Consider ways to protect assets for your nonprofit organization..
When you commit your time and talents to a school or community cause, you don’t like to think that another volunteer or a trusted board member or employee could ever steal from your organization.
Sadly, it does happen, and many who steal from these organizations don’t have the financial means to repay what was stolen. And don’t overlook the fact that embezzlements can go undetected for a long time and can involve more than one person.
When an organization purchases a commercial insurance package with a crime policy that includes fidelity coverage, an employee would automatically be covered. Coverage can also extend to board members and volunteers by endorsement.
Fidelity coverage:
- protects the policyholder from losses that occur from theft by specified persons
- limits depend on the amount of money handled by the organization over a period of time; regular audits of the nonprofit’s funds should be conducted by those who have no authority to withdraw from the fund accounts
- limits start at $1,000 for very small organizations but higher limits should be considered
- can be written on a blanket crime policy covering all employees and volunteers or on an Individual crime policy covering the dishonest actions of specifically named individuals or named positions; both products are generally available by endorsement to a commercial insurance package policy
- may be issued with very low deductibles, depending on the crime coverage limit, making fidelity coverage even more attractive to the nonprofit organization
When you put your hand in the air to volunteer for that booster group, make sure you and your organization have the protection you need so that you can pursue your nobler goals