Nonprofit Risk Management E-Books

Easy advice on complicated topics. And they're free.

NIA’s free series of risk management e-books for nonprofits helps you plan safe events, manage your volunteer program, ensure vehicle safety, partner wisely with other nonprofits, and learn about other liability issues facing most nonprofits.

All are presented in non-technical, easy-to-understand language. Many contain case studies and sample forms.

man with laptop sitting at a table with woman looking at papers

Establish policies and procedures for the safe use of vehicles.

This free e-book, Arrive Safe and Sound: Tips to Help Your Nonprofit’s Vehicle Safety Program, helps nonprofit managers establish policies and procedures for the safe use of vehicles in their organization.

Better manage your collaboration risks.

This free e-book, Managing Collaboration Risks: Partnering with Confidence and Success, includes information to help nonprofit organizations better manage their collaboration risks.

Topics covered include nonprofit-nonprofit collaborations, nonprofit-business collaborations, mergers, and collaborating with insiders.

This e-book also has sample checklists for risk management strategies and insurance considerations, as well as a primer on writing a memorandum of understanding.

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Tips for managing volunteers.

This free e-book, Managing Volunteers: Balancing Risk and Reward, includes information to help nonprofit organizations better manage their volunteers.

Topics covered include volunteer recruitment, screening, and selection — as well as training, supervising, and disciplining volunteers.

This e-book also gives a brief explanation of volunteer liability and types of coverage available.

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Avoid common lawsuits.

This free e-book, Nonprofit Directors and Officers: Key Facts About Insurance and Legal Liability, summarizes the responsibilities of board members, reviews laws affecting nonprofit directors and officers, provides case studies of lawsuits against directors and officers, and lists key coverages to look for in insurance policies.

Includes useful tips to help board members avoid the most common types of lawsuits.

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Avoid sexual abuse in nonprofit organizations.

This free e-book, Sexual Abuse Prevention for Children and Teens, helps nonprofit organizations that offer services to children and teens make it clear to their employees, volunteers, and mentors that supervision of children and teens never includes sex.

Provides general information to help nonprofit managers better understand how to avoid sexual abuse in their organizations.

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Handle the risk management challenges of special events.

This free e-book, Sound Advice for Functions and Events: Tips for Staging Safer Special Events, addresses special risk management challenges of special events, including appropriate use of additional insureds, insurance certificates, waivers, and hold harmless agreements.

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Prepare your nonprofit to be ready for a crisis.

This free e-book, Surviving a Crisis: Practical Strategies for Nonprofit Organizations, helps you assess current preparedness and includes tips on how to make sure your nonprofit is prepared to respond in the event of a crisis.

Provides sample checklists and media fact sheet.

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Be better informed about the litigation process.

This free e-book, What Nonprofit Managers Need To Know About Lawsuits, is designed to help nonprofit managers, board members, and nonprofit staff to be better informed about the litigation process, so that they can work more effectively to manage lawsuits lodged against them.

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How to access these e-books:

These e-books are free to all. Anyone can download the printable PDF versions above.

Nonprofits insured by NIA can request multiple bound copies — at no charge. To request, go to Secure NIA Member Portal, then navigate to Member Resources > Booklets > How to Access.

Need insurance coverage for your nonprofit?

All these resources are available to nonprofits insured by NIA.

Consulting services.

Risk management consulting services to help your nonprofit identify and mitigate key risks across your organization.

Webinars.

Discover risk management strategies, exclusive NIA member resources, and learn how new regulations and laws may affect your nonprofit.

My Risk Management Plan.

Online tools to help you create a risk management plan that reflects your organization’s unique needs, priorities, and culture.

Online board tool.

Help your nonprofit’s board function more efficiently and effectively with BOARDnetWORK, an easy-to-use, web-based communication tool.

Nonprofit risk management e-books.

Advice to help nonprofits in non-technical, easy-to-understand language, with case studies and sample forms.

Discount purchasing program.

Your nonprofit makes purchases every day. PurchasingPoint® can get you big discounts on many of those same products and services.

Employee handbook builder.

Create a reliable, up-to-date employee handbook with digital tools and support from BLR Employee Handbook Builder.

Harassment prevention training.

Meet state-mandated training standards with Emtrain’s online harassment prevention training courses for your supervisors.

Risk management reference library.

Access a free library of reference materials, sample forms, policies, and more — all designed specifically for nonprofits.

Screening services.

Streamline your nonprofit’s hiring process with secure online access to background check and screening services via IntelliCorp.

Driver training.

Free defensive driving courses to help keep your drivers safe on the roads while operating vehicles for your nonprofit.

Vehicle/Driver monitoring.

Improve driver behavior and promote safety with SafetyFirst vehicle and driver monitoring.

Vehicle telematics.

Get real-time insights on how your nonprofit’s drivers are behaving on the road with GPS tracking from NIA Telematics.

Compliance training.

Develop cultures of inclusion, ethics, and respect in your nonprofit through Emtrain’s compliance e-learning courses.

Emergency communication software.

Quickly take charge in an emergency or crisis situation with communication software designed to keep your people safe, informed, and connected.