Community Education program brochures Game plan for booster clubs | Page 11

Volunteer Risk Management
The inherent protection of a booster’s volunteers from personal liability depends on its
legal identity. An association has no identity and provides no protection of its members. A
nonprofit corporation provides a legal identity that does protect its members from
individual liability, except in cases of willful misconduct or malfeasance. These protections
are identified in the by-laws and/or articles of incorporation.
(A 501c3 is a nonprofit that is also exempt from paying income tax on earnings.)
Consider different types of personal liability that can impact volunteers.
• Acts of a Booster Club’s Volunteers
Insurance is one way to cover injury or harm caused by the acts of the
volunteers. The policy should apply whether the volunteers themselves have
been hurt or whether participants have been hurt in the course of volunteers’
activity. General liability insurance is the best method to handle this
exposure. Be sure that volunteers are considered insured under the policy.
• Acts of Board Members of a Booster Club
Directors and officers liability covers the decisions and actions of the
volunteer board.
• Automobile Related Liability
Auto liability insurance can be purchased to cover vehicles owned by the
organization. If there are no owned autos, the organization can purchase
coverage that would apply in excess over the insurance available under the
volunteer’s personal auto liability policy.
Volunteers need to be aware that
automobile insurance coverage
follows the vehicle and the
volunteer’s insurance will be the
first to pay for any damages in the
event of an accident, even while
driving for the organization or
district.
www.ahschools.us/parentinvolvement
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