Preventing Liability and Risk for Nonprofit Leaders
Submitted by Charitable Allies
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The leader of a nonprofit that primarily employs social workers asked “how can we protect our nonprofit from risk?” The attorney paused and said “Don’t do any work. Don’t serve anyone in an at-risk group at all, ever.” Many of us in the nonprofit community find his response ridiculous and a little funny. But there’s a grain of truth to it. There is inherent risk in the work of any nonprofit that serves vulnerable populations. But there are ways to increase safety and decrease risks that don’t involve stopping your important work. Let’s be honest, mistakes and wrongdoing happen. But having the right policies, insurance and training in place can reduce the frequency and severity of these issues, which can save a nonprofit thousands and keep people safe. So today, let’s break down a few ways to increase safety, decrease nonprofit liability and keep you doing missional work. Keep in mind, these are a few general tips.?
First thing’s first, to prevent risk, you need to identify the sources of risk in what you do. Essentially, you need to be able to ask yourself about the worst case scenarios when it comes to your programs, staff, and clients. This is easier said than done.?