diff --git a/common/models/challenge.json b/common/models/challenge.json
index 3258d641ee..baa78a4e4c 100644
--- a/common/models/challenge.json
+++ b/common/models/challenge.json
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@
   "properties": {
     "name": {
       "type": "string",
-      "unique": true
+      "index": {
+        "mongodb": {
+          "unique": true,
+          "background": true
+        }
+      }
     },
     "title": {
       "type": "string"
diff --git a/common/models/nonprofit.json b/common/models/nonprofit.json
index 738c43e9ad..5d8dddbc3d 100644
--- a/common/models/nonprofit.json
+++ b/common/models/nonprofit.json
@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@
   "properties": {
     "name": {
       "type": "string",
-      "unique": true
+      "index": {
+        "mongodb": {
+          "unique": true,
+          "background": true
+        }
+      }
     },
     "whatDoesNonprofitDo": {
       "type": "string"
diff --git a/common/models/story.json b/common/models/story.json
index 8aab09964b..6f252cefb3 100644
--- a/common/models/story.json
+++ b/common/models/story.json
@@ -6,28 +6,29 @@
   "properties": {
     "name": {
       "type": "string",
-      "unique": true
+      "index": {
+        "mongodb": {
+          "unique": true,
+          "background": true
+        }
+      }
     },
     "headline": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "unique": false
+      "type": "string"
     },
     "timePosted": {
       "type": "number",
       "default": 0
     },
     "link": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "unique": false
+      "type": "string"
     },
     "metaDescription": {
       "type": "string",
-      "default": "",
-      "unique": false
+      "default": ""
     },
     "description": {
-      "type": "string",
-      "unique": false
+      "type": "string"
     },
     "originalStoryAuthorEmail": {
       "type": "string",
diff --git a/common/models/user.json b/common/models/user.json
index 97027fd50e..871cd2db46 100644
--- a/common/models/user.json
+++ b/common/models/user.json
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
       "index": {
         "mongodb": {
           "unique": true,
+          "background": true,
           "sparse": true
         }
       }
@@ -46,7 +47,8 @@
       "require": true,
       "index": {
         "mongodb": {
-          "unique": true
+          "unique": true,
+          "background": true
         }
       }
     },