Starting a new nonprofit is never easy: You’ve got to build a board, agree on a mission, raise funds, sort out your policies and procedures, find staff and volunteers, create awareness in your community, and deal with an ever-growing mountain of paperwork.
Even if you’ve done it before, it can be overwhelming.
That’s where fiscal sponsor nonprofits come in: These organizations have missions to help other nonprofits succeed by helping to provide them with access to essential funding, as well as resources, training, and other forms of support.
These fiscal sponsor nonprofits help new nonprofits get established and set up for success in serving their communities. But, before they can start helping other nonprofits, fiscal sponsorship nonprofits need to have insurance to operate.
For nonprofits, different missions mean different insurance needs, so we talked with several NIA-insured fiscal sponsorship nonprofits, who shared what matters most to their organizations when it comes to their insurance coverage.
In their own words…
High Desert Community Foundation (Apple Valley, CA)
“High Desert Community Foundation serves the primarily low-income area of San Bernardino County, where the needs are many and the services are few.
Nonprofit funding doesn’t always trickle down to our community and when it does, it often involves nonprofits who are not located in our area.
High Desert Community Foundation’s Fiscal Sponsor Program is an alternative for small organizations starting a nonprofit program.
We provide the structure and a range of administrative services that allow nonprofit projects to get up and running quickly, keeping leaders focused on their mission, achieving a greater impact.
We have nonprofits here who care about our residents and always strive to make life better.”
— Deanna Wilson, Executive Director, High Desert Community Foundation
San Francisco Public Health Foundation (San Francisco, CA)
“San Francisco Public Health Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing public health initiatives that improve the health and well-being of San Francisco residents. We fulfill our mission through three primary avenues:
Friends of the San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH): As a close partner to the SFDPH, we mobilize resources and secure philanthropic support to advance community health services and other public health goals.
Fiscal Intermediary Services: We collaborate with SFDPH to channel resources to small community-based organizations, empowering them to deliver vital health programs that benefit our diverse communities.
Fiscal Sponsorship: We support emerging health initiatives by providing essential administrative, financial, and strategic services, fostering innovative approaches to health and wellness.”
— Jennifer R. Harrington, Executive Director, San Francisco Public Health Foundation
Movement Strategy Center (Oakland, CA)
“Movement Strategy Center is a movement-support organization that builds power through fiscal sponsorship and regranting.
We provide resources, thought partnership, and capacity-building support to leaders working on social and environmental justice issues, and operate as a collective ecosystem to accelerate our partners’ work through a lens of interdependence and love.
Our key programs include fiscal sponsorship/equitable intermediary services, philanthropic regranting, community and special interest funds, and impact investing/donor-advised funds.”
— Frank Gargione, Communications Director, Movement Strategy Center
What did these fiscal sponsorship nonprofits need most from their insurer?
Coverage to meet unique needs.
“We needed to procure the right coverage for our needs, which are unique due to our fiscal sponsor program and the variety of groups who operate through our foundation.”
— Deanna Wilson, High Desert Community Foundation
Comprehensive and adaptable protection.
“Our nonprofit’s most important need when looking for insurance coverage was to ensure comprehensive and adaptable protection that aligns with our multi-faceted role in public health.
As a fiscal intermediary and sponsor for community-based organizations delivering vital health programs, we needed coverage that not only protects our own operations but also addresses the unique risks associated with supporting emerging health initiatives and managing public health funds.
Given our close partnership with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, it was also crucial to meet compliance requirements while safeguarding our staff, volunteers, and community partners involved in advancing health and wellness across San Francisco.
Flexibility and cost-efficiency were also key, as our initiatives continually evolve to address the community’s changing health needs.”
— Jennifer R. Harrington, San Francisco Public Health Foundation
Coverage for a variety of needs.
“Our nonprofit needed event coverage, general liability coverage, and intellectual property coverage.”
— Frank Gargione, Movement Strategy Center
How did these fiscal sponsorship nonprofits hear about NIA?
A referral from another nonprofit.
“I heard about NIA years ago from a nonprofit located in Los Angeles called Community Partners.”
— Deanna Wilson, High Desert Community Foundation
National Council of Nonprofits presentation.
“Our nonprofit learned about NIA during a National Council of Nonprofits presentation session.”
— Jennifer R. Harrington, San Francisco Public Health Foundation
A longtime partnership.
“We have worked with NIA for quite a long time.”
— Frank Gargione, Movement Strategy Center
Since becoming NIA members, how has that relationship helped these fiscal sponsorship organizations?
Transparency and strong communications.
“I appreciate the communications from NIA regarding current events or political changes that may affect insurance costs or our operations in any way.”
— Deanna Wilson, High Desert Community Foundation
A partnership that feels more collaborative than transactional.
“We really value our relationship with NIA because they truly understand the unique needs of nonprofits like ours. They get that our work as a fiscal intermediary/sponsorship and our involvement in diverse community initiatives come with specific risks, and their policies reflect that understanding.
Another huge plus is that NIA operates as a nonprofit itself, so they’re not focused on making a profit off us. This means their pricing is fair and reasonable, which is so important when every dollar we save can go back into supporting health initiatives.
They also provide an electronic Employee Handbook that assists organizations with HR compliance and risk management — that’s incredibly valuable for us as we navigate complex administrative responsibilities.
Finally, it’s great to be part of a broader community of nonprofits through NIA. Knowing we’re connected with other organizations facing similar challenges is encouraging and makes the partnership feel more collaborative than transactional.”
— Jennifer R. Harrington, San Francisco Public Health Foundation
An insurer that is responsive to questions and needs.
“We have found that NIA is always responsive to our questions and our needs — and our partners at NIA are always willing to meet with us.
We appreciate that personal touch, as that is how we work with our fiscally sponsored partners and grantees.
Our Finance and Compliance teams have used/referenced NIA’s free and discounted risk management services.”
— Frank Gargione, Movement Strategy Center
Nonprofits with fiscal sponsorship missions need an insurer that’s invested in their success.
Why do fiscal sponsorship nonprofits choose NIA as their insurer?
It’s easy: When your nonprofit is insured by NIA, that means you’re covered by another nonprofit. Your mission is to help other nonprofits achieve their goals and help their communities? That’s NIA’s mission, too.
Nonprofits deserve an insurer that gets what it means to be a nonprofit. You want an insurance provider that sets you up for long-lasting success, not one that squeezes you for every last penny.
With NIA, you get quality insurance coverage that’s designed to meet your specific mission, at prices that are fair and equitable — all from a team that’s committed to the success of your mission and celebrating the positive impact you have on your community.
Your fiscal sponsorship nonprofit provides other nonprofits with the tools, guidance, funding, and resources they need to thrive — you deserve an insurance provider who does the same for you.
