The best nonprofit insurance companies offer specialized coverage like management liability, broader definitions for insureds to include volunteers, access to umbrella coverage, and unique insights into the needs of the nonprofit sector. Using our proprietary rubric, we evaluated providers to find the five best nonprofit insurance companies:
- The Hartford: Best overall for nonprofit insurance
- Thimble: Best for nonprofits hosting special events
- Philadelphia Insurance Companies: Best for management liability
- Travelers: Best for human & social service nonprofits
- Hub: Best for nonprofits with international operations
If you are looking for insurance for a religious organization, check out our guide to church insurance, which features the top providers, costs, and coverages.
Top Nonprofit Insurance Companies Compared
Quote Process | Policy Purchase Process | Accessibility | Instant Certificate of Insurance (COI) | Financial Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Begin online or via an agent | Through an agent or over the phone | 24/7 call center | ✓ | A+ (Superior) |
 | Online or via the app | Online | Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time | ✓ | A- to A (Excellent) |
 | Through an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A++ (Superior) |
 | Through an agent | Through an agent | 24/7 call center | ✕ | A++ (Superior) |
 | Through a broker | Through a broker | Depends on the regional office | ✕ | A- to A (Excellent) |
The Hartford: Best Overall for Nonprofits
Pros
- Instant COIs
- 24/7 claims line
- Wide range of coverages
Cons
- May have trouble obtaining an online quote
- Same-day coverage unavailable
- Will likely need to call to purchase the policy
Standout Features
- EPLI and professional liability available with the business owner’s policy (BOP)
- Volunteers included as insureds
- Defense costs outside of limits included
- Account portal to manage your policy
Financial stability: The Hartford has a rating of A+ (Superior) from AM Best
The Hartford is an experienced provider of nonprofit insurance. It got perfect marks in all but one of our evaluation criteria for having the financial stability to handle numerous claims, offering a wide range of coverage that can be tailored to the needs of nonprofit organizations, associations, and even international charities, and providing a dedicated in-house team to handle claims.
It also offers a highly customizable BOP that would work well for most small and midsize nonprofits. You can usually get a quote online—but if not, you can call and speak with a representative or a local agent for one.
However, there is normally no option to purchase a policy online or get same-day coverage—which is why this provider took a hit in the convenience criterion. If you want to purchase a policy online or need same-day coverage, Thimble is the best option for you.
While you can start a quote online for some types of nonprofit organizations and associations, it typically does not generate an online quote, and you will need to call to finish. Alternatively, you can reach out to an agent or broker from the get-go for more details—it provides a locator to help you find one in your area.
The Hartford has a BOP called Spectrum that works well for nonprofit organizations. Typical BOPs are a combination of general liability and first-party property coverage, but The Hartford’s also carries lost business income coverage.
Spectrum is appealing for nonprofits because it has a wide range of optional coverages you can select, like data breach, professional liability, EPLI, or business income for civil authority actions. There are pages of coverage options with BOP Spectrum.
Beyond the BOP package, it offers commercial auto, management liability, and even coverage for international nonprofit organizations. An especially valuable benefit for nonprofits is that volunteers are included in the definition of “insured” for liability coverage.
The Hartford stands out in its convenience and customer satisfaction. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) tracks complaints filed at the state level—and The Hartford has lower-than-expected complaints for a company of its size. It is also a top three company in J.D. Power’s1 independent agent satisfaction survey, meaning agents prefer working with The Hartford over other providers.
The Hartford is the only dedicated provider on this list that offers online quotes and instant access to COIs through your online account. Besides that, it is available 24/7 if you need to file a claim. Through your online account, you can manage your policy, file a claim, and pay a bill.
Thimble: Best For Nonprofits Hosting Special Events
Pros
- Fast quote
- Instant COIs
- Flexible policy terms
Cons
- No 24/7 call line
- Can be difficult to reach a person
- Does not handle claims
Standout Features
- Online quote and policy purchase
- Commercial app to manage your policy 24/7
- Same-day coverage for special events
- Quote and purchase via the app
Financial stability: Thimble works with multiple carriers with a rating ranging from A- to A (Excellent) from AM Best. One company it works with, National Specialty Insurance Company, is rated A (Excellent) by AM Best.
Thimble Insurance is a dedicated insurer for small businesses, including nonprofits. It scored highly for the convenience it provides and the policies it has developed for short-term special events. Such events, whether as outreach or fundraising, are a common occurrence for nonprofit organizations, and many standard policies do not have coverage for them. However, Thimble offers special event insurance for nonprofits—in only minutes, you can get a quote online or via the app for a special event.
It would have scored higher in our customer service criterion if it were easier to reach someone. It may be harder to find an overall policy package for your nonprofit business through Thimble, so a provider like The Hartford or Travelers would be a better fit. It also doesn’t handle its own claims.
In less than a minute, we received a quote for special event coverage for an outdoor concert held by a religious organization. The coverage limits were $1 million total for 12 hours of coverage with a cap of 250 people.
A nice feature of Thimble is you can get a quote and purchase same-day coverage. But if you are planning ahead, you can purchase coverage for a later date, too.
Thimble is very convenient. Its policy management and quote system is based on the app it developed for iOS and Android. This is especially helpful for a nonprofit needing special event insurance because you can get a quote, purchase a policy and then share proof of insurance all through the app.
While it doesn’t have a 24/7 call center line—and even when you do call, it is difficult to reach anyone—the app functions like a call center by giving you control over your policy and claims.
It is available nationwide and has positive reviews from users. On Trustpilot2, it currently has 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 1,300 reviews. The providers it works with have mostly low levels of complaints through the NAIC.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies: Best for Management Liability
Pros
- Limits up to $15 million
- 24/7 catastrophe line
- Online chat options
Cons
- 24/7 line is only for catastrophes
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
- No online quotes available
Standout Features
- Separate limits for professional liability and molestation coverage
- Professional liability covers training and internships
- Online policy and account management
- Free risk management resources for nonprofits
Financial stability: Philadelphia Insurance Companies is owned by Tokio Marine Holdings. It has a rating of A++ (Superior) from AM Best.
Philadelphia Insurance Companies (Phly) is a great provider of nonprofit insurance because of the wide range of insurance it offers. It has developed a management liability package called Flexi Plus Five, which is for organizations with an organization governed by a board.
The provider is great for nonprofits who report to a board and are looking for a company that handles the policy, policy maintenance, and claims. It scored well in our evaluation for having a strong financial position and providing thorough policies for nonprofits. It could’ve earned higher marks if it offered online quotes, allowed policy purchasing online, and provided more information on what types of services are available for policyholders.
If you are more interested in working with a broker to find and compare coverage, then Hub International is a great option.
To get a quote, you will need to reach out to an agent or submit an application.
Some standout features of the Flexi Plus Five package are separate limits for general liability, professional liability, and abuse-molestation coverage. The limits go to around $1 million per occurrence and $3 million aggregate. The director’s and liability policy also have a limit of up to $15 million.
Among the free risk management resources it offers are two free hours of legal consultation for your board of directors.
Phly is available nationwide and maintains a customer service and claims line from Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. There is a 24/7 call center for catastrophe losses but it is limited to that. For any other type of loss, you are encouraged to file the claim either through your agent or during business hours.
You can also manage your account through MyPhly, its online account. However, details on what you can do from there are limited, and there is no clear pathway to requesting a COI.
Travelers: Best for Human & Social Service Nonprofits
Pros
- 24/7 call center
- Works with independent agents
- Experienced provider
Cons
- Unclear process for obtaining a COI
- More narrow focus on nonprofit coverage
- No online quotes
Standout Features
- 170 years of insurance experience
- Dedicated claims management resource group for customers
- Customer service ombudsman
- Very low level of complaints recorded
Financial stability: Travelers is a global insurer with a rating of A++ (Superior) from AM Best.
Global insurer Travelers offers a wide range of insurance, including commercial auto, that nonprofits may need. It has developed a policy package called Wrap+® with management and cyber liability for human and health service industries, including nonprofits operating in that sector.
The package comes with many optional enhancements, including liability coverage related to HIPAA losses, and IRS code violation coverage. For nonprofits, it has a broad definition of insured.
While the financial position, customer service, and policies of Travelers are great, it does not have a very modern digital experience. If you are looking for a traditional provider that has a more accessible digital experience, then you should consider The Hartford.
For a quote, you’ll need to reach out to an agent. Travelers work with independent agents and have an agency locator on their website.
Helpfully, it offers free resources for policies utilizing this policy package via Risk Management PLUS+ Online. It is an online based resource with training, bulletins, resource databases, attorney consultations, and more. The resources are tailored to the different coverages available. For example, for EPLI coverage, there is sexual harassment prevention training or, for directors and officers (D&O) coverage, ethics training is available.
Travelers insurance is available nationwide. Also, there is an online account that gives you some control over your account, including managing and paying for the policy.
One standout customer service feature of Travelers is its customer advocacy line. This 24/7 line is available for you to reach out to if you have any concerns over Travelers’ customer service. Its dedication to great customer service is paying off, as it has a very low number of complaints tracked by the NAIC.
Hub International: Best for Nonprofits With International Operations
Pros
- Tailored coverage
- Large network of providers
- More than 21,000 nonprofit customers
Cons
- No 24/7 call center
- Hours appear to be tied to the regional office
- No online quotes
Standout Features
- Coverage for international and domestic nonprofits
- Claims management team
- Free risk management resources for policyholders
- International coverage for domestic-based nonprofits
Financial stability: Hub International works with providers with a rating of A- (Excellent) or higher. However, we were unable to find a specific list of which providers it works with for nonprofit insurance.
Hub International is a global brokerage firm that has helped insure over 21,000 nonprofit organizations. An advantage of a broker is that it works with multiple carriers and will usually let you compare quotes to find the right provider for your organization at a price that makes sense.
This provider can provide coverage for all types of organizations, including arts, educational, and public advocacy organizations. It is a great option for nonprofits that work internationally, say in helping with education, adoption, or clean water projects.
However, its hours are unclear and seem to be specific to the regional HUB office. In our research, the majority of those offices operate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, in their respective time zones. It also does not maintain any 24/7 claims line, and COI requests go through the local brokers’ office. These downsides brought down its score in our evaluation. If you want a provider with 24/7 availability then consider Travelers or The Hartford.
Quotes are provided through the local broker offices. There is an online contact form you can fill out, and then a local broker will reach out to you.
For nonprofits with an international presence, HUB offers several useful coverages, including options to help your business from criminal activities, political risks, and the inherent risks of traveling abroad. Because HUB is an international company, it has access to more than 100 countries and will make sure your insurance is in adherence to any local insurance laws.
HUB International is primarily located in North America, with insurance available in America and Canada. There is no clear list of which providers it will work with, so it is difficult to evaluate the customer satisfaction of the specific providers. However, upon reviewing multiple third-party review sites, such as Trustpilot, WalletHub, and Yelp, it averages slightly more than 3 out of 5 stars from its customers.
HUB offers a unique feature for brokers: a claims management team. This team works with you throughout the entire claims process to help make the process seamless and timely. It is part of its free risk management offering.
How We Evaluated the Best Nonprofit Insurance Companies
To determine the best nonprofit insurance companies, we utilized a proprietary evaluation system developed in-house. We examined multiple providers and presented the five with the highest scores.
In our evaluation, we focus on the customer’s needs. We pay particular interest to convenience, financial ratings (AM Best), customer service, types of policies offered, and the overall experience as a policyholder for a specific provider.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. While the names and general coverages may be the same, nonprofit insurance will have specific policy language and endorsements that make it more applicable to a nonprofit organization.
It is hard to provide a specific amount as most providers offer quotes for nonprofits. Usually, the cost will be determined by the risk, claims history, size of the organization, and the location of operations.
Yes, workers’ compensation is still required for employees of a nonprofit. From there, it depends on the other organizations you work with and whether they require you to carry a specific type of policy. You also need to consider the cost of having a loss and no active insurance.
Bottom Line
Nonprofit organizations provide essential services to our neighbors. It is important they are protected from the loss of their property or the challenge of a liability claim. The best nonprofit insurance companies understand their uniqueness and can provide tailored policies to fit their needs while delivering great customer service.
With more than 200 years of experience, The Hartford understands the private and nonprofit sectors and has developed a product that can adapt to fit the needs of nonprofit businesses. In 10 minutes or less, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from it.
Visit The Hartford for a Quote
User review resources:
1J.D. Power
2Trustpilot
