Q: How can we offer health insurance?

 

A: In our 2008-2009 Foundation Operations and Management Survey Report, ASF reported that 63% of the responding foundations have paid staff, including board members who work as staff. An estimated 67% provide their full-time, paid employee(s) with health insurance while 39% provide dental insurance; while 26% provide their part-time, paid employee(s) with health insurance and 13% provide dental insurance.

While ASF does offer a group Directors and Officers Liability Insurance policy, we do not have a group health insurance policy at this time. The main difficulty we encounter in negotiating group health insurance is state-specific regulations. Because of the varying state health insurance requirements, it becomes easier for local groups to negotiate group rates within each state/region rather than on a nationwide level.

 

You might consider looking into the following resources:

• State Associations and Nonprofit Centers - Most states have state associations or nonprofit centers, and several offer group health insurance policies for nonprofits within their state/region. Find your state nonprofit association.
• Nonprofit Outsourcing Firms - These nonprofit organizations offer human resource solutions to other nonprofits. One outsourcing firm used by foundations is PHFE Management Solutions, listed in the ASF Professional Directory of Foundation Advisors.
  
• Group Employers - For-profit group employers allow employees of small-staffed businesses and nonprofits to become leased employees for the purposes of obtaining human resource benefits like health insurance. You can search the internet or check the yellow pages for listings of local group employers (under categories such as group employment, employment services, etc.).