April 3, 2013

Register for the 2013 Risk SUMMIT!

Enjoy a pre-program registration discount of $175 off the regular registration price!

Some Assembly Required

By Melanie Lockwood Herman

Many of us avoid buying furniture and appliances that display package warnings like “some assembly required.” We are easily demoralized knowing it could be a long time before we enjoy a new purchase. Yet when it comes to risk management, the assembly process should not discourage us. Assembly is always required to build an effective risk management program.

We often search for pre-assembled products to train our volunteers and staff how to perform at high levels. But let’s face it, nonprofits are extraordinarily different based on their structures, history, size, culture, resources, location, scope of services, mission and more. These differences necessitate custom, self-assembled risk management education and training.

Consider the following questions as you reflect on whether your risk management program is custom-fit or ill-fitting:

• Do you provide multiple methods and opportunities for paid and volunteer staff to learn the safety and risk management practices? (e.g., orientation, online training, in-person refresher courses, written materials)
• Are your risk management policies reviewed and adjusted to evolve alongside changes in organizational structure, reporting relationships, technology, or programming?
• Do you welcome, receive, and follow up on feedback from paid and volunteer staff about policies and training?

If you seek to assemble a custom-fit risk management program for your nonprofit, start by learning about risk. Need training? Take a peek at our most popular webinars:

Risk-Aware Contracting: What You Don’t Know Could Cost You

Employee Handbook: Dos and Don’ts

Managing Social Media Risk and Reward

Risk Management and Strategic Planning

Shred or Retain? What Documents should my Nonprofit Keep?

Did you miss our most popular webinar on Cloud Computing? It’s not too late to view our Risk in the Cloud presentation. The webinar features cloud expert David Linthicum of Blue Mountain Labs and cyber liability expert Matt Prevost of Philadelphia Insurance Companies. Learn the common mistakes nonprofits make when moving to the cloud, and practices that will help you manage the inevitable risks that arise from cloud computing and cloud storage.

Need to create custom policies? Consider our cloud application, www.MyRiskManagementPolicies.org.

Melanie Lockwood Herman is Executive Director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center. She welcomes your ideas about any risk management topic, suggestions for best-in-class risk management, and questions about the Center’s resources at Melanie@nonprofitrisk.org or (202) 785-3891. The Center provides risk management tools and resources at www.nonprofitrisk.org and offers consulting assistance to organizations unwilling to leave their missions to chance.