Conservation & Environmental Nonprofit Insurance Coverage Checklist
The coverages a conservation & environmental nonprofit business may carry — core, prevalent, and situational — why each matters, and the gap most often missed.
Pull out your current policy and check the box next to any coverage you can confirm is already in place — anything unchecked is worth a quick conversation with your advisor. Coverage checklist for land trusts, conservation and watershed groups, nature preserves, and environmental nonprofits. Priorities reflect typical exposure for this class; confirm against your actual land, easements, and programs.
Tick each coverage you can confirm you carry — anything left unticked is a good question for your next policy review.
| Have it? | Coverage | Why this business needs it | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial General Liability (Owned Land Included) | Covers visitor injuries on trails and preserves — confirm all owned parcels are listed. | Core | |
| Directors & Officers | Covers board decisions, advocacy, and disputes with donors and landowners. | Core | |
| Conservation Defense / Easement Enforcement | Pays legal costs to defend or enforce conservation easements — not covered by GL or D&O. | Core | |
| Volunteer Accident | Pays medical bills for volunteers injured on workdays — they aren't covered by workers' comp. | Core | |
| Prescribed Burn Liability | Covers fire escaping onto neighbors' land — often excluded unless disclosed and endorsed. | Prevalent | |
| Pollution / Environmental Liability | Covers contamination on acquired land and herbicide or fuel releases. | Prevalent | |
| Commercial Auto / Hired & Non-Owned Auto | Covers organization vehicles and volunteers driving to field sites. | Prevalent | |
| Workers' Compensation | Required for staff; chainsaw, water, and field injuries. | Prevalent | |
| Inland Marine (Equipment, | Boats, Drones) Covers field equipment, boats, ATVs, and drones. | Situational | |
| Abuse & Molestation | Needed for youth camps and school field programs. | Situational | |
| Media Liability | Covers defamation claims from campaigns, reports, and publications. | Situational | |
| Property (Structures on Owned Land) | Covers nature centers, barns, bridges, and boardwalks. | Situational |
The coverage gap most often missed
The gap most often missed by conservation groups is what GL won't cover on the land itself. Easement enforcement and defense costs aren't covered by GL or most D&O policies — which is why land trusts built their own insurer for it — and prescribed burns are often excluded unless disclosed and endorsed. Land acquired with old contamination can bring cleanup claims that standard policies exclude as pollution. Confirm conservation defense coverage, disclose any burning to your GL carrier in writing, and complete environmental due diligence before every acquisition.
Send us the checklist and we'll review your conservation & environmental nonprofit coverage line by line, then market it across multiple carriers that compete for your account.
Related: Conservation & Environmental Nonprofit Insurance · Conservation & Environmental Nonprofit Supplemental (apply) · All coverage checklists
Frequently asked questions
What insurance does a conservation & environmental nonprofit business need?
The core coverages for a conservation & environmental nonprofit business are Commercial General Liability (Owned Land Included), Directors & Officers, Conservation Defense / Easement Enforcement, Volunteer Accident. This checklist also lists the prevalent and situational coverages worth considering, with a plain-English note on why each matters.
Is this checklist insurance advice?
No. It is a free educational tool to help you have a more informed conversation with a licensed professional. It affords no coverage and is not insurance, legal, or financial advice — only your actual policy language governs what is and isn't covered.
Can Cory Washington & Co. review my conservation & environmental nonprofit coverage?
Yes. Share your checklist and we'll review your program line by line, market your account across multiple carriers, and explain the trade-offs in plain English. Cory Washington & Co. LLC is licensed in all 50 states.
This checklist is a free educational tool from Cory Washington & Co. to help you review your own coverage and have a more informed conversation with a licensed insurance professional. It is general information only — not insurance, legal, or financial advice, and not a recommendation to buy, change, or cancel any policy. Coverage terms, availability, limits, and requirements vary by policy, carrier, and state, and only the language in your actual policy governs what is and isn’t covered. Checking or leaving blank any item above does not indicate that you are adequately insured or under-insured. Using this checklist does not create a client, agency, or fiduciary relationship. Always consult a licensed professional about your specific situation.