Recognized as a pioneer firm in its field 33 years ago, NIF Group continues to operate as one of the nation's foremost insurance program managers. NIF underwrites and administers several programs, including nonprofits, public entities, trade/artisan contractors, and homeowners. The nonprofit program is the cornerstone of NIF's flagship and is distributed countrywide.

Michael A. Orlando, chairman of the board at NIF, founded the company in New York in 1977. NIF Group operates in six locations on the east and west coasts. As a privately held company, NIF creates programs based on the needs of its 3,000 agents countrywide. Mr. Orlando states, "We seek programs where our underwriting expertise and access to markets can bring value to our agency partners. NIF distributes solely through independent agents, so bringing products to the marketplace that helps them grow their business is key to our strategy."

NIF's longest standing program caters to the nonprofit niche. The classes of business served can include substance abuse, counseling, shelters, and many risks with residential exposures. Property, general liability, crime, professional liability, abuse and molestation, auto, and umbrella are among the coverages offered in the program. These lines of coverage are customized to the needs of the nonprofit.

Daniel M. Mogelnicki, executive vice president of NIF, describes the vital importance of the independent agent to the program partnership. "Nonprofits focus so attentively on the important services they deliver that they sometimes forget about insurance. That's why the role of the independent agent is so critical. Agents bring their insurance and risk management expertise to the table, and they often help organize portfolios of exposures so they can adequately be addressed.

"It is our goal at NIF to bring to the agencies we serve an uninterrupted market, with the most comprehensive coverage in the industry. We owe that kind of stability to our distribution," Mogelnicki continued.

With nonprofits being one of the few expanding segments today, NIF works to support its partnership agents in helping them achieve organic growth. "Understanding and supporting the mission of their nonprofit clients and prospects are important to winning the trust and business of this segment," says Nancy Williams, vice president of marketing and sales of NIF. "We help our partners find prospects to develop, and support them by creating thoughtful, repeated communications so we can build our partners' brand awareness. This helps pave the way for the agent to develop the relationship."

Another of the NIF-managed programs that complements its concentration in nonprofits is public entities-municipalities and special districts. This program is available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Arizona and New Mexico.

NIF also takes its expertise in the contractors class by distributing artisan contractors programs in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, New York and New Jersey.

A new program for homeowners has been created to fill the increasing need for coastal coverage in the northeast states.

The opportunity to see what's available to support program administrators was a major reason NIF joined the Target Markets Program Administrators Association. Nancy Williams explains, "At NIF we find that the Target Programs clearly benefit NIF because we find it's an excellent place for retail agents to search for trusted programs in which to place their clients."