Volunteer Liability Waiver Basics + Free Template
As a nonprofit organization, volunteers are a key part of the important work you do. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to touch as many lives, run large events, or further your mission at the same pace.
But because volunteer activities naturally involve some level of risk, you need to manage them properly—that’s where volunteer liability waivers come in.
Volunteer Liability Waiver FAQs
Volunteer liability waivers help prevent potential legal issues and improve your nonprofit’s volunteer program. Check out this Q&A and to learn more:
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A volunteer liability waiver is a legal document volunteers sign to acknowledge and waive the risks associated with participating in volunteer activities organized by a nonprofit, school, or other organization. Organizations may also include clauses to obtain a photo release or require volunteers to agree to a set code of conduct.
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What you include in your waiver will likely vary depending on the nature of your volunteer activities, local laws, organizational bylaws, and more. Make sure to work with a lawyer to cover all your bases.
There are a few elements that are commonly included in these waivers, such as:
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Acknowledgement of each party (the organization and volunteer)
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The purpose of the waiver
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A description of the risks involved in participating
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A clause expressing that by signing, volunteers are releasing the organization from liability
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A description of the volunteer’s responsibilities
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A photo release clause
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A clause detailing and asking volunteers to agree to a code of conduct
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A section for signatures from each party
To ensure your waiver has all of the necessary clauses and fields to be legally sound, work with a quality digital waiver provider like Smartwaiver, which offers flexible, customizable waiver templates.
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Yes, volunteer liability waivers are necessary to effectively protect your nonprofit from possible lawsuits. Your employees and volunteers have the same rights as for-profit employees, and personal injury lawsuits are some of the most common faced by nonprofits.
While creating a safe workplace, reducing risks as much as possible, and following relevant guidelines are the most important steps, waivers are key to making volunteers aware of risks and helping prevent legal trouble.
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While templates should never be a substitute for help from an actual legal professional, they can help you get started. Here is an example of what a volunteer liability waiver might look like:
Additionally, this sample waiver can give you an idea of what your document will look like once you convert it into a digital waiver.
How to Create Volunteer Liability Waivers
Smartwaiver makes it easy to convert forms and waivers into online documents within minutes. Leverage our library of templates, add custom fields, embed forms on your website, and more. With Smartwaiver, you’ll gain more than just a signature.
See how to turn your forms into digital smart waivers:
Leverage Top Volunteer Waiver Software Features
Waiver Editor
Build your own customized digital forms in the Waiver Editor. Customize signature and initial boxes, set up auto photo capture for added security, and even embed safety videos!
Centralized Database
All the volunteer waivers you collect will live on one unified platform. If you need to find one, simply search last names, birth dates, or custom tags assigned to the form.
Sync Waivers
Once signed, waivers automatically sync to the WaiverVault™. This makes storage a breeze, and you can export data as both CSV files and individual PDFs.
User Management Tools
We’ve got top-of-the-line security in place, and user management is no exception. Administrators can easily assign role-based access permissions to keep sensitive data private.
Secure Storage
Rely on stringent security standards to protect your data. We leverage encryption, are SOC 2 Type II compliant, use 2FA, and offer certificates of authenticity with each waiver.
Unmatched Support
We’ll never leave you to go it alone! Smartwaiver's dedicated U.S.-based support team is here whenever you need them.
Hear From Our Customers
We have relied on Smartwaiver for as long as I can remember. I have no idea how we managed without it. The power and flexibility the system offers without giving up elegant simplicity make the decision a no-brainer.