160: Indiana vs Minnesota Throwdown | Can Business Interruption Insurance Help Nonprofits Who Closed During ICE Raids? With Cody Wiswasser

160: Indiana vs Minnesota Throwdown | Can Business Interruption Insurance Help Nonprofits Who Closed During ICE Raids? With Cody Wiswasser

Author: Jess Birken, MNM, JD March 19, 2026 Duration: 21:09

Your nonprofit closed its doors because of ICE enforcement or federal funding cuts. Is there an insurance policy that could actually help? Maybe, but the answer is a lot more complicated than you'd hope.

In this episode, I'm joined by Cody Wiswasser, an insurance professional at Community Partners Insurance Group, to dig into my questions. With so much uncertainty hitting nonprofits right now, I needed to know whether business interruption insurance is something my clients should actually be thinking about.

Here's the situation:

Can nonprofits get business interruption insurance? Are closures for ICE raids or funding cuts covered?

Cody breaks down how business interruption coverage works, what it actually takes to file a claim, and why the fine print in your policy matters.

What You'll Learn:

  • What business interruption insurance is and whether your nonprofit qualifies
  • The difference between standard and standalone coverage
  • When a closure actually triggers a claim and when it doesn't
  • How your nonprofit's specific mission affects your coverage options
  • Why you need to understand your coverage BEFORE filing a claim

Bottom line: Insurance isn't a magic bullet, but it DOES matter for nonprofits. For nonprofits that qualify, business interruption coverage could be important for them.

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Ever find yourself wishing for a direct line to seasoned nonprofit leaders, a chance to unpack the real challenges that don’t make it into the glossy annual reports? Charity Therapy is that conversation. With host Jess Birken, who brings her background as a lawyer and a Master of Nonprofit Management to the table, each session feels like pulling up a chair with a trusted advisor. The discussions move beyond theory, tackling the granular details of operations that leaders actually face-whether it’s navigating a tricky IRS compliance question, rebuilding a fundraising strategy from the ground up, or managing the complex interpersonal dynamics that define any mission-driven team. This podcast digs into the operational heart of the sector, offering pragmatic insights you can apply directly to your own work. It’s a resource built on the understanding that running a nonprofit is a continuous practice of problem-solving, and Jess guides these explorations with clarity and a deep respect for the work. Tune in for honest dialogue that treats the daily grind of management as the serious and nuanced craft that it is.
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