December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Keeping Volunteers Safe From Harm: Street Smarts for Unfamiliar Turf

Volunteer safety takes many forms in a community-serving nonprofit. From a thorough orientation program to “on-the-job” training, careful supervision and incident follow-up, nonprofits have various opportunities to help their volunteers stay safe. Start at the Beginning Don’t assume that you...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Screening Update

The results of a study of volunteer screening practices by the National Center for Victims of Crime reveal gaps in the volunteer screening practices of nonprofit organizations. Twelve percent of the organizations participating in the survey reported that they did not engage...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Insurance for Volunteer Programs

The following article is excerpted from Chapter 9 of No Surprises: Harmonizing Risk & Reward in Volunteer Management, 3rd Edition. Claims Against the Volunteer Fear of incurring personal liability for volunteer service isn’t uncommon among the estimated 90 million Americans who...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Spotlight on People: Managing Volunteer and Employee Risks

When Does Compensating Volunteers Turn Them Into Employees? Last year the questions flowing from the Center’s newsletter article on this issue were surprising. We didn’t realize that so many organizations find ways to “pay” their volunteers in small, and sometimes,...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Risk on the Road: Managing Volunteer Driver Exposures

Many nonprofits rely on volunteer drivers to help fulfill their programs and services. Whether the drivers are taking seniors to medical appointments or bringing meals or library books to those unable to leave their homes, opportunities abound for volunteers to...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

Summer Interns: Volunteers or Employees?

Now that summer is around the corner, many nonprofits are fortunate to have lined up students or recent grads as “interns.” Such summer help is greatly appreciated by nonprofits but could come at an unexpected cost if the nonprofit is...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

People Who Need People: Are you feeling lucky?

Nonprofit management experts often direct “nonprofits” to take specific steps to improve their governance, internal operations, strategic planning and fundraising activities. But as we well know, the “nonprofit” itself is incapable of “doing” anything—it’s the people behind the desks, on...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Developing Risk Management Policies for Your Volunteer Program

There is no single way or ideal approach to managing the risks that arise from volunteer service. In No Surprises: Harmonizing Risk and Reward in Volunteer Management, the Nonprofit Risk Management Center explores various facets of risk associated with volunteer programs...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Risk eNews

No Surprises in Volunteer Management

Volunteers are at the heart of most nonprofits, but your nonprofit’s heart may beat a dangerous rhythm without volunteer risk management. Every nonprofit with volunteers is at risk of experiencing these surprises: The risk of a volunteer abusing a client...

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December 2, 2016

Resource Type: Articles

Myths of Volunteer Risk Management, Part 3

This is the third in a series of articles concerning myths about volunteer liability. This installment covers the concept of agency as it relates to volunteer activities and how an organization should address its potential liability for the actions of...

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