[Organizers] Directors and Officers insurance for a medium-size dance organization with a volunteer BOD

[David Chandler]

Country Dance New York (CDNY) has D&O, obtained through the same broker as
our liability insurance (New York Council of Nonprofits, the organization
for nonprofits in New York - similar organizations are across the country).
$797 last year. It was a close call when we decided to go with it. On one
hand I have never heard of a claim against an organization like ours, and
think it is generally unlikely there would be one. On the other hand, we
have accumulated some resources over the last 30 years and it would be a
shame to lose them to lawyers' fees even if we won. It also protects
individual board members, which can be an asset in recruitment (though not
so much in our community, where most dancers don't have all that much, or
know that much about insurance). I read some articles pro and con and
vacillated for years, but I don't remember what the final argument in favor
was. With luck one will never need it, like most insurance - but it seems
useful to be able to make life simpler in case an issue comes up - there
would be lawyers for the insurance company that would take most of the
burden (though one has to recognize that their best interests, as with most
insurance, are not necessarily our best interests).

On Fri, Jun 7, 2019 at 5:22 PM Craig Meltzner via Organizers <
organizers at lists.sharedweight.net> wrote:

> North Bay Country Dance Society (NBCDS) is a medium-size CA dance
> organization (about 90 dances per year – contra, ECD, family, Morris team,
> two dance weekends), a CDSS affiliate, with a volunteer Board of Directors.
> NBCDS has been around 25 years. Our Board is discussing whether to purchase
> Directors and Officers liability insurance. We have a quote from a local
> broker for a $1 million limit of liability, claims-made policy with a
> $5,000 deductible for annual cost of $850. Reputable insurance company –
> same one which provides general liability coverage for NBCDS through CDSS
> insurance program. We’ve researched D&O, understand what it covers and what
> it doesn’t, had one Board discussion without a decision. Not a cost we
> couldn’t cover but not insignificant either.
>
>
>
> *Arguments for obtaining coverage* – protects individual Board members
> thereby encouraging participation, particularly among higher net-worth
> individuals; provides for defense costs in case of frivolous suits. *Arguments
> for not obtaining coverage* –  1) our 25 year history of having no
> actions taken against us; 2) the fact that our mandate is so narrow - we
> put on dances; 3)  the people who come to our dances understand that they
> are social events and we don't seek a community with special needs or
> vulnerabilities; 4) we're an all-volunteer run enterprise; 5) we don't make
> (much) money which makes us much less of a target; 6) if there was a suit,
> it is unlikely that personal assets would be sought.
>
>
>
> Do any of you involved with similar non-profit organizations have
> information to share about D & O coverage? Do you have it/thought about
> getting it? Decided not to get it? Know of any dance/music/song
> organizations and their Board of Directors which have faced a suit of any
> kind which would be covered by D & O insurance? Thanks.
>
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