education/training delivered through partner relationships; SportsEngine HQ integration enables organizations to assign, track, and review screenings.

The business model is primarily transaction-based. Published packages are priced at $16, $23, and $35 per background check, with paid add-ons such as social media checks, continuous monitoring, motor vehicle reports, and employment verification. Go-to-market blends direct sales and specialist-led program design for larger organizations, self-serve submissions using organization codes, and channel distribution through SportsEngine HQ and state association affinity partnerships.

Name

National Center for Safety Initiatives

Legal name

National Center for Safety Initiatives LLC

Website

https://solutions.ncsisafe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

National Center for Safety Initiatives provides background screening, identity verification, compliance support and safety-program tools for youth sports, governing bodies, parks and recreation, volunteer organizations, schools and employers through per-check pricing and partner channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Background Check Screening Services: Per-transaction pricing for background checks with three tiered packages (Essentials, Advanced, Complete) ranging from $16 to $35 per check. Additional add-on services available including social media checks, continuous monitoring, and MVR reports.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NCSI provides comprehensive background screening services for youth-serving and vulnerable-population organizations, including identity verification, multi-jurisdictional criminal database searches, county criminal record searches, sex offender registry checks, and FBI/international wanted lists searches. Services are delivered through tiered packages (Essentials at $16, Advanced at $23, Complete at $35 per check) with add-on modules such as Motor Vehicle Reports, social media screening, and education/employment verification, plus partner-delivered abuse prevention, Safe Sport compliance, and concussion education training.

Product overview

NCSI offers a unified background screening platform with tiered pricing plans (Essentials $16/check, Advanced $23/check, Complete $35/check) as the core offering. The platform centers on comprehensive background checks with identity verification, county criminal searches, multi-jurisdictional database searches (2 billion+ records), and sex offender registry checks. Add-on modules include Motor Vehicle Reports, Social Media Screening, and Education/Employment Verification. Training services (SafeSport, concussion education, abuse prevention) and Risk Management consulting are offered through partner integrations. SportsEngine HQ (parent company product) provides connected safety program management. The platform serves diverse organization types including youth sports, governing bodies, civic organizations, volunteers, and corporate employers through unified account management with 24/7 secure access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Background Checks Core background screening service verifying identity, local county criminal records, national multi-jurisdictional criminal databases (2 billion+ records), sex offender registries, and FBI/international wanted lists with hands-on expert review. Designed for youth-serving organizations, civic programs, and governing bodies needing FCRA-compliant screening.
• Motor Vehicle Registry Checks (MVR) Motor Vehicle Report service reviewing driving records including license status, traffic violations, DUI history, accidents, vehicular crimes, and restrictions/suspensions covering three years of records. Add-on to background screening for organizations transporting youth.
• Social Media Screening Social media background check scouring Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok to flag hate speech, bullying, obscene language, threats of violence, explicit images, and drug-related content with sentiment analysis.
• Education and Employment Verification Verification service confirming educational credentials (enrollment dates, degrees, graduation status) and employment history (dates, titles, responsibilities) through direct contact with institutions and past employers.
• Education and Training Training resources including U.S. Center for SafeSport abuse prevention courses, TeachAids CrashCourse concussion education, and Abuse Prevention Systems Safe Sport Act-compliant training delivered through SportsEngine HQ.
• Risk Management Risk management solutions partner connecting organizations with special programs for liability minimization, offered in partnership with industry best-in-class providers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 46% more criminal records found compared to database-only searches
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership spanning from 2008 Beijing Olympics through 2024 Paris Olympics. NCSI provides background checks meeting strict USOPC requirements for Olympic-level organizations and athletes. NCSI is recognized as the number one background check provider for National Governing Bodies.
• National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSI is the only background check endorsed by NCYS. Partnership provides endorsement of NCSI's screening services to NCYS member organizations.
• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time supporter of the National Recreation and Park Association, providing background screening services to parks and recreation departments nationwide.
• Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCSI is a proud partner recommending safety services through the IAPD Affinity Program. Illinois organizations receive special pricing through this partnership.
• Maryland Recreation and Parks Association (MRPA)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNCSI is a proud partner of MRPA providing background screening services to Maryland parks and recreation organizations.
• Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership recommending NCSI background check services to FRPA member organizations in Florida.
• Georgia Recreation and Park Association (GRPA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership recommending NCSI background check services to GRPA member organizations in Georgia.
• Washington Recreation and Park Association (WRPA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership recommending NCSI background check services to WRPA member organizations in Washington state.
• Tennessee Parks and Recreation CoalitionminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership recommending NCSI background check services to Tennessee parks and recreation organizations.
• U.S. Center for SafeSportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with U.S. Center for SafeSport to offer crucial courses on emotional, physical, and sexual abuse and misconduct. NCSI makes these training resources easily available for customers.
• TeachAidsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing CrashCourse concussion education training through NCSI safety programs. Research-based, interactive resources for concussion prevention and treatment.
• Abuse Prevention SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Safe Sport Act-compliant abuse awareness training through SportsEngine HQ. Training helps coaches and volunteers identify warning signs and report suspicious activity meeting NCYS Guidelines.
• SportsEngine HQcoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with SportsEngine HQ software platform where 15,000+ youth sports organizations manage safety programs. Full connectivity for assigning, tracking, and reviewing screenings for coaches and volunteers.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• S2 Verify: S2 Verify provides FCRA-compliant background screening for employers, volunteer organizations, and educational institutions. Direct peer in the volunteer/youth-serving segment with overlapping customer base (parks and recreation, schools, non-profits).
• Checkr: Checkr is a leading technology-driven background screening platform offering criminal, employment, identity, and continuous monitoring checks to employers. Directly comparable as a consumer/end-customer background check provider, though Checkr is more horizontal across corporate employment while NCSI is verticalized in youth-serving organizations.
• Sterling Talent Solutions: Sterling provides enterprise background screening (criminal, identity, MVR, drug/health screening) with a particularly relevant vertical in Sterling Volunteers serving nonprofit and youth organizations. Closest peer in the volunteer/youth-serving space through its Sterling Volunteers brand and offers comparable multi-jurisdictional search depth.
• HireRight: HireRight is a global background screening provider serving enterprise and SMB across criminal, employment, education, MVR, and drug screening. Directly comparable at the product and pricing layer; differs in scale (HireRight is significantly larger and serves general employment while NCSI is anchored in youth sports and civic verticals).
• Accurate Background: Accurate Background offers scalable employment background screening (criminal, MVR, verifications) primarily to mid-market and enterprise employers. Comparable service overlap on the screening product layer with similar tiered and per-check pricing models.

Emerging players

• Veremark: Veremark is a global background screening startup offering tech-enabled criminal, employment, and education checks via API and self-serve. Overlaps with NCSI on screening products but is building more horizontally with an international focus rather than verticalizing in youth sports.
• Certn: Certn is a fast-growing Canadian background screening company expanding in the U.S. market with API-first criminal and employment checks. Comparable product layer but a tech-focused entrant vs. NCSI's vertical compliance and credentialing strategy.

Broad incumbents

• USIS (Sterling): USIS provides workforce solutions including background screening under its parent. Comparable as a broader incumbent serving regulated industries with deep compliance expertise; overlaps NCSI's mid-market and enterprise screening footprint but with less vertical specialization in youth-serving organizations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/sportsengine
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/sportngin
• Facebookfacebook.com/sportsengine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-center-for-safety-initiatives-ncsi-
• Instagraminstagram.com/nbcsportsengine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Center for Safety Initiatives