2005 Webinars

High-quality, monthly training delivered right to your desktop

Employee or Independent Contractor? Making the Proper Determination in Your Nonprofit

This 60-minute seminar provided practical tips on determining whether someone working on your behalf is an employee or an independent contractor. Unfortunately, many nonprofits get into trouble by choosing the most convenient option, versus what is legally required.

Does your nonprofit have a framework for determining the classification of workers?Do you know what questions to ask and which answers reveal an independent contract?Do you have a contract with each independent contracting governing the relationship between your nonprofit and the contractor?
Do you at what point your close supervision of an independent contractor makes them an employee under Department of Labor regulations?

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are concerned about whether your current independent contractors are properly classified; You are preparing to hire new independent contractors and want to make certain you do it right; You are curious about the financial penalties and consequences of improperly classifying employees; You want to hear a simple explanation and discussion of the employee versus independent contractor issue; or
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about the way your nonprofit distinguishes between employees and independent contractors.

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Principles of Youth Protection

What are the conditions that allow children and youth to be abused by individuals working as employees and volunteers in nonprofit programs?
What strategies are useful to nonprofits that want to lessen the opportunity for abuse by staff members?

This Web Seminar introduced participants to the Seven Principles of Child and Youth Protection. These principles form the foundation upon which your organization should build strategies to protect the children and youth it serves. Adherence to the principles presented in this Web seminar enables your nonprofit to fulfill its obligation to take reasonable steps to protect the young people you serve from harm while participating in your organization’s programs — harm inflicted by adult employees and volunteers or harm caused by other youth.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are concerned about protecting the children your nonprofit serves; You are committed to protecting your adult caregivers from false allegations; Your insurance company has recently imposed new risk management requirements; You want to hear a straightforward explanation and discussion of guiding rules for effective youth protection; or
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about the way your nonprofit works to protect young clientele while continuing to offer meaningful programs that attract enthusiastic volunteers.

Each registrant is given instructions for downloading the extensive seminar materials. These materials included a “follow-along” visual presentation as well as a narrative containing background information, advice, samples and checklists.

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Managing Special Event Risks: Practical Strategies for Nonprofits

Special events are increasingly common in the nonprofit sector. Yet safety often and unfortunately takes a back seat. If your nonprofit sponsors even one event annually, whether it’s an athletic competition held outdoors or a fundraising dinner, you need to begin incorporating the principles of special events risk management into your planning agenda and event protocols. With a little time and attention you can increase the odds that your event will achieve your goals rather than cause harm to your reputation, finances and ability to achieve your community-serving mission.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

Your nonprofit sponsors one or more special events each year but does not have an active safety committee; You occasionally sign difficult-to-understand contracts with facilities, venues or local government agencies in order to schedule your special events; Your vendors and contractors for special events routinely ask your nonprofit to indemnify them; You want to hear a straightforward explanation and discussion of guiding rules for effective special events risk management; or
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can conduct safe special events without removing the “fun.”

Here's what one attendee had to say about this webinar

Each registrant is given instructions for downloading the seminar materials. These materials include a “follow-along” visual presentation as well as a narrative containing background information, advice, samples and checklists.

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Managing Young Service Recipients: Effective Discipline and Control

Across the country, youth-serving nonprofits work hard to offer meaningful, enriching programs for kids of all ages. Concerned about the possibility of harm to service recipients, many organizations have focused intently on activities that reduce the likelihood that an adult caregiver will harm a young person. There is compelling evidence that these efforts are paying off. However, an increasingly important area of concern for youth-serving nonprofits is the risk of harm caused by participants themselves. Claims stemming from incidents of bullying and other misbehaviors appear to be on the rise.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

Your nonprofit serves young people; You are concerned about the risks associated with bullying, misconduct and misbehavior by young participants; You want to learn practical strategies for managing the young people you serve; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of effective discipline and control measures for youth-serving nonprofits; or
You want to pose questions to a youth protection expert about how you can safely manage young service recipients while allowing them to be children and enjoy the programs your organization has to offer.

Each registrant is given instructions for downloading the seminar materials. These materials include a “follow-along” visual presentation as well as a narrative containing background information, advice, samples and checklists.

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The Board’s Role in Risk Management

Risk is inherent in nonprofit organizations as in every other sector of the economy. One of the roles of the board is to ensure the systematic identification of the risks that threaten the mission and survival of a nonprofit organization. What is the board’s responsibility for risk management and how can board members discharge this duty? The goal of this Web seminar is to help participants define the role of the board and determine a workable strategy for getting the board engaged in risk management.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

Your board has expressed an interest in risk management issues and desired to be informed; You board is apathetic about the risks your nonprofit faces and needs a wake-up call about its role and responsibilities; You want to learn practical strategies for getting your board “on board” with risk management; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of how and why the board’s involvement in risk management is crucial to the success of your safety, loss prevention and litigation avoidance strategies; or
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can safely define and manage the board’s participation in risk management without “crossing the line” from effective governance into micro-management.

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Responding to Allegations of Abuse

Nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations (including children, the elderly and persons with disabilities) work hard to deliver vital services without inadvertently causing harm. Yet in addition to working hard to prevent harm, every nonprofit that works with vulnerable clients should develop a plan of action in the event the unthinkable happens. This Webinar provided a frank discussion of what an organization must do (and must not do) when responding to allegations of abuse. Research and other evidence has clearly demonstrated that how an organization reacts to allegations plays a major role in the cost and consequences of any subsequent claims filed by alleged victims.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are concerned about the adequacy of your nonprofit’s existing strategies and policies for responding to allegations of abuse; You believe that your nonprofit is not sufficiently prepared for the unthinkable; You want to learn practical strategies for designing an effective response to allegations that protects your mission and assets but demonstrates compassion to alleged victims; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of do’s and don’ts in responding to allegations of abuse; or
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can develop effective strategies for responding to allegations of abuse committed by staff, volunteers, clients or third-parties.

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Insurance Basics for Nonprofits

The world of commercial insurance is complex and always changing. It’s no wonder that nonprofit managers, executives and board members often struggle trying to understand how coverage works and the process for obtaining comprehensive and affordable coverage. For longer than a decade, the staff at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center has been training nonprofit leaders about insurance coverage. Our presentations are jargon-free and get to the critical topics you need to master.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

What insurance products should a nonprofit consider? How should a nonprofit board or staff go about the process of purchasing insurance? How will we know if we are adequately insured? Are liability insurance policies basically the same, or are there key differences? How does purchasing insurance differ from purchasing commodities for my nonprofit? What do I need to know in order to effectively negotiate my insurance renewal with an agent or broker? How much trust and faith should I place in an agent or broker who says “leave it to me”?
How much, if anything, does the board need to know about the insurance we buy?

To get answers to these and other insurance-related questions, purchase the Insurance Basics Web Seminar today.

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Contracting Do’s, Don’ts and Musts for Nonprofits

Nonprofit managers and leaders sign contracts on a regular basis. But too often we take pen in hand without first taking time to make certain that we understand the language in front of us. Even fewer people give contracts the time they require to understand whether they are in the nonprofit’s best interests or require revisions to be acceptable. One of the reasons for our haste with contracts may be fear of a large invoice if we reach out for professional help. In other instances a nonprofit CEO may feel “under the gun” to sign a contract. Whatever the reason, contracts create both opportunities and risks for a nonprofit.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You’ve ever regretted signing a contract without reading it first; You’ve ever been in a dispute or surprised about a contract you signed but did not understand; Your responsibilities include negotiating and signing contracts for a nonprofit, but you have not been to law school; You want to learn practical strategies for integrating risk management into your contracting practices; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of contracting do’s and don’ts;
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can negotiate contracts for your nonprofit that protect vital assets while allowing you to go about the business of achieving your mission.

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Conducting Effective Performance Appraisals in Your Nonprofit

Few nonprofit supervisors look forward to conducting performance appraisals. Yet most managers understand that regular reviews are a vital risk management tool, and that inaccurate reviews can spell disaster when defending an employment decision in court.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You have ever postponed conducting performance appraisals due to anxiety about the process; You have ever felt that your current appraisal process is less than adequate or requires updating; Your responsibilities include conducting performance reviews for staff members who report to you; You want to learn practical strategies for making the review process in your nonprofit less painful and more useful; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of performance appraisal do’s and don’ts;
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can design and conduct performance appraisals for your nonprofit that protect your interests while providing helpful, constructive information to employees.

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Staff Screening: What’s New and What You Need to Know

Screening paid and volunteer staff is an important component of risk management. Despite the availability of a wealth of information and tools on screening, many nonprofit screening programs are not as effective as they might be due to errors in planning and design. A growing number of nonprofits are subject to screening requirements imposed by insurers, funders and others. Yet every organization, while complying with these requirements, must design a process that adequately reflects the risk of key positions without imposing too great a burden on the organization. This Webinar explored how to do just that.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are responsible for designing the staff and/or volunteer screening process in your nonprofit; You have questions or concerns about the validity or effectiveness of certain screening tools, such as background checks or reference checking; You want to learn how to determine which screening tools make sense given the risks of a position in your nonprofit; You want to learn practical strategies for screening effectively but within a certain timeframe and within your budget; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of screening do’s and don’ts;
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can design a screening program that protects your nonprofit and your vulnerable clients and contributes to your overall risk management goals and activities.

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Managing Transportation Risk in Your Nonprofit

Whether your nonprofit owns a fleet of vehicles or simply requires staff members (or volunteers) to use their own cars for organization activities, you’ve got transportation risk. This Webinar explored a number of key topics within the field of transportation risk management, including vehicle safety, driver screening and supervision, maintenance and “hot topics” in transportation.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are responsible for the safety of drivers, passengers or vehicles at your nonprofit; You are concerned about the possibility that vehicle accidents could put your nonprofit’s assets at risk; You want to step back and make certain that your existing transportation risk management program covers the bases; You want to learn practical strategies for integrating transportation risk management into your nonprofit; You want to hear a straightforward discussion of transportation do’s and don’ts;
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can design a transportation risk management program that protects your nonprofit but doesn’t exhaust your resources.

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Managing Legal Risks in a Nonprofit Organization

The American legal system is the subject of ongoing debate, countless publications, and a growing number of television dramas and situation comedies. It’s even the stuff good novels are made of. Yet the legal field is intimidating — many laypersons (non lawyers) feel that lawyers speak a different language, view the world through a lens of cynicism, and disregard practical matters when making recommendations about the way in which a nonprofit organization should operate. It doesn’t have to be that way. Laypersons serving management roles in nonprofits can, without investing in a formal legal education, learn liability basics, and use a wide range of legal resources to inform decision-making for their organizations. What’s required is taking time to understand the liability environment in which your organization operates. You also need to learn some legal basics that will enable your nonprofit to:

understand what steps are important to steering clear of legal trouble, minimizing the risk of lawsuits and claims, and refraining from jeopardizing the nonprofit’s position in a legal battle;proceed confidently with your mission without unwarranted fear of legal liability and frivolous lawsuits;manage your affairs in a way that complies with legal rules and requirements; and
fortify the organization to withstand a legal challenge.

Purchase the recording of this Web Seminar if:

You are concerned about the legal risks faced by your nonprofit; You want to learn practical strategies for managing legal risks in your organization; You want to hear a jargon-free discussion of legal issues with which nonprofit leaders should be familiar;
You want to pose questions to a risk management expert about how you can take steps to fortify your nonprofit to withstand a legal challenge.

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Training

2005 Webinars

High-quality, monthly training delivered right to your desktop

Employee or Independent Contractor? Making the Proper Determination in Your Nonprofit

Principles of Youth Protection

Managing Special Event Risks: Practical Strategies for Nonprofits

Managing Young Service Recipients: Effective Discipline and Control

The Board’s Role in Risk Management

Responding to Allegations of Abuse

Insurance Basics for Nonprofits

Contracting Do’s, Don’ts and Musts for Nonprofits

Conducting Effective Performance Appraisals in Your Nonprofit

Staff Screening: What’s New and What You Need to Know

Managing Transportation Risk in Your Nonprofit

Managing Legal Risks in a Nonprofit Organization