Volunteer Advancement — Not Just Moving Up, but Also Continuing To Grow

By Megan Vixie Editor’s Note: We appreciate this guest article by Megan, owner of Arrive Circa Now, LLC. There is more information about her and the executive coaching and consulting services she offers, following the article. When we hear the word “advancement,” it’s easy to think of promotions, titles, or leadership positions. But advancement can […]

Dog Bites, Trip Hazards, and Other Surprises: Preparing Volunteers for the Unexpected

Volunteer risk doesn’t always look dramatic. It looks like a loose step on a client’s porch, an unfamiliar dog behind a screen door, or a walkway still slick from last night’s rain. These are the moments that catch volunteer coordinators off guard, not because they’re rare, but because they don’t fit the image most people […]

Home Visit Safety: Managing the Risks Volunteers Face in Clients’ Private Spaces

A client’s home is unfamiliar territory. Unlike a nonprofit’s office or a facility it maintains, a private residence usually isn’t a space the organization can inspect or control in advance. That distinction is why home visit safety deserves its own framework, one that pairs practical planning with volunteer accident insurance to protect against what planning […]

What Nonprofits Need To Know Before Letting Volunteers Drive: A Guide to Excess Auto Liability

Nonprofits that rely on volunteer drivers face a category of risk that personal auto insurance alone cannot fully address. Whether your volunteers transport older persons to medical appointments, deliver meals, run program errands, or shuttle clients between services, every trip carries liability exposure for both the driver and your organization. Volunteer liability insurance plays an […]

The Volunteer Who Isn’t Coming Back: How To Safely Reassign or Dismiss a Volunteer

Every nonprofit eventually faces a difficult conversation about volunteers. Someone who started strong begins missing shifts. A trusted long-term volunteer can no longer safely perform his or her current role. A well-meaning person turns out to be a poor fit for the clients they serve.  These situations are uncomfortable, but handling them professionally protects your […]

When a Volunteer Is Accused: How Liability Coverage and Good Procedures Work Together

When a volunteer faces an allegation — whether for negligence, property damage, or harm to a client — your organization must respond immediately, regardless of whether the allegation has merit. Legal defense costs are real even when no wrongdoing occurred, and the financial and reputational strain of an unresolved claim can disrupt programs, erode donor […]