Coverage for a Not-For-Profit Food Service Provider

[PENNIESFROMHEAVEN]

I want to make lunches for a daycare facility, and maybe take-home dinners for children who's parents are unable to provide . Toward this end I plan to start a not-for profit org. I get conflicting opinions regarding liability insurance. What should be my guidelines?

[aaron]

You're incorporating as a Michigan non-profit corporation?

Do you have an insurance agent advising you?

[PENNIESFROMHEAVEN]

Yes, incorporating in MI. I plan to turn my house into a soup kitchen (referal only, not open to the public). I am going to do trial and test for a while first in order to get organized. But the kids have an imediate need. I haven't begun to file paperwork, so my homeowner's insurance agent doesn't want to touch it. She says I need to file all the forms before she can set me up. The NP org. is what she said needs to be bonded. I haven't found anything in the state codes or county codes that requires a bond issue for what I plan. I reside in Kalamazoo Ct. Two other agents I talked to said a bond can only be required (by the Health Dept.)if the corporate entity has a record of bad report, like serious heath code violations. I've never heard of this. I contacted a county health inspector and HE has never heard of it. It will be at least 2 months before all my paperwork is filed.

[moburkes]

I can guarantee you this - that insurance policy will cost an arm and a leg. AND, that you'll have a hard time getting the policy written. Open up your local yellow pages and start calling around.