2024-11-15T13:15:14-08:00 2023-12-31 371420474 Fontanello Duffield & Otake LLP 44 Montgomery Street Suite 1305 San Francisco CA 94104 990 2023-01-01 943162024 United Policyholders UNIT 4153939990 917 Irving Street 4 San Francisco CA 94122 Amy Bach Exec Director 2024-11-15 false true Carol Duffield P01257136 4159830200 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z Amy Bach 917 Irving Street 4 San Francisco CA 94122 1395205 false X www.uphelp.org X 1991 CA United Policyholders ("UP") is a voice and an information resource for insurance consumers throughout the country. UP helps people make good decisions when buying insurance and filing insurance claims. 12 11 19 738 0 2674394 1225858 31500 4263 40188 1229 6709 2679886 1304255 0 0 863025 1102564 0 85419 362780 429084 1225805 1531648 1454081 -227393 2663279 2480993 119635 169742 2543644 2311251 X United Policyholders (UP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1991 that serves as a voice and an information resource for insurance consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. UP guides consumers on shopping for insurance, reducing risk and keeping their assets protected, offers extensive resources related to loss recovery, coverage and the claim process, and is engaged in ongoing advocacy efforts to advance fair insurance practices and uphold policyholders reasonable expectations of coverage.Through a Roadmap to Recovery(R) program, we empower disaster victims, individuals and businesses to successfully navigate the insurance claim and loss recovery process and secure fair, full and prompt payouts and settlements. We do this by creating and disseminating free guidance and tools--including a workshop series, a free online claim guidance library, educational videos, a professional help directory, and volunteers and staff who are experts in personal finance, co false false 618279 16500 ROADMAP TO RECOVERY(R) HIGHLIGHTS 2023 * Educated and assisted over 500,000 consumers on property, auto, health, disability, long-term care, life, title, and commercial insurance matters via phone, email and www.uphelp.org.* Provided significant long-term recovery services to help the individuals and families whose homes were damaged or destroyed at the end of 2021 from the Marshall Fire in Boulder, Colorado and the August 2023 Maui Wildfires in Hawaii. We also continued to offer long-term recovery services to people in western states devastated by wildfires in 2021 and 2022 and to people in Florida affected by Hurricane Ian in 2022.* Hosted 38 Roadmap to Recovery(R) workshops events across California, Colorado, Florida, and Hawaii with a total attendance of more than 2600 individuals across webinar attendees and Youtube recording views. The events included: 15 R2R Workshops, 16 Survivor to Survivor Forums, 2 Q&As, and 1 Legal Clinic. The majority of our services were provided virtually. The offerings included a mix of state-specific and general knowledge (i.e., Mechanics of Rebuilding and Taxing Matters webinars on what disaster survivors need to know about casualty losses and their insurance proceeds) to provide as much support and information, timed at key recovery moments, as possible.* Provided recovery resources, information and programming for people affected by many disasters across the country. These include: 2023 California storms which brought damaging floods, blizzards, breached levees, and widespread power outages to 46 California counties; 2023 tornadoes in Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas destroying thousands of buildings; 2023 Vermont and New England Flooding where severe storms with damaging floods affected many states in the northeast with Vermont and New York particularly hard hit; 2023 Hawaii Wildfires that ravaged the historic town of Lahaina on Maui; 2023 Hurricane Idalia, a Category 3 Hurricane that caused high winds, major flooding, and significant damage to homes and businesses in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina; 2023 Washington Wildfires in Spokane County. * Provided individualized insurance and recovery support through our Ask an Expert forum, Q & A during R2R events and webinars, and answers to questions submitted to the organization through emails and phone calls. UP staff answered questions and processed consumer complaints with assistance from volunteers with expertise in construction, claim, forensic, and legal professionals as well as people with personal experience in disaster recovery.* Conducted trainings for employees of entities and organizations providing Case Management services to individuals and families across the country whose homes were damaged or destroyed by natural disasters, including the 2022 Hurricanes Ian and Nicole (Florida), and 2023 Maui Wildfires (Hawaii), a statewide Disaster Case Manager training series for the 2022/2023 California wildfires, and 2022/2023 California Winter Storms, as well as providing ongoing DCM support for the 2020 CZU Wildfire, 2021 Marshall Fire Long Term Recovery Groups, and 2022 Hurricane Ian LTRGs.* Distributed free copies of The Disaster Recovery Handbook and Household Inventory Guide and Roadmap to Recovery Organizers to catastrophic loss victims throughout the U.S. * Established and maintained dedicated online help libraries for victims of California severe winter storms and wildfires, tornadoes in multiple midwestern and southern states, damaging floods in Vermont and New England, Hurricane Idalia in Florida, Hurricane Ian, and the devastating Hawaii and Washington wildfires. These online Disaster Recovery Claim Help Libraries and our Claims Guidance Library received more than 311,000 visitors. Libraries were updated with relevant and timely information, including adding new tools, creating more curated resources for specific populations, such as other languages, renters, mobile/manufactured home owners, and people with partial losses/smoke damage.* Supported over 744 volunteers that serve through our Team UP volunteer program of previous disaster survivors and professional volunteers that support our programs, with 137 individuals volunteering 2,051 hours in 2023.* Distributed client help materials to NGO, faith-based, and government agency partners.* Expanded our national Find Professional Help and State-by-State Assistance directories. 370966 15000 ROADMAP TO PREPAREDNESS 2023* Informed California residents on how to find and maintain insurance on their homes through our Wildfire Risk Reduction and Asset Protection Project (WRAP), outreach and educational activities.* Continued a Cal OES Listos California preparedness campaign across 31 counties in California, many of whom were impacted heavily by previous wildfires. UP updated and enhanced educational printed materials to help homeowners and renters learn about insurance and disaster preparedness. * Provided climate change adaptation assistance to property owners by providing information on home hardening and mitigation.* Presented at 70+ events, hearings and public meetings throughout California to help educate homeowners and renters throughout California on home, earthquake and flood insurance and financial preparedness. * Served as expert presenters at disaster preparedness events throughout the country.* Leveraged UPs expertise in insurance advocacy and disaster recovery to help renters, home and small business owners take specific steps to protect their assets and build financial safety nets for disaster resiliency as part of wrapping up the 2022 Marshall Fire programming.* Distributed Wise UP: The Savvy Consumers Guide to Buying Insurance. * Created additional resources to help homeowners who have been dropped by their insurance company.* Translated 5 preparedness rack cards into Spanish, Vietnamese, Mandarin Chinese, and Tagalog* Partnered with faith-based and other non-profit organizations to broadcast preparedness messages and distribute materials and tools.* Expanded resources in the Roadmap to Preparedness section of www.uphelp.org.* Participated in community-led and Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster meetings on the local, state and National level and formed alliances with other organizations.* Worked with vendors of products that improve home safety and increase disaster resilience.* Published print and online newsletters and monthly consumer tips. 212324 ADVOCACY AND ACTION HIGHLIGHTS 2023 * Collaborated with the California Department of Insurance, CA Office of Emergency Services, & CalFire on outreach efforts to educate homeowners on reducing risk in compliance with the Safer from Wildfires framework and the Institute for Business and Home Safetys Wildfire Prepared Home standards.* Advocated for appropriate discounts and renewal offers for property owners that reduce risk.* Provided input to the California Department of Insurance in connection with the Sustainable Insurance Strategy, assisted in consumer education and outreach related to that strategy. * Supported the Federal Disaster Mitigation and Tax Parity Act of 2023.* Provided input into California legislation related to Annuity Sales disclosures.* Supported the Insurance Protections for Oregonians Experiencing Disaster Act of 2023.* Supported Illinois legislation related to coverage for auto thefts.* Supported pro-consumer insurance legislation in Louisiana.* Opposed anti-consumer insurance legislation in Louisiana.* Continued collecting samples of new language appearing in policies across the United States that is creating coverage gaps and using them to advance UPs Restoring Insurance Safety Nets (RISC) Project. This project is aimed at reversing the erosion of insurance protection through policy language changes that reduce the amount of available benefits for repairing and replacing damaged properties. These wording changes and exclusions, designed to protect insurer profitability, are dangerously eroding the financial safety nets that homeowners are paying for and expecting to be able to rely on when disaster strikes. They are causing a ripple effect of harm to people, communities, real estate values, lenders, and ultimately, all of us. * Continued filing Amicus Curiae briefs that advance policyholders reasonable expectations of coverage in connection with business interruption losses associated with the Covid-19 and participating in oral arguments in state and federal courts of appeals and state Supreme Courts across the country.* Filed 29 "friend of the court" legal briefs presenting policyholders perspectives in both state and federal appellate and supreme courts, bringing the total number of amicus briefs filed by UP since our inception to well over 600.* Addressed audiences at numerous conferences and events on matters that impact insurance consumers. * Testified at legislative hearings and meetings. * Represented policyholders in the proceedings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.(NAIC)* Represented policyholders in the proceedings of the National Conference of State Insurance Legislators (NCOIL).* Submitted support and opposition letters to State and Federal legislators to promote and protect insurance consumer interests in public policy matters. * Responded to information and interview requests from media professionals and was referenced as a source in more than 185 digital, print and broadcast media pieces.* Conducted surveys to gather data, analyzed and disseminated the results.* Provided consumers perspectives at professional conferences of actuaries, regulators, lawmakers and insurance industry representatives.* Issued press releases/media advisories and published research reports on a variety of important insurance issues. 164793 1366362 true true false true false false false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 18 0 true 19 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 12 11 false false false false false false false true true false false true true true true true true true true false CA X Molly Isenbarger 4153939990 2607 Westridge Road Los Angeles CA 900491234 Amy Bach Exec Director 40.00 0.00 X X 191135 0 26389 Valerie Brown Deputy Exec Dir 40.00 0.00 137311 0 23878 Emily Rogan Sr Prgm Officer 40.00 0.00 104081 0 0 Steve Falk Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Maureen Simons Secretary/Dir 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Norm Boone Sect/Tres/Dir 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 John Ellison President/Dir 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Bill Hedden Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Christine Haskett Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Martin Kirkwood Vice Pres/Dir 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 Robert Muriel Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Doug Wertheimer Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 Dan Veroff Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 William Chip Merlin Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 432527 50267 3 false true false 0 143845 170830 911183 1225858 Program Service Fees 900099 31500 31500 31500 40188 40188 0 0 0 0 90950 143845 90950 0 0 1341 1341 1341 Miscellaneous 900099 5368 5368 5368 1304255 38209 40188 0 0 0 0 217524 191183 5525 20816 0 725666 661751 24551 39364 0 90722 80082 3312 7328 68652 63144 2303 3205 0 0 13856 13856 0 0 0 39554 39554 2522 1183 1339 7255 6998 19 238 18174 16288 206 1680 0 38807 34661 1288 2858 62688 62633 41 14 0 9967 9752 215 0 0 17060 15273 504 1283 10340 7795 1861 684 Program Services 48092 48092 Printing and Publications 40793 40793 Program Supplies 33876 33876 Payroll Service Fees 28308 10728 16978 602 57792 42576 7869 7347 1531648 1366362 79867 85419 883680 248266 1688566 1998187 0 46742 171743 0 0 0 0 17377 28704 14519 14519 0 0 0 0 18944 26123 7970 7970 2663279 2480993 119635 169742 119635 169742 X 2167911 1957651 375733 353600 2543644 2311251 2663279 2480993 X -227393 -5000 X false false false X 1008269 881827 1264262 2674394 1225858 7054610 0 0 1008269 881827 1264262 2674394 1225858 7054610 0 7054610 13908 12494 508 4263 40188 71361 0 0 7125971 0.99000 0.99370 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED false false 580 580 1531649 1532229 226611 56653 false 176483 194237 197581 226611 794912 1192368 580 580 44121 48559 49395 56653 198728 298092 14519 14519 X X X X X X X true CA UP to Good 234795 143845 90950 90950 234795 143845 90950 90950 90950 X X false false false false false false false false false Amy Bach Exec Director 191135 26389 217524 Valerie Brown Deputy Exec Dir 137311 23878 161189 Form 990, Part III, Line 4d OTHER PROGRAM SERVICES 4: Program Expenses not allocated to a particular program. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b Usually the Form 990 is prepared by a tax professional and then reviewed by the organization's management and Board of Directors. The return is discussed and changes are made if necessary. The final version of the 990 is signed by the Executive Director and the return is filed with the I.R.S. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c The Board of Directors reviews all potential conflicts of interest annually. The Executive Director and all Board Members are required to disclose (in writing) potential conflicts of interest and related board affiliations. Any potential conflicts are discussed openly and resolved in accordance with the organizations policies and procedures. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a The Board of Directors reviews the compensation of all high-level personnel annually in accordance with the I.R.S rules and regulations. Efforts are made to research data from industry sources to determine competitiveness of salaries. Every effort is made to comply with I.R.S. guidelines and the organization's policies and procedures to establish transparency in the process. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15b Compensation of other personnel is reviewed annually by the Board of Directors and members of management. Efforts are made by researching industry data to determine the competitiveness of salaries and related benefits. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 All of the organization's governing documents, financial statements and other legal filings are maintained in a secure environment and held available for inspection by tax authorities and the general public. Tax returns are posted annually to www.guidestar.org and are also available at the organization's office in San Francisco, CA. Form 990, Part XI, Line 9 Change in 2022 Accounts Receivable Balance = -$5000