Special District Risk Management Authority

What Special District Risk Management Authority does

Special District Risk Management Authority (SDRMA) is a California joint powers authority (JPA) founded in 1986 that functions as a public-agency risk pool, delivering Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Health Benefits insurance programs to California public agencies and special districts. The organization is structured as a member-owned public entity governed by a Board of Directors representing member agencies, with headquarters at 1112 I Street, Suite 300, Sacramento.

The product surface combines three core insurance programs with complimentary MemberPlus Services and a risk-control layer that includes monthly Safety Talks, risk advisories, sample programs, the Credit Incentive Program (CIP), and the Risk Management Subsidy (RMS) Fund. Distribution and member servicing are delivered through the MemberPlus online portal, built on Streamline's website platform, plus direct outreach for quote requests. Value-added services — Vector Solutions training, a 24/7 Nurse Hotline, and Contract Language Review & Legal Advice Services — are bundled through the California Special Districts Alliance, while Health Benefits wellness content is sourced from Concern, Kaiser, Blue Shield, and PRISM.

SDRMA's revenue mechanics are subscription-style and quoted per agency on an annual billing cadence, with pricing not publicly disclosed; members must request a quote for Property/Liability and Workers' Compensation programs. As a JPA, the entity is not venture-backed, PE-owned, or publicly traded, and operates within California only, with no disclosed geographic expansion plans.

Name

Special District Risk Management Authority

Legal name

Special District Risk Management Authority

Website

https://sdrma.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Special District Risk Management Authority is a California joint powers authority that provides Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Health Benefits insurance programs, along with MemberPlus and risk-control services, to California public agencies and special districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Agency Insurance / Risk Management Pool

NAICS

Health and Welfare Funds (525120), Other Insurance Funds (52519), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Accident & Health Insurance (6321), Hospital & Medical Service Plans (6324), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Captive Insurance Advisory & Management (FSAEADAF)

Keywords

• Public agency insurance
• Risk management pool
• Workers compensation coverage
• Property liability insurance
• Health benefits program

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Risk Pool Insurance Programs: SDRMA operates as a risk management pool providing comprehensive insurance options including Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Health Benefits programs to California public agency members since 1986.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

SDRMA is a California joint powers authority risk financing pool that provides comprehensive insurance programs—Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Health Benefits—to California public agency and special district members. Membership also includes complimentary MemberPlus services focused on claims prevention, risk control resources, online training, nurse consultation, and legal contract review.

Product overview

SDRMA offers a unified risk management platform for California public agencies, combining three core insurance programs (Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and Health Benefits) with supplemental MemberPlus Services. The core programs are complemented by Risk Control Services, Value Added Services including Vector Solutions training, 24/7 Nurse Hotline, and Contract Language Review services. The organization has operated since 1986 providing comprehensive insurance options to public agencies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MemberPlus: Complimentary MemberPlus services provided by SDRMA to help members prevent and reduce claims, including online portal access, MemberPlus Login, and various member services.

Products and services

• Property/Liability Program Insurance program providing property and liability coverage to California public agency and special district members, forming one of the three core risk financing coverages offered by the Authority.
• Workers' Compensation Program Workers' compensation insurance program for employees of California public agency members, providing statutory workers' comp coverage and claims handling.
• Health Benefits Program Health benefits coverage program for member California public agencies, including wellness resources published in the Health Benefits District Digest with partners Concern, Kaiser, Blue Shield, and PRISM.
• MemberPlus Services Complimentary MemberPlus services provided to members to help prevent and reduce claims, delivered via the MemberPlus online portal and including member login access.
• Risk Control Services Risk management and loss control services for member agencies, including monthly Safety Talks, risk advisories, sample safety programs, the Credit Incentive Program (CIP), and the Risk Management Subsidy (RMS) Fund.
• Vector Solutions Training Online training, compliance, and resource platform provided as a value-added service through the California Special Districts Alliance to support member training needs.
• 24/7 Nurse Hotline Round-the-clock nurse consultation service available to members as a value-added benefit supporting employee and member health access.
• Contract Language Review & Legal Advice Services Legal review and advice on contract language provided as a value-added service to assist member agencies with risk-related contract provisions.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered value added, minor and core.

• Vector Solutionsvalue addedTechnology or IntegrationVector Solutions is offered as a value-added service through the California Special Districts Alliance, providing training and compliance resources to SDRMA members.
• ConcernminorOthersHealth Benefits District Digest wellness resource provider covering emotional health and suicide prevention
• KaiserminorOthersHealth Benefits District Digest wellness resource provider
• Blue ShieldminorOthersHealth Benefits District Digest wellness resource provider
• PRISMminorOthersHealth Benefits District Digest wellness resource provider
• StreamlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationStreamline provides the website technology platform powering SDRMA.org, enabling website hosting and member portal functionality

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• CSAC Excess Insurance Authority: A California joint powers authority risk pool providing Property/Liability, Workers' Compensation, and other coverage to public agencies. Directly comparable to SDRMA in structure (JPA pool) and offerings, though its membership skews toward counties rather than special districts.
• Public Risk Innovation, Solutions, and Management (PRISM): California public agency risk pool serving schools and municipalities with multi-line coverage. Operates the same JPA pool model as SDRMA and is even referenced in SDRMA's Health Benefits District Digest as a wellness resource, underscoring its direct competitive overlap.
• California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA): California JPA risk pool offering liability, property, and workers' compensation programs to public agencies. Comparable pool structure and California-only public-sector focus, serving as a direct competitor for member agency contracts.
• Municipal Pooling Authority: California JPA pooling authority providing workers' compensation and liability coverage to municipalities and public agencies. Same risk-pooling business model and California public-sector customer base as SDRMA.
• Schools Insurance Authority (SIA): Joint powers authority providing workers' compensation and property/liability coverage to California schools and public agencies. Operates the same pooling model with analogous product lines and target customer base.
• Golden State Risk Management Authority (GSRMA): California JPA risk pool offering liability, property, and workers' comp programs to public agencies including special districts. Closely aligned with SDRMA in product mix, governance structure, and customer segment.

Others

• Vector Solutions: Training and compliance platform provider for public agencies. Listed as a value-added partner of SDRMA through the California Special Districts Alliance; not a competitor but an ecosystem enabler for risk management services.
• Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP): Industry association supporting public entity risk pools across the U.S. Not a direct competitor but represents the peer ecosystem SDRMA operates within, with shared governance, pooling standards, and educational programming.

Broad incumbents

• Alliant Insurance Services: Large national insurance brokerage with a dedicated public entity practice serving California public agencies. Competes for advisory and placement relationships but operates as a broker rather than a captive-style pool.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm with a strong public-sector practice. Comparable to SDRMA on the risk advisory side, though it operates as a broad brokerage rather than a member-owned pool.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/special-district-risk-management-authority

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Special District Risk Management Authority