Insurance for Schools & Religious Institutions

Insurance for schools and religious institutions in New York

Private and parochial schools, churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and other houses of worship carry risks most businesses never see: historic buildings, children in your care, volunteers, special events and boards made up of members of your community. The right insurance program protects the building, the people who use it and the leaders who make decisions for it.

Gordon Companies is an independent, family-owned brokerage working out of Midtown Manhattan since 1968. We compare coverage across carriers that understand nonprofit and religious organizations and explain the trade-offs in plain English, so your board can make a clear decision.

What a program usually includes

• Property: buildings, contents, stained glass, organs, religious articles and equipment, with attention to the cost of rebuilding older structures to today's codes.
• General liability: injuries to visitors, students and guests on your property or at your events.
• Abuse and molestation coverage: protection against claims involving children and vulnerable adults, written with care because carriers vary widely here.
• Directors and officers (D&O): protection for trustees, board members and clergy acting in a leadership role.
• Employment practices (EPLI): claims of wrongful termination, discrimination or harassment by staff and teachers.
• Workers' compensation and New York disability and paid family leave for employees.
• Commercial auto and hired or non-owned auto: buses, vans and volunteers driving their own cars on your behalf.
• Umbrella, cyber liability and crime coverage for donations, tuition payments and member data.

Risks specific to schools

Schools add student accident coverage, educators legal liability for decisions about students, field trips and athletics, and after-school programs. Contracts with buses, caterers and facilities rentals should shift risk appropriately, and we review the certificates and additional insured requirements that come with them.

Risks specific to houses of worship

Religious institutions often rent space to community groups, host weddings and fundraisers, run food pantries and rely on volunteers. Each of those can create liability, and some need special event coverage or certificates from the groups using your space. Older buildings also need careful valuation so a fire or burst pipe does not leave a gap between the insured amount and the cost to rebuild.

What New York institutions should know

• New York's Child Victims Act opened a window for older abuse claims, and carriers now look closely at safeguarding policies, background checks and training.
• Older buildings may need ordinance or law coverage to pay for code upgrades after a loss.
• Water damage from aging plumbing and roofs is one of the most common claims. Leak detection and maintenance records help.
• Employees, including part-time staff, generally need workers' compensation and New York disability and paid family leave coverage.

Questions we hear from schools and congregations

Are our volunteers covered?

Many liability policies include volunteers as insureds while they act on your behalf. Injuries to volunteers themselves may need a volunteer accident policy. We will check both.

Do board members need D&O coverage?

Yes. Trustees and board members can be named personally in lawsuits over decisions they make. D&O coverage protects them and helps recruit good board members.

Can we rent our hall to outside groups?

Usually, but you should require a certificate of insurance naming your institution as additional insured, or offer special event coverage. We can help you set those requirements.

Can one carrier insure everything?

Sometimes, and packaging can save money. Abuse coverage and D&O are often where carriers differ most, so we compare those carefully.

Related coverage

• General liability
• Directors & officers (D&O)
• Employment practices (EPLI)
• Commercial property
• Workers' compensation
• All commercial insurance

Get your school or house of worship quote

Start with a few details on our quote page, or call 212-687-2525 Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. A real person on Aaron Gordon’s team will review what you have, compare carriers and walk you through the options.