Not for Profit Insurance
Australian charities and not-for-profits face unique risks that standard business insurance doesn't cover. Here's what you actually need.
Why standard business insurance doesn't work for not-for-profits
Not-for-profit organisations face a distinct set of risks that standard business insurance policies are not designed to address. The governance structures of charities, associations, and community organisations — volunteer committees, elected boards, member-funded operations — create liability exposures that commercial policies routinely exclude or inadequately cover.
The most significant gap is management liability for volunteer committee members and board directors. When an NFP committee makes a decision that is later challenged — by a member, a regulator, or a third party — the individual committee members can be held personally liable. Most volunteers don't realise they are personally exposed when they put their hand up to serve on a board or committee, and most standard business policies don't cover them.
Volunteers also present a unique risk — workers compensation only covers paid employees. Unpaid volunteers who are injured while working for your organisation are not covered by your workers comp policy. A separate voluntary workers cover is required, and it is one of the most commonly missing covers in NFP insurance packages.
How Morgan Insurance Brokers helps Australian not-for-profits
Morgan Insurance Brokers arranges specialist insurance for Australian charities, associations, community organisations, and not-for-profits. We understand that NFPs operate differently to commercial businesses — tighter budgets, volunteer governance, member accountability, and in many cases government funding obligations all affect the insurance structure that's right for your organisation.
We access insurers who specifically underwrite NFP risks — including specialist management liability policies for volunteer committees and boards, voluntary workers cover for unpaid staff, professional indemnity for organisations providing advice or funded services, and public liability that extends correctly to community events, programs, and off-site activities.
We also understand that budget constraints are real for NFPs. We structure insurance packages that prioritise the covers that matter most for your specific organisation type — a small sporting club has different needs and a different budget to a large disability services provider — and we compare across a large panel of insurers to find the most competitive premium available without sacrificing the cover that actually protects your organisation and its volunteers.
Your Dedicated NFP Insurance Broker
Kari Massey
Kari Massey is an insurance broker specialising in not-for-profit insurance, bringing dedicated expertise to one of Australia’s most underinsured sectors. Kari works closely with charities, community organisations, sporting clubs, associations, and NFP boards to identify their specific risks, from volunteer governance and management liability to public liability for community events and professional indemnity for funded service providers and structures insurance programs that genuinely protect the organisation and the individuals who volunteer to lead it.
With a thorough understanding of the operational and governance complexities facing Australian not-for-profits, Kari is well placed to navigate the NFP insurance market on her clients’ behalf. She works with a broad panel of Australian insurers to secure competitive, tailored cover that reflects the real risks of running a not-for-profit including the funding agreement compliance requirements that many organisations don’t realise they need to meet.
Kari is committed to building long-term relationships with her NFP clients, providing clear and practical advice, proactive policy reviews at every renewal, and hands-on claims support when organisations and their volunteers need it most.
EXPERIENCE
8+ years in insurance broking
LOCATION
NSW
What does not for profit insurance cover?
A comprehensive NFP insurance package combines several covers that address the specific risks of not-for-profit operations — from protecting volunteer committee members personally to covering your community events and funded programs. The right combination depends on your organisation type, size, and activities.
Management liability
Committee members and board directors
Management liability insurance protects the individual members of your board, committee, or governing body from personal liability arising from the decisions they make on behalf of the organisation — including employment disputes, wrongful acts, financial mismanagement claims, and regulatory breaches. Volunteer committee members have the same personal exposure as paid directors and are equally unprotected without this cover.
Voluntary workers cover
Injury protection for unpaid volunteers
Unpaid volunteers are not covered by workers compensation — which only applies to paid employees. Voluntary workers cover specifically protects unpaid volunteers who are injured while working on behalf of your organisation — including coaches, committee members, event helpers, and program volunteers — covering their medical costs, rehabilitation, and lost income during recovery.
Public liability
Events, programs and community activities
Public liability insurance covers your organisation for claims of personal injury or property damage made by members of the public, event attendees, participants, or third parties. Most venues, councils, and government funding agreements require a minimum public liability limit — typically $10 million or $20 million — before your organisation can operate on their premises or receive funding.
Professional indemnity
Advice, programs and funded services
Professional indemnity insurance is required for NFPs that provide professional advice, deliver funded programs, or offer services where an error or omission could result in financial loss or harm to a client. Community legal centres, financial counselling services, mental health support organisations, and NDIS providers all typically require professional indemnity as a condition of their funding or registration.
Association liability
Member disputes and association governance
Association liability is a specialist cover for member-based organisations — covering legal defence costs and compensation arising from claims made by members against the association. Wrongful expulsion or suspension of a member, defamation arising from publications or statements, breach of the association's rules, and mismanagement of member funds are all covered. This is distinct from management liability and specifically addresses the member relationship risks unique to incorporated associations.
Cyber insurance
Donor data, member records and digital assets
Cyber insurance for NFPs covers the costs of a data breach or cyber incident affecting donor records, member information, beneficiary data, and financial systems. NFPs are frequently targeted by cybercriminals due to the perception that their security investment is lower than commercial organisations — and the reputational damage from a breach affecting vulnerable beneficiaries can be severe. The ACNC's data breach obligations also require registered charities to notify authorities of eligible data breaches.
Not for profit insurance — what type of organisation are you?
Not-for-profit insurance applies to any organisation that operates without distributing profits to owners or shareholders — from small volunteer-run community groups to large national charities with paid staff and significant assets. The insurance structure that's right for your organisation depends on what you do, how you're governed, whether you have paid staff, and what activities you run.
Charities and charitable trusts
ACNC-registered charities
Registered charities face specific governance obligations under the ACNC that create real management liability exposure for board members. A charity that mismanages funds, breaches its charitable purpose, or fails to meet reporting obligations can result in personal liability claims against individual trustees and directors. Management liability, voluntary workers, and public liability are the three essential covers for most charitable organisations.
Sporting clubs and recreation associations
Community sport and recreation NFPs
Sporting clubs are among the most common NFP organisations in Australia and among the most commonly underinsured. Public liability for matches, training sessions, and events is the minimum — but most clubs also need voluntary workers cover for coaches, managers, and committee members, and management liability for the elected committee making financial and governance decisions on behalf of the membership.
Community service organisations
Service clubs, welfare and community groups
Community service organisations — Rotary clubs, Lions, CWA, neighbourhood centres, and welfare groups — typically operate with volunteer workforces and committee governance. The combination of volunteer activity, community events, and elected leadership creates public liability, voluntary workers, and management liability exposures that need to be specifically addressed in the insurance structure.
Peak bodies and professional associations
Industry associations and member organisations
Industry associations and professional bodies face a unique set of risks — member disputes, advocacy decisions challenged by members, and professional indemnity exposure from advice, publications, and standards they publish. Association liability insurance specifically covers the legal defence costs and compensation arising from claims made by members against the association, including wrongful expulsion, defamation, and mismanagement of member funds.
Religious organisations
Churches, faith communities and religious groups
Religious organisations operate significant community programs, employ staff, engage large volunteer workforces, and own substantial property — creating complex insurance needs across property, public liability, voluntary workers, and management liability. Abuse and molestation cover is a critical and legally required component of any comprehensive religious organisation insurance package given the National Redress Scheme obligations.
Disability and NDIS service providers
NDIS providers and disability support organisations
NDIS providers and disability support organisations face some of the most complex insurance requirements in the NFP sector — professional indemnity, public liability, abuse and molestation cover, management liability, and workers compensation for large support workforces. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission also imposes minimum insurance requirements for registered NDIS providers.
Arts and cultural organisations
Galleries, performing arts and cultural NFPs
Arts and cultural organisations — galleries, theatre companies, music organisations, and cultural festivals — hold significant asset value in equipment, collections, and intellectual property alongside substantial public event liability exposure. Insurance for arts organisations needs to cover high-value portable equipment, public liability for performances and exhibitions, and management liability for boards governing complex creative organisations.
Government-funded community organisations
NFPs with government contracts and grants
NFPs receiving government funding — federal, state, or local — are typically required to meet specific minimum insurance levels as a condition of their funding agreement. Public liability minimums, professional indemnity, and workers compensation are commonly mandated. We review your funding agreement insurance requirements and ensure your policy meets every condition before you sign — avoiding the risk of being in breach of your grant or service contract.
Ready to protect your organisation and your volunteers?
Speak with a specialist NFP insurance broker today. We compare 150+ insurers, understand the unique risks of not-for-profit governance and operations, and structure cover that meets your funding agreement requirements — without overcharging organisations that run on tight budgets.
