What Should Nonprofit Boards Know About Insurance Brokers?
With nonprofit insurance, a key part to getting the lowest costs and the best coverage is getting the right insurance broker.
Considering how insurance costs typically constitute a sizable chunk of a nonprofit budget, this significant cost is remarkably un-examined.
A key part to getting the lowest costs, the best coverage, and the best service is getting the right insurance broker.
But what exactly is an insurance broker and what do they do? What should we look for in a broker? How do we find a good one?
To find out we asked Pamela Davis, founder and president of two major nonprofit insurance companies — Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) and Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, Risk Retention Group (ANI-RRG).
Blue Avocado: Pamela, to start with: What is a broker, anyway, and how are brokers different from insurance companies?
Brokers are professional advisors/consultants who are intermediaries between nonprofits and insurance carriers. This is somewhat similar to the way a financial advisor might work with you to help you understand the type of retirement program that might be best for you, and then recommends investments and savings vehicles.
Brokers work with nonprofits to determine:
- Types of coverage needed (do we need social services professional insurance? Volunteer accident insurance?)
- Coverage limits (should our vehicle liability be set at $1 million? $3 million?)
- Services needed (assistance with personnel policies? Training for volunteer drivers?)
Based on these guidelines, the broker approaches various insurance companies for price quotes, from the all-purpose firms such as Aetna or AIG, to insurance companies that specialize in nonprofits such as NIAC and ANI-RRG.
The insurance companies determine the premium (cost) at which they will offer a certain policy, and if selected by the nonprofit, then issue the insurance policy and are responsible for adjusting and paying covered claims.
How does the broker get paid? By the nonprofit?
The insurance companies pay the broker on commission. This can lead to a situation where brokers might be tempted to recommend an insurance company or a type of insurance that gives them a bigger commission rather than the company that is best for the nonprofit.
For instance, some companies give brokers extra commissions at the end of the year if they establish and then meet a commitment to a level of premiums sold from that insurance company.
I am not sure why it is, but many nonprofits seem to treat insurance brokers differently than they do other independent consultants. For example, how often do you hire a consultant to advise you on an important financial decision and not ask them how much they will be compensated or whether they have any special relationships with the company they are recommending?
So what questions should we ask prospective brokers?
First, the bottom line is that the broker is there to provide a service to you. Don’t settle for a broker who doesn’t return phone calls promptly, doesn’t know nonprofit insurance needs, or who doesn’t treat you with respect. You deserve better.
I suggest asking brokers the following questions:
1. How are you compensated for your work with us? What percentage commissions do you receive from the insurance carriers you most commonly work with? (Typically brokers receive commissions of between 10% and 15% on liability and property insurance, and 3% to 7% on workers compensation insurance.) Will there be any additional fees? (Additional fees are uncommon except for special services.)
2. What financial or other incentives can you receive based on which insurance carrier you recommend? (They might not tell you the full truth, but they might tell you about incentives such as vacations to exotic locations from a company if they bring them enough business.)
3. How much experience and knowledge do you have with nonprofit organizations like ours? How would you compare the terms and services of Directors & Officers liability insurance among the insurance companies you most frequently recommend? How do the companies you recommend handle claims made by volunteers? What are the pros and cons of the sexual abuse forms offered? Can you provide us with client references?
4. What kinds of risk management resources can you recommend, either from the insurance company or elsewhere? For example, does the carrier offer free unlimited consultation on employment concerns? Free driver training? Free resources on volunteer liability? (We at NIAC and ANI-RRG offer a good many free services to the nonprofits we insure, but every company offers different resources. Be sure your broker helps you get the most out of whatever insurance company they recommend.)
5. How much do you know about how the insurance carriers handle claims? Can you give us an example of another nonprofit that had a claim that was either covered promptly and fairly, or was covered poorly or with difficulty? When recommending an insurance carrier to us, how strongly do you weight your knowledge about how they handle claims compared with their prices?
What are some common mistakes you see in how nonprofits choose their brokers?
As CEO I hear two complaints all too frequently. First is that the executive director feels stuck with a broker who is a friend of a board member, and may well be a good insurance broker, but who is unfamiliar with the special insurance needs of nonprofits.
Second, I hear that a nonprofit is putting up with bad service and poor rates because the broker gives them a donation every year. The question should be the total value of the insurance and services package, including the donation, and in some cases that might be a broker who doesn?t make donations.
How can these mistakes be avoided?
In organizations with sufficient staff to evaluate and monitor a broker’s performance, it is often the senior staff who selects the broker and manages the relationship. However, in smaller organizations, or even periodically in larger organizations it’s a good idea to have the board or a board committee select the insurance broker (or at least review the selection), so that the executive director doesn’t feel pressured by a board member who has a friend who’s a broker. And of course, if there is such a board member, he or she shouldn’t be on the committee.
When is a good time to consider changing brokers?
You can change brokers at any time, but typically it is done within 60 days before the annual policy renewal, because the new broker will not get any compensation until the policy renews. Remember that an insurance company will provide a quote to only one broker for you. So if you change brokers but want to stay with the insurer (carrier) you are with, you’ll need to sign a Broker of Record letter for the new broker to use.
Signing this Broker of Record letter stops your “old” broker from procuring a renewal quote for you from your current insurance company, and allows the new broker to obtain the quote. This is a common misunderstanding. A nonprofit should not sign a Broker of Record letter just because the new broker claims he or she can get a better price from the existing carrier.
That is seldom the case. The broker decision should be made on an evaluation of which broker will give your nonprofit the best service throughout the year.
How do I find brokers to interview?
Other nonprofits in your area will be good referrals, and nonprofit associations are also good sources of referrals. We at ANI-RRG and NIAC have lists of brokers who have indicated an interest and demonstrated track record in working with nonprofits. You can phone us and we can recommend brokers for you to consider..
Any other suggestions?
In my 20 years as CEO of NIAC and more recently ANI-RRG, I have had the privilege of meeting many, many professional, caring and thoughtful insurance brokers. They value the work nonprofits do and they work hard to make sure that the nonprofit is with the insurance carrier that is best for them.
On the other hand, more times than I like to admit, I’ve seen insurance decisions being made because of friendships and financial considerations unrelated to what is best for the nonprofit.
In addition to making sure your nonprofit has the right broker to advise you on your insurance purchase, it’s important to have the right staff or volunteer work with the broker. Too often the task of procuring insurance is assigned to the administrative person that drew the short straw. That person may not have the time or full knowledge about the nonprofit’s operations to provide all the needed information to the broker on a timely basis.
Not getting timely, accurate and complete information to your broker can make it harder for your broker to make your best case to the insurance company.
Thank you, Pamela! Any last words?
I founded NIAC twenty years ago because I believed — against conventional wisdom — that nonprofits are better insurance risks than for-profits. We’ve proven that. We are proud not only to serve the nonprofit sector exclusively, but as 501(c)(3) nonprofits ourselves, to be part of the sector. Our boards of directors are elected by our members and our boards are dominated by leaders from our nonprofit members.. Our motto is, “A head for insurance, a heart for nonprofits.”
See also: A Board Member’s Guide to Nonprofit Insurance
You might also like:
- Insider Newsletters: An Easy Way to Keep Your Board in the Loop and Engaged
- Board Horror Stories: How to Reduce Board Resignations
- Rebuilding Nonprofit Boards: When a New Board Can Be a Fresh Start
- Five Lessons for Creating an Effective (and Accountable) Nonprofit Board
- A Cautionary Tale: Overcoming Governance Nightmares in Nonprofit Organizations
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About the Author
Pamela Davis is the founder, president, and CEO of an affiliated group of nonprofit insurers known as Nonprofits Insurance Alliance® (NIA), the publisher of Blue Avocado. Pamela has grown NIA from a loan of $1 million from a group of foundations to over $229 million in premiums and $713 million in assets, serving over 24,000 nonprofits across the country. All NIA affiliates are 501(c)(3) nonprofits, just like the organizations that they insure, and all NIA assets belong to the community, just like they should! Follow her on Twitter @pamela_e_davis
Articles on Blue Avocado do not provide legal representation or legal advice and should not be used as a substitute for advice or legal counsel. Blue Avocado provides space for the nonprofit sector to express new ideas. The opinions and views expressed in this article are solely those of the authors. They do not purport to reflect or imply the opinions or views of Blue Avocado, its publisher, or affiliated organizations. Blue Avocado, its publisher, and affiliated organizations are not liable for website visitors’ use of the content on Blue Avocado nor for visitors’ decisions about using the Blue Avocado website.
8 thoughts on “What Should Nonprofit Boards Know About Insurance Brokers?”
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Thank you Pamela!
Often we come accross brokers who take advantage of nonprofits in so many ways. As a broker who has worked with NIAC for many years, it is a pleasure to work with someone who really cares about coverage and service that is meaningful and affordable to the many 501(c)3 organizations.
I have come across situations where the insurance broker is also a member of the board of directors. While I think it is good that the broker would like to volunteer and render service to the organization, I definately believe it can and does lead to a conflict of interest.
I cannot believe 20 years have come and gone so quickly! I believe there are a lot of good people doing a lot of good things. It brings great satisfaction to be able to provide them with the proper coverage and services they need. Your efforts have benefitted many, keep up the good work.
A VERY well written article. You even explained contingent commissions. Wow
I am a retired reinsurance person whose second insurance job was writing Agents and Brokers E&O. (in the early 70’s) How times have changed.
It is now imperative that people know what they are buying, know from whom they are buying it….brokers/agents and companies and KEEP A PAPER TRAIL on everything. The courts no longer believe in handshakes and verbal agreements.
I am now on three 501 (c)(3) boards and left a fourth due to term limits.
Your article is must reading for Boards of Directors, Executive Directors and financial staff people.
Keep updating the articles as new things develop.
You might write one about where Personal insurance starts and stops as regards membership on non-Profit Boards.
Thank you, Ray, for your comments.
As regards your idea for an article about where Personal insurance starts and stops as regards membership on nonprofit boards, I have a comment now about that and will think about a longer article.
Also, there is a little booklet available free on our websites (either www.ani-rrg.org or www.niac.org) entitled,”Directors & Officers: Key Facts about Insurance and Legal Liability” that touches on this question and discusses other items. I’ve included a paragraph below:
“It is possible that some coverage for board service may be found under an individual’s homeowner’s policy, but the extent of that coverage depends on the specific wording of that policy. For example, it is not uncommon to find coverage under a homeowner’s policy for accidents that cause “bodily injury” resulting in the course of volunteer activities. However, as discussed in an earlier section, insurance policies which cover “negligent acts” typically do not cover the “intentional actions” of a board of directors. In a manner similar to a general liability policy, a homeowner’s policy may provide coverage for accidents, but these types of policies typically provide no protection for the activiteis involved in the governance of the agency.”
Thanks, again for your comments, and for your service on nonprofit boards!
Pamela
Awesome article, Pamela! This is exactly what I was looking for to provide to one interested prospective client…educating our nonprofits on how to find a good broker, and how to go about their procurement efforts, is the most rewarding part of the job for me. I truly enjoy working with NIAC and your staff, and think your value-added services are terrific.
PS- Hi Richard (small world when it comes to nonprofit brokers, huh?) I agree about serving on nonprofit boards…learned that the HARD way, and now only serve on boards of non-client nonprofits 🙂 It’s still hard to say no, but better for everyone in the long run.
They are not usually agelbaere to it. The owner of the company will probably make you lots of promises but it always comes down to you to educate yourself. Your alternative is to contract directly with a hard-working agent and offer to give her 50% of your income in return for training.The brokers tend to hire more agents than they can reasonably train. They expect 80% to quit in the first year and they never know which ones will quit and which ones will last.
Thanks for also talking about how it’s important to also do interviews when planning to get insurance services. I want to find a good insurance service soon because I’m thinking about finding a good way to make it easier to keep my finances protected. As such, sorting out my medical insurance will be my priority.
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