NRMC Launches Website with Free HR and Risk Resources for Nonprofits
Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes
Lead Consultant and Editor
By Rachel Sams
This spring, the Nonprofit Risk Management Center convened diverse focus groups of leaders of small and midsize nonprofits. The leaders shared their biggest human resources and risk management challenges.
We were awed by the immense responsibilities these leaders juggle to run their organizations. And we were inspired by the opportunity to provide resources to help busy nonprofit leaders navigate human resources and risk issues.
Many small and midsized nonprofits don’t have dedicated HR or risk staff, so they have an acute need for information and resources on these topics. And like all nonprofit leaders, our focus group participants faced a workforce shortage and staff burnout nearly three years into a pandemic. With that in mind, NRMC has launched a new website full of resources to help nonprofit organizations build strong, supportive relationships with employees and manage the risk issues they face.
The site was made possible by a $90,000 grant from the Fidelity Charitable Trustees’ Initiative. Insights NRMC gathered from the focus groups and beta testing by nonprofit leaders shaped the design and content of the new website.
“Our HR and risk resources project fits perfectly with NRMC’s educational mission,” said Executive Director Melanie Lockwood Herman. “The Fidelity Charitable Trustees’ Initiative grant allowed us to develop a suite of resources that will help nonprofits navigate their biggest HR and risk challenges.”
“Staff at nonprofits are the heart of improving our communities and responding to society’s toughest challenges. And yet, smaller nonprofits are not often given the resources to invest in recruiting and retaining top talent,” said Tony Bowen, Vice President, Fidelity Charitable. “NRMC has launched a robust set of pragmatic resources to meet nonprofits where they are and immediately take action to support their people.”
The majority of focus group participants found hiring the most challenging stage of the employment relationship, followed closely by supervision. Most focus group participants found taking action on risks the most challenging aspect of risk management. Leaders identified specific HR and risk challenges including cybersecurity, cross-training, and hiring and managing employees remotely.
“What do we do for continuity because we are so small?” the state director of an education nonprofit said. “You could get one person missing in the link and it could derail the organization for quite a while.”
The free resource website includes factsheets, infographics, checklists, worksheets, and templates that nonprofit organizations can view and download. The resources cover topics from cybersecurity defense to how to manage across generations and handle conflict in the workplace. More than 100 nonprofit leaders beta tested the website and provided feedback, which NRMC used to bolster the resources. NRMC plans to add at least two new resources to the site each month.
Marketing and creative collective The Carbon Agency built the resource website for NRMC. Diversity Crew, a consortium focused on diversity and inclusion, advised NRMC on how to recruit and engage diverse focus groups and make the website and resources accessible and culturally relevant across differences, including gender, ethnicity, ability, sexual orientation, and more.
The Nonprofit Risk Management Center, based in Leesburg, Virginia, inspires effective risk management and Risk Champions across the nonprofit sector. NRMC enables nonprofit leaders to identify and manage risks that threaten their missions and operations, while empowering them to leverage opportunities and take bold, mission-advancing risks.
Rachel Sams is a Consultant and Staff Writer at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. Leading NRMC’s focus groups of nonprofit executives was one of her favorite projects this year. She’d love to hear what resources your organization needs to manage its HR and risk challenges. Reach her at rachel@nonprofitrisk.org or 703.777.3504.
“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 the Center 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 the Center. 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 Center 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!