Evaluating Your Insurance Needs for 2026

Most nonprofits do not wake up excited to review their insurance. It usually comes up when a renewal email lands in your inbox or when something goes wrong and you wish you had looked at it sooner.

If you are planning for 2026 right now, this is actually a good moment to pause and take stock. Not in a panic way. Just an honest one.

Because chances are, your organization has changed.

Maybe it grew. Maybe it shrank. Maybe you are doing the same work but with fewer people, tighter budgets, or more responsibility on fewer shoulders. All of that matters when it comes to insurance.

Start with what actually happened this year

Before you look at policies, look at your reality.

Did you hire new staff or rely more heavily on volunteers? Did you start hosting more events or expand programs into new communities? Did your board take on more responsibility or oversee larger budgets?

Insurance should reflect how you actually operate, not how you operated three years ago. Growth is exciting, but it almost always brings new risk along with it, even when things are going well.

Pull out your current policies and really read them

Most nonprofits carry similar core coverage, things like general liability, property insurance, and Directors and Officers coverage. Over time, those policies can quietly become outdated.

Limits that once felt comfortable may not match today’s costs. Buildings and equipment may be underinsured. Board roles may have evolved without coverage keeping up.

This does not mean something is wrong. It just means it is time to check.

If you cannot easily explain what your policies cover or where they fall short, that is usually a sign the coverage deserves a closer look.

Pay attention to risks that did not feel urgent before

Nonprofits today deal with things that were not always part of the conversation. Employment-related claims, data breaches, and cyber incidents are no longer rare. They affect organizations of all sizes.

If your nonprofit stores personal information, relies heavily on email or cloud tools, or provides professional services like education, counseling, or training, those risks are worth acknowledging now instead of later.

You do not need to expect disaster to plan responsibly.

Remember the people behind the work

Insurance is not just about buildings or balance sheets. It is also about people.

Board members, staff, and volunteers show up because they care about your mission. Knowing they are protected makes it easier for them to lead, make decisions, and stay engaged without constant worry in the background.

Good coverage supports confidence. That matters more than most organizations realize.

Work with someone who actually understands nonprofits

Nonprofit insurance is different from for-profit insurance. Funding structures are different. Governance is different. Risks are different.

Working with someone who focuses on nonprofits can make these conversations much easier and far more useful. The goal is not to sell more coverage. It is to make sure what you have actually fits the work you do.

Looking ahead to 2026

Evaluating your insurance does not have to be overwhelming. It does not need to happen overnight, either.

Starting early gives you room to ask better questions and make decisions that feel thoughtful instead of rushed. As you plan for 2026, taking time to review your insurance is one way to protect the mission you care about and the people who carry it forward every day.

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