Charities & Not-for-Profit Insurance

From local community initiatives to national charitable organisations, having the right protection in place is vital. Our charity and not-for-profit insurance policies are designed to safeguard your people, premises, and reputation, with flexible cover tailored to your organisation’s unique activities.

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Comprehensive Protection for Charities and Not-for-Profit Organisations

Every charity is different, from small volunteer-led groups to large national organisations. That’s why our charity insurance policies are designed to be flexible, ensuring your organisation, people, and assets are protected against the unexpected. Each policy can be tailored to include the right combination of covers to meet your specific needs.

What the Policy Covers

Public & Products Liability

Protects your organisation against claims from the public for injury or property damage arising from your activities or events.

Employers’ Liability

Covers legal and compensation costs if an employee or volunteer is injured or becomes ill as a result of their work.

(A legal requirement if you employ staff.)

Trustee & Charitable Entity Indemnity

Provides financial protection for trustees, directors, or officers if claims are made against them for alleged wrongful acts in managing the charity.

Business Interruption

Covers loss of income and additional expenses if your organisation is unable to operate following an insured event, such as fire or flood.

Legal Cover

Includes protection for legal expenses arising from disputes and access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline.

Property Damage

Safeguards your buildings, contents, stock, computer systems, and any tenant improvements made to premises.

Money & Crime

Protects against theft, fraud, identity theft, and other financial crimes — including cyber-related fraud.

Cyber Insurance

Covers costs and recovery following data breaches, hacking, or ransomware attacks. Protects sensitive supporter and client data under GDPR compliance.

Fleet Cover

For organisations that operate vehicles such as minibuses or delivery vans, this provides comprehensive protection for drivers, passengers, and vehicles.

Who We Cover

The charity sector is not just limited to formal registered charities, but can include all forms of ‘not for profit’ organisations, including the new CICs (Community interest companies) and CIOs (Charitable incorporated organisations)

Activities We Can Cover

Activities across the charity and not-for-profit sector can vary enormously, from administrative work to hands-on community engagement. Below are some of the typical operations we can arrange cover for:

Office and administrative work — day-to-day management and internal operations.
Organising and attending events — including shows, conferences, seminars, and community gatherings.
Providing facilities — offering spaces or resources to local community groups and partner organisations.
Retail and fundraising — running charity shops, selling donated goods, and managing fundraising events.
Collaborations and partnerships — working alongside local authorities, the NHS, or other sector partners.
Transport and logistics — managing vehicles or transport related to fundraising or outreach.
Property management — maintaining premises, including listed or heritage buildings.

Every organisation operates differently, so understanding your specific activities helps us ensure your insurance reflects your real-world risks. Our specialist advisers can help you tailor protection that suits the way you work.

Tailored Protection for Charities

Every charity operates differently, which means your insurance programme should reflect your specific risks and responsibilities. At Rowlands & Hames, we can arrange a tailored combination of covers to suit your organisation’s size, structure, and activities — providing confidence that key areas of risk are addressed.

Cover Type	What It Helps Protect
Public & Products Liability	Protection against injury or property damage claims made by members of the public during your organisation’s activities.
Employers’ Liability	Covers compensation and legal costs if an employee or volunteer is injured or becomes ill as a result of their work.
Trustee & Entity Indemnity	Provides financial protection for trustees, directors, or board members if claims are made against them or the charity as an entity.
Business Interruption	Supports loss of revenue and operating costs if your charity’s operations are interrupted due to an insured event.
Legal Expenses	Assists with the cost of legal representation and provides access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline.
Property Damage	Covers damage to buildings, contents, stock, IT equipment, and tenant improvements not insured by a landlord.
Money & Fraud	Helps protect against theft, fraud, and identity-related losses, including cyber-related financial crimes.

Optional Additions

For more complex or larger organisations, cover can be extended to include:

Cyber insurance – protection against data breaches, hacking, and ransomware events.
Fleet insurance – cover for vehicles used to transport staff, volunteers, or goods.
Specialist extensions – bespoke protections for unique activities or properties (such as listed buildings).

Our advisers can help identify the right combination of cover for your charity or not-for-profit organisation, ensuring that your insurance aligns with how you actually operate.

Charity Insurance FAQs

We understand that every charity and community organisation operates differently, so it’s natural to have questions about how insurance applies to your work. Here are some of the most common queries we receive from our charity clients.

What type of insurance does a charity need?

The type of cover you need depends on the activities your organisation undertakes. Most charities typically require public liability, employers’ liability (if staff or volunteers are involved), and trustee indemnity cover. Other options, such as property or cyber insurance, may also be relevant depending on your operations.

Is employers’ liability insurance required for volunteers?

Employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement if your charity employs staff. Many policies can also extend cover to volunteers to help protect against injury or illness while carrying out voluntary work.

What is trustee indemnity insurance?

Trustee indemnity insurance helps protect trustees, officers, or directors from personal liability if claims are made against them for alleged wrongful acts in the management of the charity.

Does charity insurance cover fundraising events?

Yes — most charity insurance programmes can include cover for fundraising activities such as fairs, sponsored walks, or community events. It’s important to inform your insurer of the type and scale of any events you run to ensure they’re appropriately covered.

Can charity insurance cover property or equipment?

Yes. Property insurance can cover buildings, office contents, IT equipment, and stock. It can also include tenant improvements if your charity rents its premises.

What about data protection and cyber risks?

Charities often store personal data about donors, clients, or service users. Cyber insurance can help protect against data breaches, hacking incidents, and GDPR-related risks.

How do I get a quote for charity insurance?

You can contact the Rowlands & Hames team directly by phone or by completing the enquiry form below. Our advisers will take time to understand your organisation before arranging suitable cover options.

Contact the Team

Mike Watkinson Dip CII

Insurance Sectors We Cover

We provide tailored insurance solutions across a wide range of sectors. Each policy is designed around your industry’s specific risks, ensuring you’re fully protected, compliant, and supported by our expert team.