Transporting children in cars may be a necessary component of some nonprofit programming, but it also carries significant risks. While accidents can never be completely eliminated, there are steps nonprofit organizations can take to mitigate the risks to the organization, the driver, and the transported children. This article from Wagenmaker & Oberly explores some effective risk management strategies to help keep your precious cargo and nonprofit safe on the road.
Risk Management
Guiding the Guides: Working with Volunteer Mentors
To realize the full potential of youth mentoring programs, it is critical for a nonprofit to have appropriate safeguards in place to protect the nonprofit, its volunteer mentors and its youth mentees. In the webinar, our speaker will review legal considerations for nonprofits that have volunteers who mentor youth, including:
- On-site vs in-the-community programming;
- Volunteer Handbooks & background checks;
- Provisions to include in your general liability insurance policy;
- Driving with youth mentees.
Speaker: Kristine Berry Morain, EVP, General Counsel, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
Additional Resources:
What Nonprofits Should Know about Managing Cybersecurity Risk
A cyber-attack at your nonprofit is not a question of IF, but a question of WHEN. When it does happen, it could be small, or it could be devastating. Most standard commercial general liability insurance policies do not cover liability for cybersecurity issues. From strong internal controls to cybersecurity insurance, this article outlines the many options your organization has to minimize the impact of a cyber-attack.
Cyber-Insurance-for-NonprofitsProtecting Your Nonprofit from Scams, Fraud & Imposters
Nonprofits of all types are susceptible to fraud, especially those with limited resources or lacking internal controls. It could come as an imposter creating a copycat webpage and taking donations intended for your 501(c)(3), or an email phishing scam to an unsuspecting employee. Is your nonprofit taking the appropriate steps to protect itself from potential fraud? In this episode of the PBPA podcast, Noula Zaharis, Director of the Securities and Charities Division at the Georgia Secretary of State, and Anna Burns, Southeast Regional Director of the Federal Trade Commission, share real-life examples of fraud they have investigated and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim.
Links to Resources referenced in the episode:
Online Charitable Giving Portals | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
Start with Security: A Guide for Business | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
Raising Funds? What You Should Know About Hiring a Professional | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
Tips for Retailers: How to Review Charity Requests | Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov)
Registering for Charitable Solicitation
To report a scam or fraud:
Georgia Secretary of State, Securities & Charities Division: https://sos.ga.gov/how-to-guide/how-report-charity-scam or call 470-312-2640 or email charities@sos.ga.gov
Federal Trade Commission: www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Managing the Risks of Overseas Volunteer Trips
After two-years of staying grounded during the pandemic, you've organized a trip abroad and recruited a group of volunteers who are ready to fly out. But when traveling abroad, there are situations in which safety and security issues may outweigh the advantages of international experiences. What happens if something goes wrong? What happens if one of your volunteers is seriously injured, or even killed? Who is held legally responsible? Don't miss this informative webcast for a broad overview of evaluating, avoiding and managing the risks associated with international trips. Topics discussed will include:
- The importance and content of liability releases
- Evaluation of potential security and health risks
- Steps to take before the departure of your trip
- Best practices for medical treatment in the event of an emergency abroad.
Speaker: Suhail Seth, Polisinelli
Handling Problem Volunteers: Tips to Minimize the Risks of a Difficult Do-gooder
Nonprofits rely on volunteers to help them fulfill their missions everyday. Some nonprofits rely on a volunteer base more heavily than others, but all nonprofits eventually encounter a difficult volunteer. In this episode of the PBPA Podcast, Elizabeth Newton will speak to us about how to effectively and legally deal with challenging volunteers.
Episode-27-Managing-Difficult-Do-goodersWebcast: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Risk Management of Nonprofits
Every day, nonprofits face risk in virtually every aspect of their operations. Since risk cannot be eliminated because life itself involves risk, the goal must be to manage risk. As the word “manage” implies, when a nonprofit attempts to reduce or control, i.e., manage its risk, it takes time, effort and money, all of which can take away from the time, effort and money being spent on the mission of the nonprofit. During this one hour webinar, our speaker will discuss tools that will help nonprofits minimize the amount of time, effort and money consumed by risk management. Specifically, “risk shifting” will be covered in three areas:
- Contracts provisions and forms that shift risks and liability to another person or company;
- Insurance that shifts responsibility for the consequences of risks to an insurance company; and
- How contracts and insurance fit together.
Speaker: George Sewell
Child Labor Laws and Youth Volunteers: What To Know about Having Minors Work or Volunteer at Your Nonprofit
What Should You Consider When an Employee Resigns?
Dealing with an employee resignation depends on the unique facts of each situation. When an employee voluntarily resigns from their employment, what should a nonprofit employer do? Employers should consider what steps need to be taken to help protect the organization’s interests and to facilitate a smooth transition. This article includes tips for handling an employee resignation.
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Understanding Georgia’s Unemployment Insurance Options for Nonprofits
This past year has seen record levels of unemployment insurance claims filed in Georgia. Unemployment insurance is temporary income for workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own. In Georgia, employers typically bear the cost of those benefits by paying a pro rata share of each employees’ wages into the Georgia Department of Labor’s Employment Security system. Learn how Georgia’s Employment Security law provides options for nonprofit employers that can lead to significantly reduced liability for unemployment claims. Our speaker addresses:
• Which employers are required to pay into Georgia’s unemployment tax system?
• Advantages of certain options available to nonprofits paying into the unemployment system?
• How to put up your best case when challenging claims for unemployment benefits.
Speaker: Tracie Maurer, Principal at Jackson Lewis
View the Webcast Open the Slides in New Tab [pdf-embedder url="https://pbpatl.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Slides-Unemployment-Claims-May-2021-1.pdf" title="Slides - Unemployment Claims - May 2021"]Board Members and Personal Liability: Options for Nonprofits to Minimize their Risk
Rules of the Road: Managing the Risks of Volunteer Drivers
Strategies to Minimize and Manage Vendor Disputes
Top Legal Risks for Nonprofits
Have you made resolutions for your nonprofit in this new year? While you probably have resolutions unique to these extraordinary times, there are still “ordinary” risks that should not be overlooked. This article highlights the top legal risks facing nonprofits: managing information, managing relationships, and raising funds. Take stock of your nonprofit’s current practices and make changes for the new year and beyond to minimize these risks.
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