Environmental nonprofits have a mission that every living thing on Earth depends on — a climate that’s habitable, food that’s sustainable, water that’s drinkable, land that’s livable, and air that’s breathable.
If that mission doesn’t succeed, no other mission can succeed, either.
Every nonprofit needs insurance coverage to operate, but with a wide range of missions and accompanying risks, every environmental nonprofit has its own specific needs when it comes to their insurance.
So, what do environmental nonprofits need most from their insurance? Let’s find out.
Meet some environmental nonprofits insured by NIA.
We asked some NIA-insured environmental nonprofits about how their missions determine what they need from their insurance coverage — and their insurance provider — in order to operate safely.
Here’s what they had to say…
FABSCRAP (Brooklyn, NY)
“FABSCRAP works with over 800 fashion companies to reuse and recycle commercial textile ‘waste.’
To maximize the value of unused fabric, FABSCRAP is a convenient and transparent recycling service, an affordable and accessible materials resource, and is educating and empowering a diverse community of changemakers.
Over 2 million pounds of fabric have been saved from landfill so far!”
— Jessica Schreiber, Founder & CEO, FABSCRAP
Earthlinks (Denver, CO)
“EarthLinks cultivates transformation and self-worth with people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
By creating opportunities through Earth-centered programs, individuals step out of isolation and into community — restoring each other and the planet.
Simply put, we connect people and the planet with programs that include urban gardening, fresh food access, and trauma-based case management.”
— Jessica Myers, Executive Director, Earthlinks
Cool Davis (Davis, CA)
“Cool Davis is a community-based nonprofit dedicated to creating enduring community resilience through equitable and inclusive strategies that lower greenhouse gas emissions and help our region adapt to a changing climate.
We engage the community at household and neighborhood level with specific actions they can take to make change.
We provide opportunities to neighbors to act together at community level and to engage in advocating for policies and actions to have an impact beyond their neighborhood and community.”
— Christine Granger, Executive Director, Cool Davis
Geos Institute (Ashland, OR)
“Geos Institute is building Climate Ready America — the first nationwide system of climate-support services for communities developed as a coordinated system of interconnected, but self-organizing Climate Innovation Centers in states and territories around the country.
These centers connect existing climate efforts to foster thoughtful local climate action, break down siloes, and promote innovation to achieve an effective national response to the climate crisis.
The system is designed to align current in-state efforts in climate mitigation, adaptation, and equity; increase capacity and resources of existing climate programs; and identify and fill gaps in current services.
As a civic infrastructure that partners with community organizations, climate service providers, and federal, state, and local governments, Climate Ready America leverages and supports existing climate mitigation and adaptation programs, strengthening these tools and helping them reach the communities that need them most.
This system also gathers critical information regarding emerging community needs to inform the development of new resources and tools by federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and other organizations.
When fully built out nationwide, Climate Ready America will enable all communities, no matter their location, size, or wealth, to access the help they need to build climate resilience — both reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate impacts.”
— Tonya Graham, Executive Director, Geos Institute
What did these environmental nonprofits need most from their insurer?
Coverage that meets a variety of needs.
“We needed insurance that would cover our facilities, our team, our board, and the visitors to our space.”
— Jessica Schreiber, FABSCRAP
Protection for staff members and program participants.
“When looking for insurance, our priority was making sure our employees and program participants were protected for any liability while on-site or working with tools.”
— Jessica Myers, Earthlinks
Liability coverage for outreach and public events.
“Our primary insurance needs were liability coverage for outreach activities and public events, as well as Directors & Officers insurance.”
— Christine Granger, Cool Davis
Coverage for uncommon nonprofit risks.
“We own our office building, so we needed appropriate and affordable coverage for that structure, as well as Directors & Officers and General Liability coverage.
We have also needed professional liability coverage in the past, which is not very common for nonprofits.”
— Tonya Graham, Geos Institute
How did these environmental nonprofits hear about NIA?
A broker’s recommendation.
“Our prior broker sold her company without notice and our policy was transferred to someone we didn’t know. We didn’t have the correct coverage, and we needed to add coverage — but it took us so long to figure that out! Fortunately, our new broker recommended NIA.”
— Jessica Schreiber, FABSCRAP
A longtime partnership.
“Our nonprofit has used NIA for many years for insurance.”
— Jessica Myers, Earthlinks
Leadership sought NIA from the start.
“We were lucky enough to have experienced leadership who sought NIA insurance from the beginning.”
— Christine Granger, Cool Davis
Local agent’s suggestion.
“We heard about NIA through our local agent, Ashland Insurance.”
— Tonya Graham, Geos Institute
Since becoming an NIA member, how has that relationship helped these Environmental nonprofits?
An insurer that understands nonprofits.
“NIA has been the ideal insurer for our organization. I have full confidence in our coverage and their understanding of the nonprofit space. We have so much support, including a reasonable rate for the size of our organization.
We really appreciate that they took time to understand our operations and coverage needs. I feel like they understand the unique risks of a nonprofit in how their policies are structured. I particularly appreciate their rates and website of resources.”
— Jessica Schreiber, FABSCRAP
Coverage that allows nonprofits to focus on their missions.
“NIA has been a wonderful resource for insurance within my organization. They have provided me with all the tools I need to make the best insurance decisions for my staff and program participants.
They set us up for success, allowing me to run Earthlinks and really put my attention to the population we serve and sustaining our planet.
I greatly appreciate the open and direct communication, the patience that NIA staff have for me, as well as the clear direction of helping me understand policies so I can make the best choices for my organization.”
— Jessica Myers, Earthlinks
Helpful resources to get through tough times.
“NIA has a great structure of resources and a toolbox to support nonprofit organizations.
We have utilized a number of services, templates for employment and volunteer forms, board education tools, booklets, webinars, and risk management services.
During COVID, we were considering layoffs and reduced hours. This was a stressful and difficult time for nonprofits to be isolated and at risk, and the services and expertise provided on best practices with employees at this time was invaluable.
As an ED of a small organization. I felt like NIA had my back in sorting out and advising on simple but unfamiliar steps with employees.”
— Christine Granger, Cool Davis
Insurance that understands the difference between nonprofits and for-profits.
“We have found NIA to be a comprehensive solution for our insurance needs. As a nonprofit, our needs are often somewhat different than a typical for-profit business.
We had run into problems with some insurance agents not understanding the fundamental differences between for-profit and nonprofit entities and how those differences affect the types of risk we are looking to transfer through insurance products.
It’s great to work with people who understand that difference and have built insurance products and a support system specifically to meet our needs
We have used the background-check services and the employee handbook builder, which is very useful and provides overall policies, as well as required policies based on state laws. Since we are a distributed team, this is critical to ensure we comply with local employment laws where our staff are located.”
— Tonya Graham, Geos Institute
Environmental nonprofits need an insurer that understands their mission.
Why do environmental nonprofits prefer to get their insurance coverage from NIA?
It’s simple: Your environmental nonprofit works to support and preserve the planet, you deserve an insurance provider that understands that mission — and does what it can to help it succeed.
Environmental nonprofits want an insurer that understands their mission, they want coverage that’s there when they need it most — and they want it at a price that leaves some funds left for mission work.
With NIA insuring your environmental nonprofit, you get quality coverage that’s designed to fit your mission, tools to help your mission run smoother, at fair and equitable prices — all supported by a team that considers your success to be a success for everyone.
