# Insurance for clubs, associations, foundations and church parishes in Germany

> The summer fete, the cake stall, the youth camp, the treasurer's cash box: most clubs run on volunteers, but the liability is still real. A forgotten grant application or a fall on club grounds can quickly land on the board members personally. This page explains what clubs, associations and parishes in Germany really need and what it costs.

Quelle/Source: https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-association.php  
Updated: 2026-09-18

## As a board member, am I liable with my private assets?

Volunteer board members who receive no more than the tax-free volunteer allowance (Ehrenamtspauschale) are only liable to the club for intent and gross negligence under § 31a of the German Civil Code (BGB). That protection does not apply towards the tax office and social security, for example if payroll tax or contributions were not paid. Financial loss cover or D&O for the board protects exactly there and often costs small clubs only a few hundred euros a year.

## At a glance

- **Compulsory:** No statutory insurance duty for clubs. Local councils often require liability cover for events, and umbrella federations sometimes include member clubs under group contracts
- **Biggest risk:** Accidents at events and financial losses caused by mistakes of the board
- **Basic cover from:** around 100 euros a year for the liability cover of a small club
- **Statutory accident insurer:** VBG (the Berufsgenossenschaft for administrative professions) for employees; many volunteers are covered by statutory accident insurance through the VBG or the public accident funds (Unfallkassen), and elected board members can insure voluntarily
- **Often forgotten:** The board is personally liable to the club; the liability privilege for volunteers does not protect in cases of gross negligence
- **WZ 2025 / NACE:** 94.11 Wirtschafts- und Arbeitgeberverbände, 94.12 Berufsorganisationen, 94.20 Arbeitnehmervereinigungen, 94.91 Kirchliche und sonstige religiöse Vereinigungen, 94.92 Politische Parteien und Vereinigungen, 94.99 Sonstige Interessenvertretungen und Vereinigungen a. n. g.

## What goes wrong in this trade

- **Events:** At the summer fete a guest trips over a cable, during the lantern parade a child is burned. The club is liable as the organiser.
- **Grounds and buildings:** Ice on the path to the clubhouse, a loose branch at the sports ground, a roof tile on the church: the duty to keep the premises safe lies with the club.
- **Board mistakes:** A grant application goes in too late, charitable status is lost because funds were used wrongly, taxes are not paid.
- **Cash and trust:** Embezzlement by the treasurer is one of the more common losses in clubs. It is often only discovered at the annual audit.
- **Volunteers:** Helpers drive their own cars, carry benches and stand on ladders. Not every accident is covered by statutory insurance.
- **Member data:** Member lists with bank details and dates of birth often sit on private computers. A data leak triggers reporting duties.

**Risk radar** (Compared with other trades, 1 low to 5 high.): Liability 4, Fire and water 3, Theft 3, Cyber 2, Downtime 2, Health 3

## The insurance you need

- **Business liability** (Essential): Club or association liability cover pays for injury and property damage at events, on the grounds and in all activities covered by the statutes. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-liability.php
- **Professional indemnity** (Strongly advised): Financial loss cover protects against board mistakes such as missed grant deadlines or improper use of funds. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-professional-indemnity.php
- **Commercial buildings** (Strongly advised): Insures the clubhouse, parish hall or church against fire, storm, hail and escape of water. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-commercial-buildings.php
- **Business contents** (Strongly advised): Replaces sports equipment, instruments, marquees and fittings after fire, water and burglary. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-contents.php
- **Group accident insurance** (Strongly advised): Closes gaps for members and helpers who are not covered by statutory accident insurance. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-group-accident.php
- **D&O insurance** (Depends on the business): For larger associations and foundations with salaried management who are personally liable for management decisions. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-directors-and-officers.php
- **Cyber insurance** (Depends on the business): For associations with an office, a member portal and donation accounts. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-cyber-insurance.php
- **Business legal expenses** (Depends on the business): For disputes with employees, landlords or expelled members. https://www.nammert.com/en/insurance-broker-business-legal-expenses.php

## What it costs: example prices

The premium depends on the number of members, events, buildings and salaried staff. Many regional sports federations and umbrella bodies have group contracts that already include basic cover.

| Insurance | Example | Typical range |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Business liability | Small club with about 100 members and one fete a year | around 100 to 300 euros a year |
| Business liability | Association with an office, ten employees and conferences | around 400 to 1,200 euros a year |
| Professional indemnity | Financial loss cover for the board, 250,000 euros | around 150 to 500 euros a year |
| Commercial buildings | Clubhouse or parish hall with a rebuild value of 1 million euros | around 800 to 2,500 euros a year |
| Group accident insurance | Volunteer helpers, flat rate per person | around 3 to 10 euros a year per person |

For comparison: Liability cover for a small club costs about as much a year as the membership fees of three to ten members.

_Guide prices excluding German insurance premium tax, as of September 2026, from published tariff examples and our own quoting experience. Check first what your umbrella body's group contract already covers; we obtain the exact quote for you._

- [Finanzchef24: Vereinshaftpflicht](https://www.finanzchef24.de/versicherung/verein)
- [Finanzchef24: Vermögensschadenhaftpflicht](https://www.finanzchef24.de/versicherung/vermoegensschadenhaftpflichtversicherung)

## Our suggestions: three packages

- **Club** (Small registered club (eingetragener Verein) without its own building): Business liability, Professional indemnity. Together: around 250 to 700 euros a year
- **Clubhouse** (Club or parish with its own building, fetes and many helpers): Business liability, Professional indemnity, Commercial buildings, Business contents, Group accident insurance. Together: around 1,500 to 4,000 euros a year
- **Association** (Association or foundation with an office and salaried management): Business liability, Professional indemnity, D&O insurance, Business contents, Cyber insurance, Business legal expenses. Together: around 2,500 to 7,000 euros a year

## The worst day in club life

Six things that really happen to clubs and parishes, all on a single fete Saturday. Tap through the day and see who pays.

- 09:30: While being set up, a gazebo is blown over by the wind onto a neighbour's car. (€4,200, Paid by: Business liability)
- 12:15: A visitor trips over a power cable and breaks her wrist. (€9,000, Paid by: Business liability)
- 14:00: A helper slips off the ladder while hanging fairy lights and is off work for a long time. (€8,000, Paid by: Group accident insurance)
- 16:40: The treasurer realises that the application for state funding for the new floodlights did not arrive on time. (€25,000, Paid by: Professional indemnity)
- 20:10: A deep fryer catches fire in the clubhouse kitchen. Kitchen and hall are covered in soot. (€60,000, Paid by: Commercial buildings)
- 23:30: After the fete, burglars break into the equipment room. The sound system and the cash box are gone. (€5,500, Paid by: Business contents)

**Damage so far:** €111,700

## Practical tips from your broker

- Ask your regional sports federation or umbrella body first what its group contract covers, and only insure the gaps.
- Make sure all activities under your statutes, fetes, trips and youth camps are written into the policy.
- Insure the board against financial loss, especially if the club has employees, grants or commercial activities.
- Add fidelity cover if several people have access to the cash box and accounts.
- Clarify whether volunteers are covered by statutory accident insurance through the VBG or your state's accident fund, and close gaps with group accident insurance.
- Before large events, ask the local council to confirm in writing which cover it expects.

## Why NAMMERT for your business

- **We know club life:** Through boat insurance we know sailing and water sports clubs with their harbours, regattas and volunteers. We understand how the board and events fit together.
- **We compare against the group contract:** As a broker we check what your umbrella body already covers, collect quotes from several insurers and only close the real gaps.
- **Claims practice from our own settlement work:** In boat insurance we settle claims ourselves. We help the board report a claim properly.
- **Family business since 1989:** Free for the club, as the insurer pays our commission. Boards change, but your contact with us stays the same.

## FAQ

### Does a club in Germany need liability insurance?

Not by law, but in practice yes. The club is liable as an organiser and for its grounds, and without insurance it pays from the club's funds; in the worst case the board is liable.

### What does club liability insurance cost?

For small clubs around 100 to 300 euros a year. Associations with an office and conferences pay more like 400 to 1,200 euros.

### Are our volunteers covered against accidents?

Many volunteers in charities, churches and local authorities are covered by statutory accident insurance, but elected board members are often only covered voluntarily. Group accident insurance closes the gaps.

### Do we need separate event liability cover for the club fete?

Usually not, if fetes are included in the club liability policy. For large or public events it is worth asking, because there are often limits on visitor numbers.

### What is D&O cover for clubs?

It protects board members and managing directors against claims for management errors. It makes sense for larger associations and foundations with salaried staff; small clubs are often well served by financial loss cover.

### Does this also apply to church parishes?

Many parishes are insured through group contracts of their regional church or diocese. Check whether events, buildings and their own facilities such as nurseries are fully included.

## Request quotes

We obtain quotes and come back with a comparison. Free of charge and without obligation: the insurer pays our commission. You can write in English. https://www.nammert.com/en/business-insurance-association.php#anfrage

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NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, insurance broker licensed under section 34d(1) of the German Trade Regulation Act, broker register no. D-C08Q-TOSD4-37. For boat and yacht insurance we act as underwriting agency, not as broker.

NAMMERT Assekuradeur GmbH, Karl-Marx-Straße 4, 15711 Königs Wusterhausen, +49 3375 29 12 77, info@nammert.com. Wikidata: Q141141479.