Protecting Nonprofits and Their Volunteers

‘Tis the season for end-of-the-year charitable giving! As fundraising efforts ramp up and volunteers pitch in, make sure your nonprofit clients have the coverage they need. 

The last few weeks of the year are critical for charitable organizations when it comes to fundraising. The holiday message of giving to others combined with the end-of-year deadline for tax deductions can translate into sizable monetary donations for nonprofits and social services organizations. 

As fundraising efforts ramp up, many organizations rely heavily on the use of volunteers to coordinate special projects, lend a hand at events, and help with marketing – all while continuing to deliver regular services to the populations they serve. Volunteers are the norm in the nonprofit and social services space, but their participation adds a level of risk that must be properly addressed.

Coverage Concerns Regarding Volunteers

Volunteers that deliver services for a nonprofit or social services organization must be specifically addressed in the insurance policy to avoid coverage gaps. In addition, policy forms have to be broad enough to cover affiliated foundations, chapters, etc.

When assessing a nonprofit’s exposures, agents should obtain the following information:

• Number of volunteers used in the operation
• Pre-screening and eligibility-for-service protocols for prospective volunteers
• Management and supervision of volunteers
• Duties performed by volunteers
• Whether volunteers drive vehicles owned by the insured or their own personal vehicles while performing tasks on behalf of the insured

Thorough hiring and screening practices should be in place to guarantee that the organization is properly screening all employees and volunteers who may have direct contact with their clients. Besides the initial employment or volunteer application, interview process, education requirements, and reference checks, the nonprofit should be fingerprinting and conducting background checks on prospective employees and volunteers. Some states mandate these steps for volunteers, especially when dealing with children. 

MiniCo’s Nonprofit and Social Services Insurance experts can guide you through finding the right coverage for your clients’ needs. Contact our underwriters today to learn more.