Every school wants their students to have the best: The best resources, the best supplies, the best extracurriculars, etc. But schools are chronically underfunded, understaffed, and under-resourced, leaving them to make do with what they’ve got.
Across the country, nonprofit school boosters help provide support, funds, and more to their community’s schools, teachers, and students — beyond what the school’s budget might allow.
For these nonprofits, supporting their community schools means fundraising, managing volunteers, working with children, and much more. This wide array of mission work means nonprofit school boosters have a lot of different and specific risks in their operations that they need insurance to protect.
So, what do nonprofit school boosters need when it comes to their insurance?
Meet some nonprofit school boosters.
We talked with three NIA-insured nonprofit school boosters, and they shared how their specialized missions determine what they need most from their insurance coverage to keep serving their communities.
In their own words…
Big Bear Valley Education Trust (Big Bear Lake, CA)
“Big Bear Valley Education Trust helps assist teachers with classroom needs, expeditions, etc. by filling the gap financially and with volunteers.
We provide local community leaders opportunities to speak to high school students about their career paths and other possibilities; we create educational opportunities to get the students out into nature and learn about the unique environment of Big Bear, including snowmaking, lake ecology, and safety; and partner with other local organizations to expand their educations.”
— Linda Bulman, CEO & Board President, Big Bear Valley Education Trust
San Diego High School Foundation (San Diego, CA)
“Our mission is to raise contributions and disburse funds to promote the educational programs and the general welfare of the students in ways that include, but are not limited to, acquiring equipment and supplies that enhance the school’s facilities and educational support.
We also issue school scholarships for students to further their vocational and education endeavors and provide funding to student support programs beyond what provided by the school district.”
— Klaus Mendenhall, Treasurer, San Diego High School Foundation
Living Classroom (Los Altos, CA)
“Living Classroom’s mission is to inspire children to learn about and value the natural world through garden-based education. Our TK to 6th grade lessons teach environmental literacy through hands-on garden-based lessons in edible and native gardens cultivated at each school.
We create and maintain school gardens, provide top-notch curriculum and instruction, and all lesson and garden materials. All lessons are aligned with California Next Generation and/or Common Core standards.”
— Oi-Yan Chung, Business Manager, Living Classroom
What did these nonprofit school boosters need most from their insurer?
Reliable coverage at a fair price.
“Big Bear Valley Education Trust needed insurance coverage that was both reliable and cost-effective.”
— Linda Bulman, Big Bear Valley Education Trust
Coverage for all-volunteer board members.
“San Diego High School Foundation needed Directors & Officers coverage and General Liability insurance for our all-volunteer board of trustees.”
— Klaus Mendenhall, San Diego High School Foundation
Coverage against injuries and accidents.
“The most important need for our organization is to protect our business from claims that are caused by bodily injuries to our clients.
In addition, we need financial protection for our employees and our business in cause of work-related accidents.”
— Oi-Yan Chung, Living Classroom
How did these nonprofit school boosters hear about NIA?
Treasurer’s recommendation.
“San Diego High School Foundation was referred to NIA by its current treasurer, who had prior business experience.”
— Klaus Mendenhall, San Diego High School Foundation
Research and recommendations from other nonprofits.
“We heard about NIA from networking with other nonprofit organizations and from online research.”
— Oi-Yan Chung, Living Classroom
Since becoming an NIA member, how has that relationship helped these school boosters?
Good communications and information.
“NIA’s communication is good, and we appreciate that they share information and other organizations that may be of assistance.”
— Linda Bulman, Big Bear Valley Education Trust
Easy renewals and prompt follow-through.
“As all nonprofit entities require insurance for their officers and directors, there could not be a better insurance company than NIA. Their follow-through on all issues is and has been impeccable.
We also appreciate how they have handled our continuing renewal of needed entity insurance needs.”
— Klaus Mendenhall, San Diego High School Foundation
Insurance that understands and prioritizes nonprofits’ needs.
“Living Classroom has a longstanding member of NIA. Unlike other insurance providers, NIA takes the time to understand and prioritize the needs of nonprofit organizations of all sizes. They also demonstrated a genuine interest in our mission and the positive impact we strive to make.
In the past, it was challenging to communicate with our previous insurance provider due to the size of our business and the relatively small scale of our account. It was consistently difficult to connect with an agent by the phone to discuss our insurance needs.”
— Oi-Yan Chung, Living Classroom
School boosters need an insurer that understands nonprofits.
Why do nonprofit school boosters choose NIA as their insurance provider?
It’s easy: School boosters want insurance that gets them, that understands that their budgets and coverage needs aren’t like for-profit businesses — or even like other nonprofits.
With NIA, your nonprofit gets coverage that’s dependable and affordable, tailored to meet your needs, includes resources that can help your mission thrive, and is there when you need it.
After all, when you’re got a mission to support the students and schools in your community, you want insurance that’s going to be with you all the way.
