All levels of learning build off a foundation of reading and literacy. Even if you may not use the math and science you learned in school every day, it’s hard to make it in the world without being able to read — and it’s not always easy to learn.
Nonprofit reading and literacy organizations offer communities with resources and guidance to help youth become lifelong readers, whether they need a little extra help learning the basics, or they just want to explore good stories and enjoy a good book.
Not only are these organizations an excellent resource to help children augment and expand on what they’ve learned in school, they also provide parents and teachers with additional tools to help their kids stay on track with their learning or even get ahead.
So, what do these nonprofits need most from their insurance?
We talked with several reading and literacy nonprofits about what they need most from their insurance coverage — and how that coverage helps them be able to continue supporting the young readers in their communities.
In their own words…
We Shall Read (Farmington, MI)
“We equip adults with the tools they need to move children up the ladder of reading regardless of their age or ability. Our training includes materials, personal mentoring, group coaching and essential small business startup skills so they can become successful entrepreneurs.
Our programs include training programs for adults to become highly skilled reading teachers/tutors; partnerships with other nonprofits with a literacy initiative to provide training and long-term support to build a systemic and sustainable program in-house; parent education workshops, both in-person and online; virtual, live group coaching and individual mentoring; and school-based professional development for teachers.”
— Kristin Dwyer, Founder & Executive Director, We Shall Read
SitStayRead (Chicago, IL)
“SitStayRead advances children’s literacy and builds confidence in young readers by using an engaging curriculum incorporating social-emotional learning, enriched by certified reading assistance dogs.
Our programs include a six to eight-week canine-assisted literacy residencies for K-2 classrooms in Chicago Public and charter schools with 90%+ low-income students and 60%+ below-average reading proficiency at 3rd grade.
We are a no-cost vendor to the Chicago Public Schools and maintain waitlists as we scale back up post-COVID.
We provide a family literacy series with Chicago Public Library aimed at emerging readers and supporting parent/guardian connection to the library’s Jump Into Reading resources.
Our organization hosts family literacy events at schools and partner organizations in our priority neighborhoods on Chicago’s west and south sides.
Book set giveaways are incorporated into all events to help establish home and classroom libraries to encourage reading aloud and solo reading with motivating and affirming titles — and we stick a number of Little Free Libraries with new and like-new books in our priority neighborhoods.”
— Deirdre Harrison CFRE, Interim Executive Director, SitStayRead
O-Higher Ed (Ojai, CA)
“The mission of O-Higher Ed is to support students of the Ojai Valley to access higher education, with a focus on those who are first in their family to go to college.
Our programs include study skill support, academic counseling, college field trips, support with completing college and financial aid applications, math tutoring, and a summer reading program.”
— Kara Hooper, Founder & Executive Director, O-Higher Ed
The Wizard’s Wardrobe (Albany, NY)
“Wizard’s Wardrobe is a free, one-on-one after-school literacy tutoring program for elementary students in Albany’s South End neighborhood, an under-resourced community.
We pair struggling readers with trained and vetted volunteer tutors. That relationship not only helps our children develop essential literacy skills, but it also fosters confidence and encourages curiosity and a love of learning.”
— Diane Hester, Chief Operating Officer, The Wizard’s Wardrobe
What did these reading and literacy nonprofits need most from their insurer?
Coverage for team members in motion.
“We needed coverage for team members traveling to different locations by car. We needed coverage for team members coaching adults and working with children on site, in a school, or other nonprofit.”
— Kristin Dwyer, We Shall Read
Broad coverage to protect people and property.
“For SitStayRead, the most important things are:
- Compliance with best practices for running a nonprofit of any size (workers’ compensation, Directors & Officers, cyber, umbrella, and General Liability coverages).
- Compliance with our partners and to make sure we are covered (Improper Sexual Conduct and Physical Abuse coverage).
- Ensuring the organization’s assets are protected in case of any qualifying event.
- Ensuring that our staff, our volunteers, our staff, and our dogs are covered in case of any accident.”
— Deirdre Harrison CFRE, SitStayRead
Coverage that doesn’t break the budget.
“We needed coverage for transporting students in vehicles; coverage for a small organization that would not break the bank.”
— Kara Hooper, O-Higher Ed
Protection for students and team members.
“We needed protection for our students and volunteers.”
— Diane Hester, The Wizard’s Wardrobe
How did these reading and literacy nonprofits discover NIA?
A Google search.
“We Shall Read found NIA through a Google search.”
— Kristin Dwyer, We Shall Read
References from other nonprofits.
“We learned about NIA from our local peers.”
— Deirdre Harrison CFRE, SitStayRead
A recommendation from an attorney.
“NIA was recommended to us by Chris Cohen, our lawyer who helped us with our 501(c)(3) status.”
— Kara Hooper, O-Higher Ed
Continuing a predecessor’s decision.
“Choosing NIA as our insurance provider was a decision made before I came on board.”
— Diane Hester, The Wizard’s Wardrobe
Since becoming NIA members, how has that relationship helped these reading and literacy organizations?
Affordable coverage and strong customer service.
“NIA has been honest and fair, and helpful in explaining coverage, identifying needs, and offering what I deem fair pricing.
Our nonprofit appreciates the easy enrollment process, affordable coverage, and excellent customer service for a layperson who is mission driven and may not know that much about insurance.”
— Kristin Dwyer, We Shall Read
Coverage that fits a small nonprofit’s budget.
“For some years now, SitStayRead has been happy with the service NIA provides at rates that are within our small organization’s limited budget.
We have recommended NIA to other peers who are shocked at the cost of other providers when they begin to work in schools.
Insurance is a program cost for us to some degree, as we could not work with any of our students without an array of policies.
NIA makes it easy to track and to budget for this major annual expense and are always speedy when we need a certificate of insurance.”
— Deirdre Harrison CFRE, SitStayRead
Payments made simple.
“NIA was our first insurer when we founded the organization. I like the informative bulletins, I like the alerts, and I like the easy payment system.”
— Kara Hooper, O-Higher Ed
Insurance that fits.
“The insurance we have through NIA is comprehensive and fits our needs very well.”
— Diane Hester, The Wizard’s Wardrobe
Reading and literacy nonprofits need insurance that’s with you for every chapter.
Why do reading and literacy nonprofits prefer to get their insurance from NIA?
It’s simple: Your nonprofit gives young readers the tools and support to help them succeed — and with NIA as your insurer, you get tools and support to help your mission succeed.
Nonprofits, especially those that work with children, can’t afford to leave anything to chance when it comes to their insurance, so NIA’s team works diligently to make sure that reading and literacy nonprofits can get the coverages they need, at prices they can afford, and with customer service that won’t leave them guessing.
