Nonprofits are tasked with alleviating the hardships of people in local and global communities. They interact with a wide range of actors including governmental bodies, private firms and grassroots communities. The diverse nature of their operations and exposure leaves them susceptible to a wide variety of risks. These risks can result in a significant loss that could devastate the nonprofit’s mission. Fortunately, insurance is available to protect against these risks. In addition to ensuring that the firm can continue its work, protecting it against a substantial loss can also help ensure that funding and grants can be secured in the future.
A good nonprofit insurance agent understands the unique needs of charitable organizations and can help you determine the coverage you need to best protect your organization. The agent will assess the risks of your business and work with you to develop a comprehensive insurance plan that meets your specific needs and budget. The insurance agent will also offer advice and guidance in the event of a claim.
Every nonprofit that does hands-on work or has a space it uses for its operations needs general liability insurance. This policy protects the nonprofit against claims made by clients, volunteers or others for injuries and some instances of property damage and advertising injury. It’s also important to have a commercial property insurance policy in place to protect the property owned by the nonprofit against fire, storm, theft and vandalism.
Many of the same policies as for-profit businesses are available to nonprofits, including workers’ compensation and commercial auto coverage. Directors and officers insurance is another valuable policy for nonprofits to consider, as it offers protection for board members and volunteers against allegations of negligence and wrongdoing in the course of their duties. In addition, crime coverage (also known as crime bonds) is a necessity for nonprofits to have in place in case of employee dishonesty, which can be a significant drain on a charitable organization’s resources.
Abuse and molestation liability is another type of policy that should be considered for nonprofits working with youth or a disadvantaged population. This coverage provides defense and settlement funds in the event of allegations of abuse or molestation. If your nonprofit has employees, it’s also necessary to have a workers’ compensation policy in place.
Insurance isn’t cheap, but it can be a vital investment in your company’s survival. Be sure to work with an experienced broker that has experience in this area and can benchmark your policies against those of similar organizations for size, risk tolerance, and claims history to help keep your costs down. do nonprofits need insurance