Event Date: 02.23.2021
Time: 1-2:30pm
Part of Mass Cultural Council’s Recover, Rebuild, Renew Series
This workshop will introduce principles and concerns regarding risk assessment for nonprofit organizations. Understanding that nonprofit organizations are stewarded by both boards of directors and staff members, the target audience for this workshop is both board members themselves and the staff members (executive directors, artistic directors, operations managers, program managers, etc.) who work closely to and advise those boards. While this workshop will focus on risk management issues arising due the COVID-19 pandemic—including potential closure and other exit strategies—we expect the principles discussed during the program can apply to a variety of external challenges.
The format of this workshop will be a 1.5-hour virtual webinar, with time built-in for questions and answers. This webinar will be presented by nonprofit attorneys and an insurance expert.
Outcomes: At the end of this session, participants will be able to understand basic insurance basics, including common vocabulary, a foundational understanding of Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance and its costs, and what general commercial liability insurance (GCL) policies do and do not cover with respect to COVID-19.
Consulting Firm: Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, Boston, MA
Content Experts: James Grace, Esq., Executive Director, Arts & Business Council of Greater Boston, Inc; Christopther Hawthorne, Cleary Insurance; Melissa Sampson McMorrow, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Jim Grace is the Executive Director of the A&BC. He was the Executive Director of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Mass. from 1998 until 2008, when it merged with the A&BC. Jim has extensive experience working with artists and arts organizations in the areas of public art and social practice art projects, copyright, nonprofit incorporation and mergers, nonprofit boards and real estate development of creative spaces. Jim was an adjunct professor for BU’s Masters in Arts Admin Program for five years where he co-taught a course on legal issues in arts administration. Currently, Jim teaches workshops locally and nationally on a variety of legal and artist professional development topics. He serves on the boards of the Brookline Community Foundation and the AIR Institute (in DC) as well as the Advisory Board of Brain Arts Org and is a founding board member of the Arts Services Coalition and the Fort Point Cultural Coalition (the developer of Midway Studios, 89 units of artist live/work space in downtown Boston). He previously served on the board of Philanthropy Massachusetts and the Private Sector Council of Americans for the Arts. Jim is also a working author, book editor, and published attorney. He is the co-author of the bestseller, The Worst Case Scenario Handbook: Golf. To date, Jim has been involved in the publication of over eight books.
Christopther Hawthorne, North Shore Regional Vice President – Cleary Insurance
For nearly 25 years, Chris has specialized in working with clients to construct and coordinate their overall insurance program. Prior to becoming an insurance broker, Chris was the founder and president of Safety Strategy, Inc., an environmental products supplier. In this role, Chris was the insurance buyer and this experience gave him insight on being an effective broker and advisor to his clients. Chris graduated from the George Washington University where he was a four-year varsity oarsman, and he is also a graduate of St. John’s Prep. Chris has earned the title of Licensed Insurance Adviser, Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), and Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and he is the author of over 35 insurance-related articles as well as the author of the cyber chapter for the 2017 National Income Tax Workbook. He is a former instructor at the Boston Insurance Library, was the 2016 / 2017 Presenter for the University of Massachusetts’ Tax School for Practitioners on cyber issues, and is an annual speaker for the Salem State University’s Continuing Education Institute for Accountants.
Melissa Sampson McMorrow, Partner – Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP
Melissa co-chairs Nutter’s Nonprofit and Social Impact practice group, chairs the firm’s Tax Department, and serves as a member of its Executive Committee. Melissa has extensive knowledge and experience working with nonprofit organizations. She specializes in advising health care, higher education, cultural and other charitable and nonprofit organizations, and their affiliates, on a wide range of issues related to tax exemption and nonprofit status. Melissa also regularly advises donors in developing and optimizing their charitable giving goals. Melissa served as the inaugural co-chair of the Boston Bar Association’s Tax Exempt Organization Section. Currently, she co-chairs the Section’s 180 Working Group, which is leading the effort to update the Commonwealth’s nonprofit statute. Additionally, she serves on the Boston Bar Association Council. In recognition of Melissa’s outstanding expertise in this field, she was named a “2019 Top Women of Law” and selected as a “2020 Go-To Business Lawyer” by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly.
Auto-generated captions will be provided. If you have additional questions or to request additional accommodations to ensure your participation, please contact Michael Ibrahim.
