We receive a lot of questions about insurance, so I want to
introduce you to an insurance specialist, Shanika Gunesekera to
address your questions and insurance needs. I find her to be a
person of integrity and truly interested in serving her clients.
Here is something she wrote to get you thinking about insurance
issues. She is also happy to answer your questions at her email or
telephone number below.
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Risk Management requires proactive planning to avoid or to limit
potential losses. Unfortunately, many non-profit organizations
consider buying insurance as simply a reaction to regulation and
outside requirement. However, losses do happen, and can vary from a
fire that destroys a building to a non-profit’s Board of Directors
being sued. Some of these losses can be large and even threaten the
survival of a non-profit institution. The function of an insurance
program is to indemnify you and your non-profit in the event of an
insurable loss, and help the non-profit set up loss control
procedures to prevent costly accidents from ever happening.
As a non-profit organization, a few questions to consider are:
1)Volunteers are the backbone of most non-profit organizations.
Are they covered if they are hurt while volunteering?
2)Lawsuits against Board Members have been increasing at a
shocking rate. Does your organization have a substantial ‘Directors
& Officers’ (D&O) policy?
3)Has anyone from your organization been fired? Employment
practices claims are one of the most prevalent source of litigation
in the non-profit sector today. Does your organization have
adequate coverage?
4)Do employees who reconcile the monthly bank statements also
either sign checks or handle deposits ?
5)Do your employees use their own vehicles for work?
6)Does the public have access to fine art or internal premises,
where theft can take place due to inadequate security?
7)If your non-profit organization has several different
locations, are they all scheduled on the declaration?
8)If you provide a service such as counseling and medical/legal
advice, do you have sufficient Errors & Omissions or Malpractice
coverage?
9)Are you getting the best coverage for the most competitive price?
While insurance may not be at the top of most non-profit’s list of
priorities it is important to make sure your non-profit is
sufficiently covered. A comprehensive insurance program will ensure
that in an event of an insurable loss your organization can get
back on its feet, with minimal delay, to continue the valuable work
that you do.
If you have questions about insurance for your non-profit, you can
speak with an insurance specialist, Shanika Gunesekera at
650-227-7227 or e-mail her at shanika@maccorkle.com. She can answer
your questions.
