Resources
What Nonprofits Need to Know About Conflict De-Escalation
By Rachel Sams Imagine you’re the director of client services at a nonprofit that serves unhoused people. You hold an open house to educate the public about your work and the challenges unhoused people face. A community member aggressively and repeatedly questions your executive director. She politely thanks the community member for his feedback and … Continued
How to Create and Iterate Firearms and Weapons Policies
By Melanie Lockwood Herman Safety at work is top-of-mind for employees across the diverse nonprofit sector. In some workplaces, employees feel comfortable sharing their concerns about the risk of workplace violence, mass shootings, terrorism, and other events that potentially put them in harm’s way. In other situations, employees keep their concerns to themselves. Strong views … Continued
Workplace Violence Prevention and Preparedness Strategies for Nonprofits
By Rachel Sams This article contains information about prevention and preparedness strategies for workplace violence, including physical assaults and mass shootings. When was the last time tempers got heated at your nonprofit? Did two or more employees clash? Did people receiving services argue with each other? Maybe someone receiving services disagreed with a team member. … Continued
Travel Risk: How Your Nonprofit Can Safely Navigate the Return to Travel
As business travel slowly returns, make sure your nonprofit is ready. Learn the latest tips to evaluate the risks and benefits of travel and navigate health and security issues wherever your team is headed.
How to Build and Fortify a Critical Incident Process
By Rachel Sams Want employees to buy into your nonprofit’s critical incident reporting program? Use the words “critical incident reporting” sparingly, says Regina Wright, Senior Advisor for Child and Adult Safeguarding at Save the Children US. When Wright speaks with Save the Children employees, she explains in jargon-free language why incident reporting matters. She strips … Continued
Fuzzy Futures: Managing Uncertainty with Scenario Planning
Events like the COVID-19 pandemic provide sobering wake-up calls to nonprofit leaders, who must execute their missions today and tomorrow despite unnervingly uncertain futures. To better prepare for surviving unpredictable, unthinkable events or futures far from today’s reality, watch this webinar to learn about the art of scenario planning. Leave the webinar with a basic … Continued
Sexual Harassment Prevention for Nonprofit Teams
When sexual harassment and other forms of workplace misconduct occur, these situations have far-reaching effects on organizations. In addition to declining engagement and the departure of talented team members, nonprofits may face the risk of costly legal liability. This webinar explores the evolution of harassment risk in the workplace, the concept of illegal retaliation, relevant … Continued
Managing Risk & Safety: What’s New and What’s Next?
This webinar explores the changing risk landscape for nonprofit organizations and the risks that arise from our uncertain, evolving circumstances. Learn how to apply lessons from recent experience to your work to infuse a spirit and commitment to safety, resilience, and well-being. The NRMC team will highlight some of our interactive tools and resources that … Continued
Take 10: Resume and Thrive Strategies
By Melanie Lockwood Herman and Whitney Claire Thomey The effects of a global pandemic have caused many nonprofits to quickly scale back and shutter programs, send staff home, and redeploy resources to stop the spread of COVID-19. No organization was immune from the need to make fast, and in some cases, immediate decisions about what … Continued
Dream a Little Dream: Managing Sleep Deprivation Risks
By Katharine Nesslage Our ambitious 24/7 lifestyles, filled with unbalanced diets, low physical activity, excessive electronic media use, and psychosocial stress, are causing a precipitous decline in our sleep. But the safety implications of sleep deprivation have been known for decades. Precipitating causes of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident (1979), the Exxon Valdez oil … Continued
High or Dry: Weed and the Workplace
By Melanie Lockwood Herman Is your nonprofit workplace a “drug-free” zone? Although nonprofit leaders are in agreement that impaired staff pose an unacceptable risk to the safety of people who serve and receive services, the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana creates a host of challenges for nonprofit employers who wish to take a stand … Continued
Get All Defensive: A Crash Course To Reduce Distracted Driving
Assuming you commute by car, how much behind the wheel bad behavior do you see in the course of a week? The low hanging rotten fruit is distracted driving from use of personal electronic devices (PEDs) for navigation, tunes, talk, or texting. How many incidents do you see involving corporate vehicles with identifying brands proudly … Continued
Unravel Risk Myths and Mysteries
By Melanie Lockwood Herman A recent conversation reminded me of the tendency to cling to myths and misconceptions about safety and the wide world of risk. Some of the risk-related myths I’ve heard from time to time include: The world is becoming more dangerous: Media reports of violence, tragic accidents, and familiar and less-known health risks … Continued
Employment Practices Risk Resources
Explore this RISK eNewsletter filled with tips and resources for managing employment practices risk. CEO and Staff Succession Planning Avoid transition trauma by reading our practical articles on succession planning: Avoid Transition Trauma with a CEO Succession Plan Staff Succession Planning Employment Policies, Safety, and Screening Read The Employment Issue of our newsletter, Risk Management … Continued
Salient Safety Resources
December 1, 2017 Explore this RISK eNewsletter focused on workplace safety. Whiteboard Wisdom Videos on Workplace Safety The NRMC team recently collaborated with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.’s Nonprofit Practice to develop a series of Whiteboard Wisdom videos on various workplace safety and risk topics. Watch the Whiteboard Wisdom videos focused on workplace safety: Workplace … Continued
Workplace Harassment: An Unacceptable Risk
Of late, news is teeming with tales of workplace sexual harassment in Hollywood, Silicon Valley, and elsewhere. While it’s important to recognize that both men and women are victims of workplace harassment, many American women are now stepping forward to report harassment they have experienced at work. I assume that the nonprofit sector does not … Continued
A Blueprint for Facility Risk Management
By Eric Henkel Nonprofits own and operate many different kinds of facilities. Although in other business functions, risk may be less visible or apparent, the facilities we occupy are under our feet and above our heads every day. From warehouses to recreational spaces to commercial kitchens and traditional office space, the facilities that nonprofits occupy … Continued
Finding Neverland: Keeping Staff Safe While Traveling Overseas
Like Peter Pan and the Lost Boys as they explore Neverland, nonprofit staff members might encounter a wide range of unfamiliar events and circumstances when working internationally. From facing civil unrest against an authoritarian regime, to a personal health crisis or a natural disaster, your staff members need to get ‘Hooked’ on safety in order … Continued
Lend a Helping Hand: Top 10 Risks Facing Volunteer Programs
Volunteer programs are vital to the nonprofit sector. Boost the contribution that your volunteers can make in moving your mission forward. Watch this webinar to learn the top ten risks facing volunteer programs, and practical tips to protect your nonprofit when recruiting, managing, and recognizing your volunteers.
Avoid Distracted Driving: Don’t Get Teary and Put Down Siri
This article is an excerpt from The Transportation Issue of our newsletter, Risk Management Essentials. Whether it is sending a quick text or recalling a very emotional memory or event, distracted driving is incredibly commonplace on roads throughout the United States and abroad. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes three primary varieties … Continued
HEATWAVE: Heat Dome Survival Tips
By Erin Gloeckner “Has high blood pressure got a hold on me, or is this the way love’s supposed to be? It’s like a heat wave burning in my heart…” – (Love Is Like a) Heat Wave, Martha & the Vandellas Since the Heat Dome started scorching the US a few days ago, I’ve been … Continued
Safe and Secure: Supporting International Staff
By Eric Henkel The safety and well being of employees is generally a top-of-mind concern for nonprofit leaders. When an organization deploys its staff internationally, additional uncertainty enters the already complex risk landscape. Deployed staff members may work in limited resource environments or in conditions of cultural and political instability. Issues that might seem routine … Continued
Safe Lifting: Why & How (video)
Improper lifting practices result in countless injuries to American workers each year. Watch the video below to learn a few simple steps for safe lifting! The Center team creates custom risk resources for our clients, like this safe lifting video we created for our client and Corporate Sustainer, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Build your … Continued
Before You Hit the Road: Stepping Stones of Driver Safety
The leading cause of work-related death is motor vehicle collisions, therefore making the most dangerous part of your volunteers’ and employees’ workday the time spent on the road on behalf of your nonprofit. If your organization routinely (or even occasionally) has employees or volunteers drive any type of motorized vehicles as part of their job, … Continued
Safety is Not a Luxury: Understanding the Risks of Passenger Vans
Large passenger vans, especially those that seat fifteen people, are a popular method of transportation for many nonprofits because they are size-efficient and cost-effective. Church groups, youth sports teams, student groups, and summer camps and other seasonal activity organizers often utilize these vans, and so do other organizations that need to move groups of clients, … Continued
Avoid Distracted Driving: Don’t Get Teary & Put Down Siri
Whether it is sending a quick text or recalling a very emotional memory or event, distracted driving is incredibly commonplace on roads throughout the United States and abroad. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes three primary varieties of distraction: visual—taking your eyes off the road manual—taking your hands off the wheel cognitive—taking … Continued
When the Weather Outside is Frightful: Designing an Inclement Weather Policy
Whether your nonprofit is located in Tampa or Toronto, bad weather is inevitable. No matter if your bad weather consists of intense heat, hurricanes, or endless snow, join the NRMC team to learn about the importance of inclement weather policies, a key aspect of your nonprofit’s employee handbook. Avoid getting caught in the next storm unprepared, and … Continued
Managing Workplace Safety Risks
Every nonprofit faces the risk of events that may be difficult, if not impossible to forecast. Yet the difficulty of accurately forecasting-predicting what, when and who-does not put anticipating and preparing for events out of reach. This webinar will explore practical strategies for reducing the likelihood of violence and misconduct and other disruptions in the … Continued
Managing Facility Risks
Whether you rent, lease or own the building and grounds where your nonprofit provides services and programs, you are responsible for certain levels of maintenance and safety. The best ways to manage facility risk is to involve the people on the front line and their supervisors in creating the policies and procedures that they need … Continued
Managing Transportation Risk in a Nonprofit
Whether your nonprofit owns a fleet of vehicles or simply requires staff members (or volunteers) to use their own cars for organization activities, you’ve got transportation risk. This Webinar explores a number of key topics within the field of transportation risk management, including vehicle safety, driver screening and supervision, maintenance and hot topics” in transportation. … Continued
Third-Party Harassment: Is Your Nonprofit at Risk?
This 60-minute seminar offers a practical look at the topic of third-party harassment. While most nonprofit leaders are aware of their obligations to reduce the risk of harassment between staff members, greater awareness of third-party harassment is needed to adequately protect an organization. Do your supervisors know that the organization could be found legally responsible … Continued
Fact Sheet – Active Shooters
December, 2015 Key Considerations and Approaches More than 160 active shootings were documented in the U.S. from 2000 to 2013 and the number of events escalates each year. The agreed-upon definition of an active shooter by U.S. government agenciesincluding the White House, U.S. Department of Justice/FBI, U.S. Department of Education, and U.S. Department of Homeland … Continued
Hitting the Nail on the Head: Prioritizing Safety at Your Nonprofit
By Emily Stumhofer Countless Center consulting clients and Affiliate Members list safety “Safety incidents at a nonprofit can result in the loss of life or permanent injury, plummeting employee morale, reputational damage, insurance claims and costly financial and human resource burdens for the nonprofit.” risks at the top of their concerns. Yet some organizations—especially … Continued
Risks of Sleep Deprivation: Get Your Beauty Sleep for Safety
By Erin Gloeckner Did you know that on average, today’s worker sleeps an hour and a half less each night than they did 50 years ago? In the workplace, sleep deprivation does more damage than you might think. In her interview with Charles A. Czeiler, professor of sleep medicine at the Harvard Medical School, freelance … Continued
Adopt a Total Ban on Personal Electronic Device Use While Driving
January 26, 2016 By Melanie Lockwood Herman Since we began offering free RISK HELP to our Affiliate Members in 2012, we have answered a wide array of risk questions–some highly unusual. Last week we received this quirky question from two incredibly different member organizations: should we adopt a complete ban on the use of personal … Continued
Get with the Program: Wellness in the Workplace
July 1, 2015 By Lexie Williams and Erin Gloeckner Life-saving medical treatments and devices have lulled many Americans into believing that an increase in life expectancy is a sure thing. But former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona provided sobering news when he said that “Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and … Continued
Fight, Flight, or Freeze?
May 13, 2015 By Arley Turner Does your organization have a well thought-out plan to address the risk of an active shooter on your premises? For many organizations, the default response is to implement a “lockdown,” or immediately freeze all activities and shelter in place while waiting for police and emergency assistance. In practice, this … Continued
Make Safety a Habit
Most of us have at least one bad habit we’d like to kick. But the term “habit” doesn’t deserve a bad rap. Habit can, and should, be a positive concept in a public entity. Nowhere is habit more important than the area of workplace safety. A safe workplace, summer camp, clinic, training site or residence … Continued
My Generation Reaping the Rewards of a Multigenerational Workforce
My Generation: Reaping the Rewards of a Multigenerational Workforce By Melanie Lockwood Herman and Arley Turner Nonprofit missions require high performing, collegial work teams. And increasingly, nonprofit workplaces are staffed by individuals from three, four or even five generations. These intergenerational staff teams are charged with delivering services and programs that advance ambitious, communityserving missions. … Continued
Employee Handbooks: Risk Management Road Maps
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Creating written workplace policies and procedures that are legally up-to-date and easy to follow is as important as having adequate insurance. Policies that are clearly communicated to staff and consistently applied serve to safeguard against improvised solutions that can result in a lawsuit. Written policies are the starting point … Continued
Year-Round Tips for Sports/Recreation Programs
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Sample waivers, check lists and practical help with topics identified here can be found in Playing to Win, A Risk Management Guide for Nonprofit Sports and Recreation Programs. The book aims to help the program administrator and leader, whether in a sports organization or other nonprofit, determine effective, practical … Continued
Protecting Workers Who Are Victims of Domestic Violence
By Jennifer Chandler Hauge Scene: Your nonprofit. Situation: The phone rings. Your administrative assistant tells you she/he is not coming in today. This isn’t the first time this has happened. This employee has missed a few days here and there due to “illness” or “doctors visits,” but this is the first time she/he has been … Continued
Employment Law Issues Continue To Pose Risks
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Employment practices lawsuits continue to be among the more prevalent and most draining legal actions that a nonprofit is likely to face. Discrimination claims filed with the EEOC rose 9% in 2007 — the biggest jump in close to a decade. Nearly one-third of those claims included an allegation … Continued
Be Proactive in Times of Crisis
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Team The unexpected happens. Even with insightful planning and sound risk management—people are injured, fires destroy, and investments evaporate. When “stuff happens,” savvy nonprofits know that action is needed and that action has to be communicated to stakeholders. Speaking recently about the challenges posed by the economy, Rebecca Rimel, … Continued
Will Universal Access to the FBI Fingerprint Database Make Nonprofits Safer?
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Earlier this month, John C. Patterson, senior program director at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, attended a workshop sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice titled “Expanding Access to Criminal History Information and Improving Criminal Record Backgrounding.” The underlying assumption fueling this movement is that expanding access to criminal … Continued
Front-Line Risk Managers in Senior Service
By the Nonprofit Risk Management Center Individuals who regularly visit older individuals and who witness family situations, living conditions, and physical and mental changes obtain a valuable opportunity to detect serious consequences of aging before serious consequences can result. One of the most serious consequences of aging has little to do with the physical and … Continued
Tough Lessons for Organizations Serving Vulnerable Clientele
By Melanie Lockwood Herman Last week’s verdict in the criminal case against Jerry Sandusky offers a sobering reminder about the risk of sexual misconduct or abuse facing every nonprofit that provides services to vulnerable clientele, including children, individuals with disabilities and the elderly. While it remains true that vulnerable service recipients are statistically safer while … Continued
No Surprises in Volunteer Management
By Erin Gloeckner 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 The risk of a volunteer’s actions harming the nonprofit’s reputation The risk … Continued
The Weather Outside is Frightful
By Erin Gloeckner And shivering at work is not delightful. Here in Leesburg, VA, we are experiencing bone-deep cold weather and shocking gusts of wind. Though weather is part of our unpredictable, uncontrollable context, we can resolve to be better prepared for cold weather conditions. Weather exposures affect client and employee safety, insurance coverage needs, … Continued
Guns in the Workplace: Protect Your Mission
By Melanie Lockwood Herman Last week a RISK eNews reader wrote to inquire about the intersection of “conceal and carry” laws and the desire of a nonprofit to provide a violence and weapon-free workplace. All 50 states, but not the District of Columbia, have adopted laws that generally permit individuals to carry loaded and concealed … Continued
Keeping Volunteers Safe From Harm: Street Smarts for Unfamiliar Turf
By Barbara B. Oliver 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 know what your volunteers are worried about or afraid of. Ask … Continued
Workplace Safety Preserves and Protects
By Barbara B. Oliver and Jennifer Chandler Hauge Workplace safety is about preventing injury and illness to employees and volunteers in the workplace. Thus, it’s about protecting the nonprofit’s most valuable asset: its staff members. By protecting the staff’s well-being, you can reduce the amount of money paid out in health insurance benefits, workers’ compensation … Continued
Swimming With Sharks and Other Perils of Special Events
By Barbara B. Oliver ‘Tis May, ’tis May, the merry month of May, when thoughts turn to sports competitions, street fairs, music festivals, parades and other special events. It’s a wonderful time of year to promote a nonprofit’s name, encourage participation of a new crop of volunteers, and perhaps earn some unrestricted funds to support … Continued
Zero Tolerance for Workplace Violence
Key Component of Workplace Safety Workplace safety is one of those better-safe-than-sorry areas of management where prevention is critical. Although an organization’s hiring and supervision policies appear to preclude violent behavior in the workplace, early intervention helps prevent more serious acts. Instituting a zero tolerance for workplace violence policy sends a clear message to all … Continued
What to Do During an Earthquake
What to Do During an Earthquake Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimize your movements to a few steps to a nearby safe place and if you are indoors, stay there until the shaking has stopped and you are … Continued
People — Your Most Pivotal Resource
By George L. Head, Ph.D. Three large groups of people are essential to your nonprofit’s success in pursuing its mission: Your staff (including your officers, employees, and volunteers) who jointly perform all the planning, speaking, driving, carrying, cooking, cleaning, negotiating, decision-making, and all the other activities that we tend somewhat loosely to say your nonprofit … Continued
Handling Suspicious Packages and Letters
Mailroom security, an area often overlooked as policies and procedures are created or updated to reduce risks and losses, has risen in importance following the biological scares in late 2001. Small government entities or nonprofit organizations are especially vulnerable because many don’t have a centralized mailroom or designate a single person to receive and distribute … Continued
Emergency Evacuation Strategies
Fires, explosions, chemical releases, violence or biological releases pose a threat to everyone in your organization’s facilities. One way to ensure the safety of all affected populations and reduce the risk to your organization is to have an evacuation plan. The beauty of this strategy is that even the smallest organization operating with meager resources … Continued