Insurance 101

Featuring: Peter Andrew (BIO), CS Plus, Albany, NY

Join a member of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center’s board of directors for an entertaining and informative look at the intersection of two very different worlds: the nonprofit sector and the insurance industry. During this fast-paced program you’ll learn how to read an insurance policy, practical tips for evaluating your insurance needs, and the role of an independent agent or broker. You’ll also learn about the coverages most commonly purchased by nonprofits as well as rarer policy types that may be worth considering.

Nonprofit Risk Management 101 Sold Out

Featuring: Melanie Lockwood Herman (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA

This pre-conference workshop will feature an introduction to the risk management process, tips on forming and managing a risk management committee, an overview of “top risks” facing nonprofit organizations, and practical suggestions for engaging a nonprofit board in risk oversight. This workshop is ideal for leaders who are relatively new to the discipline of risk management as well as leaders seeking a refresher before the Summit begins.

Only attendees who signed up for Nonprofit Risk Management 101 when they registered for the Summit may attend this workshop. The session is now completely full.

Artistry Unleashed: Tapping Your Qualitative Powers to Manage Risk in an Uncertain World

Featuring: Hilary Austen, Artistry Unleashed, Sonoma County, CA

Problem-solving is a skill that every effective nonprofit leader needs from time to time, if not every day. Yet fewer and fewer challenges facing leaders today are the kind that come with a clear set of instructions or simple solutions. Instead, many of the mission-threatening challenges organizations face involve multiple factors, diverse constituencies, varying perspectives and an overall lack of clarity about the means or the ends. Consultant, professor and author Hilary Austen refers to these challenges as "enigmatic problems." In her thought-providing book, Artistry Unleashed, Austen invites leaders to tap into their fundamental human capabilities, and seek, rather than fear, ambiguity. You won't want to miss this dynamic plenary session and the opportunity to learn why your nonprofit might be better served when you embrace, rather than avoid, surprises. With Hilary Austen as our guide, Summit attendees will have a chance to re-think risk and learn how demanding problems may in fact be priceless opportunities for artistry and organizational transformation.

Avoiding a Finance Related Crisis

Featuring: H. Woods Bowman, Chicago, IL

Illustrating the range of potential finance-related crises threatening nonprofit missions would require a palette with many colors and hues. Each year countless nonprofit leaders find themselves in "panic mode" due to cash flow shortages, inaccurate revenue projections, losses attributed to theft, and more. This workshop will explore a range of practical strategies that will help you recognize and act on warning signs and other indicators of potential trouble ahead. 

Common Ground

Featuring: Arthur F. Blinci, Adventist Risk Management, Inc., Riverside, CA, Peter Persuitti, Gallagher's Religious & Nonprofit Practice Group, Itasca, IL, John McCarthy, ARM, The Salvation Army - West, Long Beach, CA and Paul Duke, World Vision, Federal Way, WA

Join leaders from faith-based organizations and denominations for a high-spirited roundtable discussion of risk issues of mutual concern.

Managing Social Media Risk and Reward

Featuring: Holly Ross, Nonprofit Technology Network, Portland, OR and Alison Carl White, NPower Northwest, Portland, OR

Social media tools offer low cost, engaging and creative ways to engage a wide array of stakeholders. Yet like any tool deployed to advance your nonprofit’s mission, there’s plenty of risk along with potential reward. Attend this workshop to learn about risks caused by intentional as well as unintentional conduct on the part of employees, volunteers, members and others. Learn what you can do to better appreciate and manage the risks that arise from social media use, including uses within and outside your direct control.

What Do You Mean We're Not Covered?! A Closer Look at Insurer Disputes

Featuring: David Cox, Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, Washington, DC

Each year many nonprofit leaders receive word that the claim they have filed with an insurer falls outside the scope of coverage. Attend this workshop to learn about some of the reasons for the denial of claims filed by nonprofit insureds. Attendees will also explore the “anatomy” of a claims dispute with a carrier. Find out what you need to know and do now to minimize the risk of a dispute, plus tips that will increase your chances of prevailing, should that dreaded day arrive.

What You Don't Know Could Hurt: Federal and State Employment Law Update

Featuring: Mark R. Busto, Serris Busto James, Bellevue, WA

This workshop will examine the changing landscape of federal and state employment laws. Attend this session to learn about new laws (e.g., "ban the box" legislation and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act), amendments to existing laws (e.g., Dodd-Frank Act amendment to the Fair Credit Reporting Act), and new interpretations of long-standing laws (e.g., whether the use of organization-provided smart phones by non-exempt workers is compensable time under the Fair Labor Standards Act). You won't want to miss this fast-paced, informative workshop.

Financial Due Diligence: It's More Than Checking Boxes

Featuring: Thomas A. McLaughlin, CCR LLP, Boston, MA

Due diligence and risk management are inextricably linked. CFOs typically think of due diligence in the context of managing the risks of contractual arrangements, partnerships or new business ventures. But many finance professionals view due diligence as a checking-the-box process of confirming facts, which trivializes the process. Good due diligence requires an understanding of materiality and a willingness to look for indicators that may signal unusual or unexpected risks. Done properly, due diligence should offer information and insights beyond re-statements of fact. This session will focus on financial due diligence using actual financial statements. The presenter will illustrate how to derive maximum benefit from an investigative process.

KNRMC Talk Radio – Insurance Questions and Answers

Featuring: Merry Palmer, Canfield, Ephrata, WA, Kris Lawrence, Propel Insurance, Olympia, WA, Rich Romm, Canfield, Ephrata, WA, Mike Wiederhold, Munich Reinsurance America, Inc., Princeton, NJ and Eric Sauter, Wilson Elser, LLP, White Plains, NY

This workshop will be conducted as a mock call-in talk radio program featuring questions about insurance coverage, the insurance-buying process, and claims handling. If you’re responsible for managing your nonprofit’s insurance program (hint: it’s your job to make certain your organization has the policies and limits it needs), you won’t want to miss this opportunity to pose your thorny insurance questions to our panel of insurance experts.

Top 10 Legal Risks Facing Nonprofit Organizations

Featuring: Francis S. Floyd, Esq., Floyd Pflueger & Ringer, P.S., Seattle, WA and Thomas B. Nedderman, Esq., Floyd Pflueger & Ringer, P.S., Seattle, WA

Attend this workshop for a guided tour of legal exposures your nonprofit can't afford to overlook. You'll learn about liability risks that could drain your nonprofit's human and financial resources. Find out what your leadership team should be doing now to understand and manage your exposure to claims arising from your governance, HR, fiscal oversight, service delivery and other activities. 

We're All Human: Human Behavior and Risk Management

Featuring: Melanie Lockwood Herman (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA

When a nonprofit adopts a risk management “framework,” deputizes members of a risk management committee, and approves a set of slick policies that have been blessed by counsel, one would expect that the risk management journey will be smooth and uneventful. But not if there are human beings in the mix. This workshop will explore how predictable human behavior impedes the realization of risk management strategies and policies. Learn how to anticipate and address common behaviors that paralyze otherwise sound risk management programs.

Beyond Financial Oversight: Expanding the Board’s Role in the Pursuit of Financial Health and Sustainability

Featuring: Vincent J. Stevens, CPA, Clark Nuber, Bellevue, WA and Robert J. Fleming, CPA, Clark Nuber, Bellevue, WA

Fiscal oversight is a widely accepted responsibility of nonprofit boards, despite varying interpretations of what effective oversight really looks like. This workshop will explore the nonprofit board’s broader leadership role in assuring good fiscal health and mission sustainability. Attend this workshop to learn how to empower your board to fulfill its ultimate responsibility for the health and well-being of the organization.

He Said, She Said: Managing Workplace Disputes

Featuring: Chris Youngberg, Canfield, Ephrata, WA and Jennifer Homer, Canfield, Ephrata, WA

In a perfect world every nonprofit employee would be “content” 100% of the time. Few if any nonprofits live in such a world. This session will explore the risks associated with discontent and offer practical suggestions for managing complaints, learning how to respond with finesse and fairness. The workshop will cover systematic approaches such as authentic open door policies, training employees on the complaint process, adopting a practical complaint investigation process, and determining witness credibility. Mediation and other dispute resolution techniques will also be discussed.

Should I or Shouldn't I: Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in Nonprofit Life

Featuring: H. Woods Bowman, Chicago, IL

Some situations defy the simple choice between right and wrong. When there is no obvious answer, no precedent to follow, or conflicting demands of stakeholders, decisions must satisfy not only the immediate problem but must also be aligned with the organization’s mission and values. The ethical challenges facing nonprofits are unique. What is needed to “do the right thing” is often unclear. Answers may be as complex as the underlying questions.  Learn through actual experiences how to be aware of and balance stakeholder expectations, the ethical options available and how to approach the decision making process in a way that is consistent with long term viability.

Between the Lines: What We're Learning from What We're Reading

Featuring: Melanie Lockwood Herman (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA, David S. Kyllo, Riverport Insurance Company, Minneapolis, MN and Eileen Morgan Johnson, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, Falls Church, VA

Join our panel of enthusiastic, voracious readers for an unforgettable and unconventional “book group” session. Each panel member will share their favorite books of 2011 and two or three key lessons or insights from each book. If you love to read you’ll leave this session with a terrific list of “must reads.” If you don’t like to read this session offers answers and insights without the work!

Calibrating Your Nonprofit’s Risk Appetite: Candid Conversations at the Board Table

Featuring: Thomas D. Bonomo, First Nonprofit Insurance Company, Baltimore, MD

Conducting an Audit of Volunteer Risks

Featuring: Carlye Christianson (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA

Volunteer roles, responsibilities and associated risks are as varied as the nonprofits that depend on volunteers for mission fulfillment. Gone are the days when assumptions could be safely made about the types of harm a volunteer may suffer or cause. This workshop offers a practical approach to identifying and appreciating the risks that arise when you recruit and deploy volunteers. If you occasionally lose sleep wondering what your volunteers are up to, you won't want to miss this session.

Cyber Attacks and Financial Fraud: What You Need to Know

Featuring: George E. Constantine, Esq., Venable, Washington, DC

Unlike a hurricane or other weather event that can be tracked on radar, cyber attacks come without warning or clearly marked evacuation routes. This workshop will explore some of the risks that organizations bear when they collect and store personal and financial information. Learn what steps you can take before an attack to shore up your defenses and test the effectiveness of your security procedures. Find out what you should and must do in the wake of a cyber attack or financial fraud.

Got Risk? Legal All Stars

Featuring: Eileen Morgan Johnson, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, Falls Church, VA, Laura Caldera Taylor, Bullivant Houser Bailey PC, Portland, OR, Judith Andrews, Law Offices of Judith Andrews, PLLC, Seattle, WA and Michael A. Schraer, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Warren, NJ

Every year liability risks leave visible scars on nonprofit leaders and the organizations they serve. Leaders lose sleep and focus, and missions suffer while attention is focused elsewhere. Worst case scenario? Reputation harm, financial loss, and a mission that is off the rails. Exacerbating the complexity of legal risk is a landscape whose shifts are not easily visible. What will state and federal courts and legislatures do next? Attend this workshop to hear a panel of legal “all stars” weigh in on trends that are already impacting nonprofit organizations. Learn about the danger areas that are worth losing sleep over and find out if some of your worries are exaggerated and should be put to bed.

Best Practices in Youth Protection

Featuring: Andrea M. Schrader, Great American Insurance, Naperville, IL, Scott Van Batenburg, Bertschi School, Seattle, WA, Jim Miller, Millionair Club Charity, Seattle, WA and Matt Graham, Esq., Trak-1 Technology, Tulsa, OK

Leaders of nonprofits that serve vulnerable populations—including youth—are increasingly aware of the importance of thoughtful, concerted efforts to protect clients from harm. This workshop will explore the current state of the youth protection field as well as challenges on the horizon for youth-serving nonprofits. Attend this workshop to learn from experienced practitioners. In addition to addressing risks related to serving youth, the panel will also touch on strategies applicable to serving other vulnerable populations.

Leveraging Assets and Structures

Featuring: Thomas W. Mesaros, The Alford Group, Seattle, WA

This workshop is designed for experienced CFOs and finance managers. Topics that will be explored include: utilizing nonperforming assets, identifying core competencies, exploring business structures, taxable vs. nontaxable options, and strategies for capital and investments.

School of Hard Knocks: Learning From Loss

Featuring: Thomas P. O’Neill, Hanover Insurance, Worcester, MA

Accidents, Injuries, Embezzlement, Fraud and Corruption. On an almost daily basis a local newspaper reports on tragedies such as these which impair or hamstring nonprofit missions from coast to coast. In almost every instance stakeholders can't help but wonder: "how could this have happened?" In this highly interactive workshop participants will take a close-up look at highly publicized incidents in order to learn the steps for identifying root causes and preventing similar events from occurring in their organizations.

Why Can't We All Get Along? Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce

Featuring: Chris Youngberg, Canfield, Ephrata, WA

Within a year, five generations of workers will be represented in the nonprofit workforce. Whether you’re a CEO, CFO, HR Director or other senior leader in a nonprofit, you’ve probably encountered a few challenges stemming from the varying perspectives and priorities that workers from different generations bring to your organization. Conflict between generations is increasingly cited as a driver of low engagement. Attend this workshop to learn about managing risk in a workplace with workers representing three, four or five generations. Find out how to manage a changing workforce that may include workers from the Silent Generation (born before 1945), Baby Boomers (born between 1946-1964), Generation Xers (born between 1965-1980), Millennials (born between 1981-1995), and the very youngest employees—called Generation Z or “Digital Natives” (born after 1996).

Alert at the Wheel: Driving Success Through Performance Management

Featuring: Carlye Christianson (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA

The most commonly cited reason for the departure of valued employees is not compensation but supervision. A wide range of risks exist long after the screening process has been completed. Effective supervision and evaluation of staff is essential to ensure the success and good health of a nonprofit. And it doesn’t have to be unbearable or even painful.  Attend this program to hear practical supervision and performance management tips including methods of engaging employees in performance management and giving staff a voice in mapping out their path and increasing morale, productivity and satisfaction.

The program is intended to be helpful to supervisors who lack formal management training as well as helpful to experienced supervisors who are eager to broaden their perspective and improve their supervisory skills.

Directors' & Officers' Coverage and Claims

Featuring: Jane DiGioia, Monitor Liability Managers, Rolling Meadows, IL and David W. Silke, Gordon & Rees, LLP, Seattle, WA

Nonprofit Directors’ and Officers’ Liability policies have evolved from the early days of providing limited protection for lawsuits naming Ds and Os. This workshop will highlight the ways that the coverage has been broadened in recent years and continue with a review of common D&O claims. Presenters will place a special focus on non-employment D&O claims.

Joined at the Hip or Split at the Seams: Managing Merger and Separation Risks

Featuring: Eileen Morgan Johnson, Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP, Falls Church, VA

Whether it’s something in the sector’s drinking water or simply challenging economic circumstances, it seems as if a record number of nonprofits are considering mergers and partnerships or the opposite—separations and organizational divorces. Attend this workshop to learn about the range of risks associated with mergers and separations. Learn practical steps to take long before you “ink” the deal on a collaboration or divorce.

Managing UBIT Risk

Featuring: Frank H. Smith, RAFFA P.C., Washington, DC

This workshop will address a variety of increasingly common, but often misunderstood revenue streams and income strategies that trigger unrelated business income tax (UBIT). Topics that will be covered include corporate sponsorships, advertising, licensing arrangements, endorsements and royalties, and cause-related marketing. Learn about the key distinctions, IRS enforcement patterns, expense allocation strategies, and practical planning and defensive strategies.

30 Winning Ideas in 30 Minutes

Featuring: Michael A. Schraer, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, Warren, NJ, Melanie Lockwood Herman (BIO), Nonprofit Risk Management Center, Leesburg, VA, Alan Strand, The Nonprofit Center, Tacoma, WA and Carolyn Hayes-Gulston, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York, NY

The Closing Plenary will feature rapid-fire advice you can adapt and apply immediately upon returning home. Our panel of experts will share tried and true risk management tips that will help you get a bigger bang for your risk management buck.

After delivering 30 Winning Ideas in 30 Minutes we’ll distribute conference give-aways and prizes. Only attendees present for the conference closing session will be eligible to win.