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Volunteers and Insurance

​​​​​​Last Updated: December 9, 2024​

Printable version of publication: Volunteers and Insurance

​Volunteering takes many different forms. A volunteer may be manning a food tent, selling brats and hot dogs to raise money for an organization, transporting meals to those in need, providing rides to veterans, stocking shelves at a local food pantry, or serving on a board of directors.

For both the organization and the volunteer, there are important insurance issues. For example, what happens if a volunteer driver is in a car accident? Or what happens if a volunteer is injured while setting up the brat stand or stocking the shelves?

For organizations utilizing volunteers, it is important to understand your insurance benefits and how your policies may impact your volunteer's insurance coverage. In some cases, insurance coverage will be impacted if the organization reimburses the volunteer for their expenses. If you have a board of directors, your liability coverage may or may not extend to the board's actions and you may need to secure additional coverage.

For volunteers, the issues are equally important. Before engaging in volunteer activities, it is important to ask your insurance agent or your insurance company about coverage for the activities you are engaging in and remember the details matter. In some cases, the coverage provided by your personal insurance may be limited if you accept any reimbursement for your volunteer activities even if the reimbursement only covers some of your expenses.​

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Auto Insurance

The most important point to remember is personal auto insurance policies vary in their treatment of volunteer driving activities. In almost all cases, the insurer will provide coverage for volunteers in which there is no reimbursement for expenses. However, if the organization provides any reimbursement, even if it is just for some of the expenses incurred by the driver, some insurers will treat this as a commercial activity.

Volunteer drivers should clarify if the organization that you are volunteering for is already covered under a commercial auto insurance policy. If not, a discussion with your insurance agent or insurance company may clarify the issues for you. You may be able to purchase a separate rider on your policy. If your insurer limits coverage and volunteering is important to you, you may be able to find an insurance company that will provide coverage under your personal auto policy.

For volunteer organizations engaging drivers, discussing this with your drivers is important. Reimbursement policies may vary from insurer to insurer. Commercial policies covering your drivers may also be another option.​​​​

Liability Insurance

Liability insurance provides coverage for damages and legal defense in cases where the actions of the organization have resulted in some harm to a person or property.

There are several types of liability coverage including:


This coverage protects directors and officers from claims that arise from negligent conduct committed in their capacity as directors and officers.
This type of policy provides many liability coverages under one contract.
Though it is possible to purchase many separate insurance policies to cover a single business operation, this may be impractical. Therefore, you may want to buy a multi-peril policy. This is a comprehensive policy tailored to suit your business needs providing both property and liability protection. For many businesses, it is the most efficient and economical way to buy insurance.
Umbrella​ liability insurance provides two kinds of coverage: payments of liabilities above of loss offered in your basic commercial policy, auto liability, or employers' liability coverages and liability for areas not covered in other liability policies.

Excess​ liability coverage protects against catastrophic accidents or occurrences, such as when several people are injured at once. The main difference between excess and umbrella policies is that umbrella policies cover all underlying liability policies whereas excess liability policies increase the limits of liability in one particular policy.
  • Worker's compensation insurance requirements are determined by Wis. Stat. ch. 102. The Department of Workforce Development Division of Worker's Compensation is responsible for administering Wis. Stat. ch. 102. For additional information about volunteer workers and worker's compensation in Wisconsin, please review Volunteer Worker's and Worker's Compensation in Wisconsin (WKC-9966-P) ​ and contact the DWD Division of Worker's Compensation Bureau of Insurance Programs at (608) 266-3046.

Tips for Understanding Volunteer Insurance

​For volunteers:

  1. Read your insurance policies to understand your coverage.
  2. Talk to your insurance agent or your insurer about any concerns you may have.
  3. Shop around for coverage. While one insurance company may not cover your volunteer activities, other insurers may.
  4. Talk to the organization you will be volunteering for about insurance coverage.
 
For organizations:

  1. Read your insurance policies​ to understand what is and is not covered.
  2. Review your insurance coverage at least annually with your insurance agent.
  3. Make sure your policies and procedures line up with your insurance coverage.
  4. Before conducting any large public event, make sure you discuss coverage with your insurance agent and/or your insurer.
  5. Discuss any insurance issues with your employees and volunteers to make sure there is coverage in case of an unfortunate event.
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