Mentoring is a key part of many nonprofits’ missions, connecting people who have wisdom and experience with those looking to gain wisdom and experience of their own.
Whether it’s students looking to prepare for their futures, young professionals embarking on a career path, or just people in need of guidance through tough or turbulent times, a mentor can provide them with wisdom, advice, and resources to help them along their journey.
With so many areas of focus that mentorships can include, for nonprofits that provide mentorship opportunities, each organization has unique needs when it comes to their insurance coverage.
So, what do nonprofit school foundations need most from their insurance?
Meet the nonprofits that offer mentorship.
We asked some NIA-insured nonprofits whose missions include mentorship about their missions to serve the young people of their communities — and how the nuances of those missions determine their needs when it comes to the insurance coverage they need in order to operate safely.
In their own words…
Artist Mentorship Program (Portland, OR)
“Artist Mentorship Program (AMP) empowers marginalized youth experiencing homelessness in Portland through creative arts and community engagement. As the only evening youth drop-in center, AMP provides essential resources, meals, and a safe space. With programs in music, art, and job training, AMP fosters healing, self-expression, and pathways out of homelessness.”
— Theresa Sayles, Operations Director, Artist Mentorship Program
OC Habitats (Orange County, CA)
“We are a small, grassroots habitat conservation nonprofit that conserves, protects, and restores our local habitats through education programs, restoration projects, and monitoring of species and habitats. We have an excellent team, including a comprehensive intern program where we mentor undergrad students.
We have a strong intern program that pulls from the local colleges (UCI, CSUF, CSULB, Vanguard, and more). This is where we do our mentoring for young scientists and environmentalists to help them get experience in the field, which helps to inform and guide them along their career path.”
— Stacey Chartier-Grable, Executive Director and Founder, OC Habitats
Kids in Konflict Inland Empire (Riverside, CA)
“Our nonprofit’s mission is working with at-risk youth, young adults, and their families to deter them from entering — or avoid further involvement in — the juvenile and adult justice system.
We focus on addressing past trauma(s) through positive youth development and the five adolescent development domains to help transform our participants from surviving to thriving.
Our programs include mentoring, substance awareness, victim awareness, parenting skills and strategies, gang awareness, job readiness, paid internship positions, and community engagement.”
— Ron Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, Kids in Konflict
Friends of the Children – Twin Cites (Minneapolis, MN)
“Our organization impacts generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors.
A professional, full-time mentor partners with a youth for 12+ years (through high school graduation) to provide support and guidance for both the youth and their families.”
— Janeth Sanchez, Director of Operations, Friends of the Children – Twin Cites
What did these mentoring nonprofits need most from their insurer?
Affordable insurance that honors nonprofits’ values
“AMP shopped around for an insurance company that would align with and honor our values and our budget. AMP’s insurance needs included General Liability and Directors and Officers (D&O) coverage to ensure comprehensive protection for the organization and its leadership.
Recognizing the importance of partnering with a reliable provider that understands the unique challenges of nonprofits, we sought coverage through a reputable company.”— Theresa Sayles, Artist Mentorship Program
Coverage that supports the mission
“We needed insurance policies that supported our work.”
— Stacey Chartier-Grable, OC Habitats
Insurance that child-supporting nonprofits need
“Our most important need was coverage in multiple facilities, including inappropriate sexual activity.”
— Ron Gardner, Kids in Konflict
“We work directly with youth, and it’s important for our staff to feel protected while they are on outings.”
— Janeth Sanchez, Friends of the Children – Twin Cites
How did these mentoring nonprofits hear about NIA?
A state nonprofit association
“After we ran into a situation with another insurance company where the broker was insensitive to the needs of the homeless youth we serve, we were referred to Nonprofits Insurance Alliance by the Nonprofit Association of Oregon.”
— Theresa Sayles, Artist Mentorship Program
Word-of-mouth and independent research
“We found NIA with online research and through some word-of-mouth recommendations.”
— Stacey Chartier-Grable, OC Habitats
A positive prior experience
“We previously operated a group home for 30 years; NIA was our provider.”
— Ron Gardner, Kids in Konflict
Parent organization
“Our parent organization recommended NIA to us.”
— Janeth Sanchez, Friends of the Children – Twin Cites
Since becoming an NIA member, how has that relationship helped these mentoring nonprofits?
Responsive staff and easy renewals
“This partnership has helped AMP secure the necessary coverage to continue serving marginalized youth effectively and responsibly. NIA staff are very responsive and answer questions quickly and thoroughly. The process for renewal is straightforward.”
— Theresa Sayles, Artist Mentorship Program
Affordable coverage and helpful seminars
“We started out with NIA from the beginning. I appreciate the discounted rates for our nonprofit and the options available depending on capacity and need. I have attended a couple of the free seminars provided by NIA. This helps to keep me abreast of new and changing laws as they pertain to our organization.”
— Stacey Chartier-Grable, OC Habitats
Strong communication and low cost
“We appreciate the NIA’s communication and low cost for grassroots, community-based organizations.”
— Ron Gardner, Kids in Konflict
No guessing when it comes to coverage
“The insurance coverage process is easy to navigate and there is no guessing.”
— Janeth Sanchez, Friends of the Children – Twin Cites
Mentoring nonprofits need an insurer that values their mission.
Why do nonprofits that provide youth mentoring get their insurance coverage from NIA?
Simple: Mentoring nonprofits work closely with children and their families, helping them feel safe and supported through some of the most difficult times of their lives, so they deserve to have insurance that helps their people and their mission be just as safe and supported when times become difficult.
Mentoring nonprofits need the coverage that enables them to safely work with children and youth, from an insurance provider that celebrates, honors, and encourages nonprofits — all at a price that fits their budget.
