# Booster Club Insurance: Coverage Types, District Rules, and Costs

> What insurance a booster club needs: general liability, D&O, crime bond, accident, event, and auto coverage, what districts require, and what drives the cost.

- URL: https://boosterclub.org/governance/insurance/
- Section: Governance
- Updated: 2026-10-08

Booster club insurance protects the club, its officers, and its volunteers from the cost of injuries at events, lawsuits over board decisions, and theft of club money. Most booster clubs need general liability coverage, and many districts will not let a club operate on campus without proof of it. The president and treasurer own insurance: the treasurer budgets for it, and the president makes sure the school has a current certificate.

Insurance for a small booster club is inexpensive compared to a single uninsured claim. The bigger risk is assuming the school's insurance covers the club, which it usually does not.

## Why a Volunteer Club Needs Insurance

- **Federal volunteer protection does not cover the club.** The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 limits some lawsuits against individual volunteers, but the statute states that it does not affect the liability of the nonprofit itself, and it excludes harm caused while operating a motor vehicle. See [Fiduciary Duties of Booster Club Officers](https://boosterclub.org/governance/fiduciary-duty/).
- **State immunity can depend on insurance.** California's Corporations Code section 5239, for example, protects volunteer directors and officers from personal liability for negligence only if the damages are covered by liability insurance or the corporation made reasonable efforts to obtain it. Rules vary; see the club's [state page](https://boosterclub.org/states/).
- **The district will likely be named too.** A lawsuit over a booster activity will likely also name the district, which is why districts require clubs to carry coverage and name the district on it.
- **District coverage usually excludes boosters.** District booster guidelines commonly state that district insurance does not cover booster clubs and that the district cannot provide coverage for them.

## Coverage Types

| Coverage | What it pays for | Who needs it |
|---|---|---|
| General liability (GL) | Bodily injury and property damage to others at club activities; often personal and advertising injury, products (concessions), and medical payments | Every club; most districts require it |
| Directors and officers (D&O) | Claims that officers made wrongful decisions: breach of duty, errors, misleading statements, and often employment practices claims | Every club with a board; the New York Attorney General advises boards to know whether they have it and what it covers |
| Crime or fidelity bond | Theft by officers or volunteers, forgery or alteration of checks, theft or disappearance of money | Every club that handles cash or writes checks |
| Accident medical | Out-of-pocket medical costs for participants or volunteers injured at a covered activity, regardless of fault | Clubs running events with physical activity, or with volunteers doing physical work |
| Special event (single-event) liability | Liability for one event, for clubs without annual coverage or for events the annual policy excludes; liquor liability where alcohol is served | Clubs hosting large or unusual events |
| Hired and non-owned auto (HNOA) | Liability for the club when volunteers drive personal cars or rented vehicles on club business; it does not replace the driver's own auto policy | Clubs whose volunteers drive for errands, equipment, or trips |
| Business personal property | Club-owned equipment, concession equipment, trailers, inventory | Clubs that own property of meaningful value |
| Abuse and molestation | Claims of abuse involving volunteers and students | Clubs whose volunteers interact with students; some GL policies include it, others require it to be added |

**Crime coverage note.** Confirm in writing that the policy treats volunteers and officers as covered persons. Booster program crime coverage is often written to cover "employee dishonesty" with volunteers counted as employees, but a standard business policy may not.

## What Districts Typically Require

District requirements vary, but district booster manuals share a pattern:

1. **General liability of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence.** Some districts set that minimum and reserve the right to require higher coverage for athletic activities and large events.
2. **The district named as an additional insured.** An additional insured is a party other than the club that the policy also protects. Districts commonly require a certificate naming the district as an additional insured on the club's general liability policy before the club operates on district property. Some also want the school's name in the certificate's description and a copy of the endorsement page.
3. **A certificate of insurance each year.** California's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), a state agency that advises school districts, calls for clubs to submit a certificate annually showing at least the district's minimum coverage.
4. **A hold harmless agreement.** Some districts require clubs to sign one.
5. **Crime coverage.** Some districts recommend crime coverage or a fidelity bond in an amount enough to cover the club's total annual cash receipts.

A certificate of insurance is a one-page summary of coverage that the insurer or agent issues on request. The additional insured status itself comes from an endorsement to the policy, which is why some districts ask for the endorsement page and not only the certificate.

Booster insurers often require an annual audit by an audit committee and review of bank statements by a member without signature authority. Those controls belong in place anyway; see [Internal Controls for Booster Clubs](https://boosterclub.org/finance/internal-controls/).

## How to Get a Certificate for the School

1. Get the district's written insurance requirements: limits, the exact legal name to list as additional insured, and whether the endorsement page is required.
2. Send the requirements to the club's insurer or agent and request a certificate and endorsement.
3. Check the certificate: club name, policy dates, limits, additional insured wording, and school name in the description.
4. Submit it with the district's annual booster paperwork.
5. Calendar the renewal date and request a new certificate before the old one expires.

## What It Costs

Premiums depend on the state, the club's activities, the limits chosen, the claims history, and whether the insurance program requires an association membership (some do, at additional cost). The factors that move the price most:

| Factor | Effect on cost |
|---|---|
| Activities | Concessions, inflatables, trips, and events with alcohol raise the general liability premium or need added coverage |
| Limits and deductibles | Higher limits cost more; a higher deductible lowers the premium |
| Additional insureds | Some programs charge a fee to name the district |
| Cash volume | Crime coverage is priced by the limit, which should match the club's annual cash receipts |
| Program type | Programs built for booster clubs and other school support groups are usually far less expensive than policies written for nonprofits generally, but coverage differs |

Crime coverage or a fidelity bond is often among the least expensive coverages. It is generally sold in multiples of $10,000 and can often be attached to the general liability policy.

Clubs comparing quotes should compare limits, deductibles, exclusions, and whether the district's additional insured requirement is met, not only price.

## Questions to Ask Before Buying

1. Does the general liability policy meet the district's minimum per occurrence and aggregate limits?
2. Can the district be named as additional insured, and is there a fee?
3. Are volunteers covered as insureds under the liability policy?
4. Does the crime coverage include theft by volunteers and officers, and what is the limit?
5. Are concessions, fundraising events, inflatables, trips, or alcohol excluded?
6. Is abuse and molestation coverage included or excluded?
7. Does D&O cover claims by members and employment-related claims?
8. Is the club's own driving covered (HNOA)?

## Vendors and Rented Facilities

When the club hires a vendor with higher risk (inflatable rentals, food trucks, ride operators, security), require a certificate from the vendor naming the club, and the district if required, as additional insureds. When the club rents a facility, the owner will usually require the same from the club.

## Common Mistakes

- **Assuming the school's insurance covers the club.** Districts commonly state that it does not.
- **Buying general liability and nothing else.** Booster clubs handle cash and checks, and general liability does not cover theft of the club's own money.
- **A certificate without the endorsement.** The district may reject it, and the additional insured protection may not exist.
- **Letting the policy lapse during officer turnover.** Renewals that fall during the summer handoff are easy to miss, and the certificate on file with the school goes out of date.
- **Not reading exclusions.** A policy that excludes the club's largest event protects very little.

## Checklist

- [ ] Get the district's written insurance requirements (president)
- [ ] Inventory the club's activities, property, cash volume, and driving
- [ ] Budget for general liability, D&O, crime, and other needed coverage (treasurer)
- [ ] Obtain at least two quotes and compare limits, exclusions, and price
- [ ] Confirm volunteers are covered under the liability and crime policies
- [ ] Bind coverage and file the policies in the permanent file
- [ ] Request the certificate and additional insured endorsement for the district
- [ ] Submit the certificate with the annual district paperwork
- [ ] Require certificates from high-risk vendors before each event
- [ ] Calendar the renewal date and the certificate renewal

## Related Pages

- [Risk Management for Booster Clubs](https://boosterclub.org/governance/risk-management/) reducing the risks insurance pays for
- [Fiduciary Duties of Booster Club Officers](https://boosterclub.org/governance/fiduciary-duty/) personal liability and volunteer protection
- [Preventing Embezzlement in Booster Clubs](https://boosterclub.org/finance/embezzlement/) why crime coverage matters
- [Running a Booster Club Fundraising Event](https://boosterclub.org/fundraising/events/) event permits and insurance
- [How a Booster Club Works With the School and School District](https://boosterclub.org/governance/working-with-the-school/) the rest of the district paperwork

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*This page is general information for volunteer-run booster clubs. It is not legal,
tax, or accounting advice, and BoosterClub.org is not a law firm, accounting firm, or
government agency. Rules change and vary by state and district. Confirm current
requirements with the IRS, the relevant state agency, the school district, and a
qualified professional before acting. If a fact on this page is out of date, we want
to know.*

## Sources

1. California Legislative Information: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CORP&sectionNum=5239
2. Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (California): https://www.fcmat.org/PublicationsReports/Boosters-and-School-Connected-Orgs-Workshop.pdf
3. New York Attorney General: https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/publications/sympguidance.pdf