DIG Insurance & Business Magazine Spring 2019 | Page 30

VOLUNTEERING
Hidden Exposures Of Volunteering
You want to be intentional, so you volunteer your time and energy with an organization you care
about. But that service may expose you to risks you hadn’t considered.
Q.
A.
I volunteer on a nonprofit Board of Directors. Am I protected by their
Directors & Officers (D&O) liability policy?
Yes. Most D&O policies cover directors, officers, trustees, or employees of
the organization. Volunteers are also included if they are acting on behalf of and
under the direction of the organization. This includes past and present people serving
the organization. But many nonprofit groups don’t have D&O policies, so ask exactly
which policies your group has to determine whether you’re protected.
Q.
A. I am not on the Board, but serve on an ad hoc committee. Am I still
protected by the D&O policy?
Q.
A. I have a personal umbrella liability policy. Will that protect me if I am
sued while volunteering?
HOPE THOMAS
CLIENT ADVISOR
DEELEY INSURANCE GROUP
If the group has a D&O policy, standing committee and ad hoc committee members
are usually covered. But D&O policies are not standard in form, and coverage may
vary between carriers, so don’t assume you’re covered. It’s safer to ask for details about
your group’s specific policies and coverage.
Maybe! Your personal umbrella may provide coverage for activities you perform while
volunteering, but the exact nature of your volunteer work will determine whether
or not you are covered. Typically, service on a nonprofit board without receiving
compensation will be covered under your personal umbrella, while serving on the
board of a for-profit group can leave you without coverage.
MEGAN MULLER, CIC
CLIENT ADVISOR
DEELEY INSURANCE GROUP
If you are volunteering time during a nonprofit’s event and someone is injured, you
can be held liable since you are an extension of the nonprofit. For example, a child is
injured in a bounce house at a neighborhood block party hosted by your organization.
The umbrella could provide coverage in this example if the organization were
to be sued.
Remember that umbrella policies are additional liability coverage – liability being
bodily injury or property damage. Liability does not include poor decisions that you
make, whether as a group or acting alone. +
SAM GLAESER
CLIENT ADVISOR
DEELEY INSURANCE GROUP
While your service and dedication to give to others is commendable, you owe it to yourself to be sure you are covered for the work you do.
Review your policy for specific language regarding volunteer work, and if ever in doubt, talk with your agent.
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