Volunteerism is the wheel that keeps non-profits in motion. In fact, more than 60 million volunteers give time to worthy causes every year. From a legal perspective, organizations must keep track of these unpaid workers and may require contract management software to develop each volunteer agreement. Here are a few contract clauses, which help give an organization peace of mind.
Non-Disclosure
Even though a volunteer is donating time, he may see or hear proprietary information. To protect its assets or intellectual property, an organization may include a non-disclosure clause in any agreement the volunteer is asked to sign. Such clauses define the scope of confidentiality, helping the volunteer to understand the organization’s restrictions or expectations.
Medical Examination
Depending on the type of volunteerism, an organization may request a medical test to ensure that the volunteer is healthy. Especially in today’s environment, it’s not uncommon for non-profits to require tests for workers who volunteer in a food pantry or senior citizens’ home. These tests protect the organization from liability in the event the volunteer is ill. In addition, agencies ensure the safety of the people they serve by including a medical exam requirement in the volunteer agreement.
Time Commitment
Since a non-profit depends on a volunteer to get the job done, it may require individuals to commit to specific hours every month. These clauses may outline expectations and job requirements, just as if the volunteer was working a paid or contracted assignment. Volunteers who fail to keep time commitments may lose the opportunity to assist. Popular non-profits maintain waiting lists of volunteer candidates and have plenty of choices for replacing those who don’t cut the mustard.
Liability Limits
To protect the agency, an organization may ask the volunteer to sign a waiver, which limits liability if a volunteer is hurt or injured. These clauses ensure that the organization is covered up to the limits of the insurance policy, specifying the amounts and types of damages that the organization may pay and limiting a volunteer’s redress in case something happens.
Jurisdiction
National and international non-profits have volunteers who travel long distances to donate time. By specifying the jurisdiction in an agreement, the agency ensures that the laws from their state govern the deal.
