Special Section sponsored by TMPAA

Charity First Insurance

Key programs administered: nonprofit organizations and religious institutions

Operating under the philosophy that nonprofit and religious organizations should focus on their mission instead of on their risks, Charity First Insurance Services continually broadens its products and services to meet the changing needs of today’s nonprofit organizations.

Judy Foulkrod, senior vice president and program manager for Charity First Insurance Services, Inc., in San Francisco, says her agency insures nonprofit organizations exclusively. “We’ve specialized in the nonprofit sector since we began operations in 1985. Today we insure more than 6,000 nonprofit organizations throughout the United States.”

Charity First will soon introduce its newest program tailored to religious institutions. Backed by a Best rated “A+” carrier and written on admitted paper, this program targets independent and denominational churches, synagogues, and other houses of worship, with or without elementary or high schools. Coverage is also available for their affiliated social services agencies such as respite care, Meals on Wheels, family skills training, marriage counseling, domestic abuse services, community action agencies, and information and referral services.

Under a separate program, Charity First has administered its Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) program since 1991, providing coverage and services for ELCA congregations and synods nationwide.

Marti Romaneck, vice president and director of marketing, describes Charity First as “...a full service managing general underwriter and program administrator specializing in nonprofit/religious organizations. We provide domestic and international coverages and risk management services tailored to meet this market segment’s unique needs. We support the nonprofit mission of philanthropy and service by offering years of expertise and relationships with insurance industry leaders.”

In addition to their connections with religious entities, Charity First’s products meet the needs of a broad spectrum of nonprofit organizations—from YMCAs to arts organizations, social services agencies, residential facilities, group homes, schools, clubs, foundations, associations and other operations. Nonprofit organizations’ exposures and activities have changed significantly over the years. As Judy Foulkrod says, “One of the fastest growing concepts is ‘social enterprise,’ commercial ventures that generate income to support a nonprofit organization’s social mission.” Charity First provides products and services to cover many of these exposures as well as the organization’s primary nonprofit activities. Among them are property/casualty coverages from Best’s “A” and better rated carriers for domestic and international coverages:

• Property, including specialized coverage for client’s property, such as museums, fine arts, baptisteries, organs, etc.

• General liability—social service professional, educator’s legal, pastoral counseling, cemetery liability, sexual abuse/molestation, miscellaneous professional liability for attorneys, engineers & architects, accountants, and more

• D&O/EPLI

• Crime—including volunteers and non-compensated officers

• Commercial automobile

• Workers compensation

• Umbrella liability

• International packages, including property/liability, employer’s liability, repatriation, kidnap & extortion, AD&D, and auto

Many nonprofit social services firms are now global in nature. Some USA-based groups raise money here for charities overseas to build schools or provide wheelchairs. Some social service executives who travel overseas need specialty coverages; Charity First has the capabilities to provide them.

Coverage is only part of the story. It’s the service that insureds are really buying. Charity First and the companies they represent provide truly superior claims and risk management services. Products and services are available via their Web site. Charity First offers specialized training programs to its insureds’ employees and volunteers to assist those organizations in providing optimum service to their clients, members, and the public they serve.

In addition to adding products and enhancing existing coverages this past year, Charity First’s management team—Executive Vice President Cindy Hawley, Senior Vice President Judy Foulkrod, Vice President Marti Romaneck, and Operations Manager Maureen Kinane—has focused on major initiatives that make conducting business easier and faster for retail partners. Charity First is committed to providing underwriting innovation and flexibility, exceptional responsiveness and consistent service to help retail agents meet the needs of the ever changing nonprofit marketplace.

With more than 165 years of collective underwriting expertise, it’s no surprise to program administrators that Charity First’s veteran underwriting team has become the nonprofit insurance experts.

For more information about Charity First , visit their Web site at www.charityfirst.com. *