Maximize Your Risk Learning in 2025
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
By Rachel Sams
Lead Consultant and Editor
By Rachel Sams
In early 2023, I attended a webinar that encouraged nonprofits to approach artificial intelligence with curiosity, rather than fear.
At the time, the explosion of generative AI, which allows users to create text and other media, gave me a feeling of dread. I hadn’t explored the gen AI capabilities that were newly available to the average Internet user. Frankly, I was afraid to.
Taking time to hear experts’ thoughts on the benefits and perils of AI for nonprofits helped launch me on a journey. I’ve spent countless hours over the past year and a half examining how artificial intelligence intersects with NRMC’s work in mission-driven risk management. I’ve formed my personal ethos for navigating AI risk, advised NRMC members and clients on AI risk, and honed my skills at meeting emerging, evolving risks.
At NRMC, we enjoy creating our annual lineup of webinars for affiliate members. We shape the list around the requests and questions we receive from members. We include sessions on classic risk management topics, as well as sessions on emerging or evolving issues. And we always try to include a session that’s less about teaching a specific risk management topic and more about fun, experimentation and play.
Here’s a peek at our lineup of affiliate member webinars in 2025. We hope you’ll include one (or more!) of these on your risk learning agenda next year.
January 15-Cultivate Your Risk Manager Superpowers
Remember your last big risk management win? Did you feel like you’d earned a cape? Join us to explore the “superpowers” great risk leaders tap every day and learn how to nurture them like a superhero.
March 12-Facing Nonprofit Insurance Challenges
Learn about some of the biggest challenges nonprofits face in the insurance marketplace—and strategies to understand what coverage you need and maximize your relationship with your insurance professional.
May 14-Employee and Volunteer Screening: What You Need to Know
Has it been a while since you took a close look at your employee and volunteer screening? Learn how the screening field is evolving and how your organization can build a fair and thorough process to select individuals who fit your organization’s needs.
July 16-Facilities Management: Protect Your Property
The buildings your nonprofit rents or leases provide a welcoming space for your staff, volunteers and clients. But without care and attention, liability risks and maintenance issues can flourish. Learn how to mitigate common property risks.
September 17-How to Engage with Your Board on Risk
Board members can be great partners, collaborators, and sounding boards when it comes to risk management. And that shouldn’t involve the board getting into operations. Learn how to lead and support informative, productive conversations about risk with your board.
November 12-Online Harassment Prevention and Response
Sometimes, people target nonprofit team members for their work in the community. Join us to learn practical online harassment prevention measures and how to respond if harassment happens.
NRMC Affiliate Members who have created a profile on our website may register for upcoming webinars through our Affiliate Dashboard and enjoy exclusive access to the 200+ recorded past webinars in our ‘webinar vault.’
If your agency is not yet an Affiliate Member but is interested in registering for upcoming sessions, contact Whitney Thomey at Whitney@nonprofitrisk.org or 703-777-3504 to learn more about our member benefits. If you’re ready to jump into learning with us, join today online!
We look forward to learning with and from you in 2025!
Rachel Sams is Lead Consultant and Editor at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Reach her with thoughts and questions about these risk topics for 2025 at rachel@nonprofitrisk.org or (505) 456-4045.
“First let me congratulate you on a conference well done. I had a great time at the Nonprofit Employee Benefits Conference and walked away with some valuable tools and questions that we’ll need to be addressing in both the short and long term. Thanks to you and your staff for all you do to provide us with quality resources in support of our missions.”
— Scott Brown, Mohonk Preserve
“BBYO’s engagement of NRMC to conduct a risk assessment was one of the most valuable processes undertaken over the past five years. Numerous programmatic and procedural changes were recommended and have since been implemented. Additionally, dozens (literally) of insurance coverage gaps were identified that would never have been without the work of NRMC. This assessment led to a broker bidding process that resulted in BBYO’s selection of a new broker that we have been extremely satisfied with. I unconditionally recommend the Center for their consultative services.
— Sidney Abrams, BBYO
“Melanie Herman has provided expert, insightful, timely and well resourced information to our Executive Team and Board of Directors. Our corporation recently experienced massive growth through merger and the Board has been working to better integrate their expanded set of roles and responsibilities. Melanie presented at our Annual Board of Director’s Retreat and captured the interest of our Board members. As a result of her excellent presentation the Board has engaged in focused review which is having immediate effects on governance.”
— Pamela Mattel, Basics Promesa Systems Inc
“The Nonprofit Risk Management Center has been an outstanding partner for us. They are attentive to our needs, and work hard to successfully meet our requests for information. Being an Affiliate member gave us access to so many time- and money-saving resources that it easily paid for itself! Nonprofit Risk Management Center is truly a valued partner of The Community Foundation of Elkhart County and we are continuously able to optimize staff time with the support given by their team.”
— Jodi Spataro, Community Foundation of Elkhart County
“The board and staff of the Prince George’s Child Resource Center are extremely pleased with the results of the risk assessment conducted by the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. A thorough scan revealed that while we are a well run organization, we had risks that we never imagined. We are grateful to know that we have now minimized our organizational risks and we recommend the Center to other nonprofits.”
— Marti Worshtil, Prince George’s Child Resource Center
Great American Insurance Group’s Specialty Human Services is committed to protecting those who improve your communities. The NRMC team has committed to delivering dynamic risk management solutions tailored to nonprofit organizations. These organizations have many and varied risk issues, hence the need for specialized coverage and expert knowledge for their protection. We’ve had Melanie speak on several occasions to employees and our agents. She is always on point and delivers such great value. Thank you for the terrific partnership and allowing our nonprofits to focus on their mission!