Member Spotlight: NPIP – Taking care of nonprofits by creating stability

March 15, 2018

Nonprofits need insurance to protect their people and assets. The Non Profit Insurance Program (NPIP) has been expanding access to insurance in Washington State for over a decade. Sarah McDonnell, Director of NPIP, is excited to share a new service offered through NPIP’s administrator, Clear Risk Solutions: low cost Director’s and Officer’s (D&O) Insurance for small nonprofits.


NPIP, through its administrator Clear Risk Solutions, has partnered with a carrier that can provide low cost D&O coverage. Contact your local agent or Vanessa Brown at Clear Risk Solutions’ Underwriting Department at 800-407-2027 or [email protected] to get your quote today.


NPIP’s Origins and Values

In 2004, a group of nonprofits in Washington State saw that insurance premiums were too expensive for their budgets. They found an innovative solution, forming a co-op so they could focus on their missions and worry less about fluctuating insurance rates. Beginning with 26 members, NPIP has grown to just under 800 members since inception. It insures property and liability risks with stable pricing for members.

Stability is the key to making this work for their membership. Every member has to participate in managing their risk and staying educated to ensure stability for the group. An essential part of NPIP’s service is to help nonprofits know the potential risk they face and explain ways to manage it. When nonprofits find the safest and most effective way to mitigate risk, stability results, and nonprofits can better do the important work of delivering on their mission.

Services and Tools

When a member joins NPIP, they get a designated risk manager who assesses where to start. NPIP conducts educational workshops, offers free legal services, and handles claims in house. McDonnell shares how NPIP’s online tools are easy to access and designed for organizations with minimal staff. “There are a lot of tools that don’t require any money or time away from work that can help.” The interactive online platform, My Risk Solutions, is an especially valuable resource for NPIP members. The NPIP team continues to develop it with the input of risk management experts in order to provide constant guidance on reducing risk through webinars, e-trainings, on demand trainings, news briefs, models forms, and model policies.

Nonprofit insurance hot topics

  • Events: Many nonprofits depend on events for fundraising and community awareness. These increase that organization’s risk, but you can very easily protect yourself from the unexpected with proper management.
  • Cyber-risk: A top trending issue these days, cyber-risk always a concern. It can vary for different nonprofits, and solutions are not always clear and transparent.
  • Employment and volunteers: Every nonprofit must know how to appropriately handle employees and volunteers. Proper education is crucial.
  • Vulnerable populations: Service providers often interact with children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations. Maintaining their safety is a top priority.

Washington Nonprofits recently had a webinar on Insurance Basics with NPIP. To watch the recording, click here.

Are you ready to learn more about risk management? NPIP is an important partner with upcoming Spring conferences. They are offering a track at the Central Washington Conference in Yakima on April 18 and delivering a Deep Dive into Risk Management on May 15 during the pre-conference workshop at the Washington State Nonprofit Conference.

Interested in finding coverage with NPIP but not sure if it’s a good fit? NPIP membership is diverse, including nonprofits from almost every “niche.” They are always open to expanding coverage and the types of nonprofits they work with when there is a need in the nonprofit community.

Created by and for nonprofit organizations, the Non Profit Insurance Program (NPIP) provides risk management solutions and stable, affordable insurance. NPIP has been a Washington Nonprofits member since 2011.

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