The National Catholic Risk Retention Group

What The National Catholic Risk Retention Group does

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc. (TNCRRG) is a Vermont-domiciled, federally chartered Risk Retention Group operating under the Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, with corporate headquarters in Lisle, Illinois. Founded in 1987 and formally launched on June 30, 1988, TNCRRG is 100% owned by its shareholder Catholic entities — dioceses, religious communities, and institutions listed or eligible for listing in the Official Catholic Directory. Its core product is a first-excess-layer liability insurance program offering a basic $750,000 excess of $250,000 limit with optional towers extending to $14,000,000 excess of $1,000,000, available on claims-made or occurrence forms. The company was the first to underwrite sexual misconduct coverage when commercial carriers withdrew and has never restricted or reduced previously granted coverage in its 38-year history. Reinsurance is ceded to A+ (Superior) AM Best-rated partners including Axis Reinsurance, Everest Reinsurance, and Swiss Reinsurance America under an Excess of Loss Treaty.

TNCRRG's operating model is built around a wholly owned management subsidiary, National Catholic Services, LLC (formed March 8, 2000), which houses all employees and provides underwriting, claims management, risk control, broker management, VIRTUS programs, and executive management on a break-even basis. The product portfolio is anchored by the VIRTUS safe environment training suite — web-based certification for adults and K-12 students covering child protection, cyberbullying, and vulnerable adult protection — used by people in nearly 200 countries. Adjacent service modules include the STOPit mobile app for anonymous incident reporting (exclusive partnership), Sera-Brynn cyber risk management at deep discounts, Crisis Preparedness and Reputation Management (with Anne Klein Communications Group), litigation planning consultation, claim audit services, risk management workshops, and an annual Winter Meeting that in 2026 will be in its 35th year.

The go-to-market is sales-led and broker-enabled: prospective shareholders complete underwriting applications, documentation, participation agreements, and a minimum capital injection of 10% of first-year premium, with policies distributed through local insurance agents, national brokers, and self-insurance programs. Revenue is recurring annual insurance premiums, supplemented by shareholder-paid fees for the broader risk management ecosystem. Distribution leverages an annual Winter Meeting, two long-running newsletters (National Catholic Report and VIRTUS Communicare), and the SharePoint-based TNCRRG Portal for shareholder-only application, renewal, and claim workflows. The company is currently authorized in all 50 states but writes business in 21, signaling substantial domestic headroom.

Name

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group

Legal name

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group, Inc.

Website

https://nationalcatholic.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TNCRRG is a federally chartered Risk Retention Group providing excess liability insurance and integrated risk management exclusively to Catholic dioceses, religious communities, and institutions across 21 U.S. states, anchored by the VIRTUS safe environment training platform used in nearly 200 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Captive Liability Insurance for Religious Institutions

NAICS

Direct Property and Casualty Insurance Carriers (524126)

SIC

Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Network Security & Privacy Liability (Third-Party) (FSAJAOAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regulatory Defense, Fines & Penalties (Privacy/Cyber) (FSAJAOAK)

Keywords

• Captive liability insurance
• Risk retention group
• Safe environment training
• Catholic institution insurance
• Excess liability coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Lisle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: TNCRRG generates revenue through insurance premiums from shareholder Catholic entities. The company provides Excess Liability coverage - basic program of $750,000 excess of $250,000, with additional limits available ($4M, $9M, $14M excess). As a risk retention group, it is 100% owned by shareholder Catholic organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

TNCRRG is a captive risk retention group that underwrites excess liability insurance exclusively for Catholic dioceses, religious communities, and institutions, providing $750,000 excess of $250,000 basic coverage with additional layers up to $14M excess $1M on claims-made or occurrence forms. The company complements this insurance with a broad suite of risk-management services, including the VIRTUS safe environment training and certification programs, STOPit anonymous incident-reporting app, cyber risk management via Sera-Brynn, crisis preparedness, claim audits, litigation consultation, and shareholder workshops.

Product overview

The National Catholic Risk Retention Group (TNCRRG) operates as a unified insurance and risk management platform with a core insurance product supplemented by multiple integrated service modules. The core offering is its excess liability insurance program (TNCRRG Insurance Programs), which is complemented by the VIRTUS Programs suite — the Church's flagship safe environment services brand — and the STOPit mobile app for anonymous incident reporting. Additional modules include the TNCRRG Portal (a shareholder-only online platform for applications and claims), Crisis Preparedness and Reputation Management Program, Cyber Risk Management Services via the Sera-Brynn partnership, Litigation Planning Consultation, Risk Management Workshops, Claim Audit Services, Specialized Training Materials, Critical Conversations, and the Annual Winter Meeting. The portfolio is structured around a captive insurance model governed by the federal Liability Risk Retention Act of 1986, with a wholly owned subsidiary (National Catholic Services, LLC) providing management, underwriting, claims, and VIRTUS program services on a break-even basis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VIRTUS: The Church's most widely utilized and highly awarded suite of safe environment services. Includes training and safe environment certification for adults and specialized training for students from kindergarten through high school. Services include cyber-bullying and bullying prevention, vulnerable adult protection training, and VIRTUS Online. People in almost two hundred countries regularly access VIRTUS Online to learn how to best protect children and vulnerable adults.

Products and services

• TNCRRG Excess Liability Insurance Programs Licensed insurance company and risk retention group providing broad, comprehensive excess liability coverage and risk-transfer mechanisms exclusively for Catholic dioceses, religious communities, and institutions. Basic program $750,000 excess of $250,000 with additional limits available ($4M, $9M, $14M excess $1M) on claims-made or occurrence forms.
• VIRTUS Programs The Church's most widely utilized safe environment services suite, including adult training and certification, specialized student training (K-12), cyber-bullying and bullying prevention, vulnerable adult protection, and the VIRTUS Online web platform accessed by users in nearly 200 countries.
• STOPit Mobile App for Anonymous Incident Reporting Mobile application and case management platform enabling anonymous reporting of inappropriate behaviors (bullying, cyberbullying, abuse, violence, hazing, self-harm) by students and bystanders, with full incident lifecycle management for administrators; offered through exclusive partnership with STOPit at substantially reduced cost to shareholders.
• Cyber Risk Management Services (Sera-Brynn Partnership) Deeply discounted cyber risk management services for shareholders including multi-step cyber security audits (external/internal vulnerability assessments, on-site physical security review), compliance audits, penetration testing, intrusion detection, and incident response assistance; delivered through exclusive partnership with Sera-Brynn.
• TNCRRG Crisis Preparedness and Reputation Management Program Free program for shareholders providing crisis communications training, emergency communications support, and reputation management assistance, developed in collaboration with Anne Klein Communications Group, LLC.
• Litigation Planning and Management Consultation Services Free consultation services for shareholders providing guidance on planning and managing litigation matters related to insured exposures.
• Claim Audit Services Free review of shareholder in-house claims departments or third-party administrator services covering auto/general liability, E&O, D&O, and employment practices lines, using industry best practices with detailed findings and recommendations.
• Risk Management and Legal Defense Workshops Free workshops providing risk management guidance and legal defense training for Church employees.
• Critical Conversations Training resource designed to help Church personnel navigate difficult topics, delivered via pamphlet brochure and preview video.

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• STOPitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership between NCS Risk Services and STOPit to enhance safe environment initiatives. STOPit mobile app and case management platform provides a simple, fast and powerful solution to report inappropriate behaviors, deter immoral, unethical or illegal activity, and mitigate financial and reputational risks to churches, schools and charitable ministries. TNCRRG negotiated substantial reduction in program cost on behalf of shareholders.
• Sera-BrynncoreTechnology or IntegrationCyber Risk Management Program providing deeply discounted services to TNCRRG shareholders. Services include multi-step Cyber Security Audit (External Vulnerability Assessment, Internal Vulnerability Assessment, on-site physical security review), Compliance Audits, Penetration Testing, Intrusion Detection, and Incident Response Assistance. Sera-Brynn is a global leader with clients including Fortune 500 firms, government agencies, and large healthcare organizations. Leadership comes from National Intelligence and Military Information Security Community. Certified PCI Qualified Security Assessor and certified for NIST, HIPAA, SOC2, FFIEC, SOX and GLBA audits.
• Anne Klein Communications Group, LLCsupportImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPhiladelphia-based communications and public relations firm representing many Catholic clients. Assisted TNCRRG in developing the Crisis Preparedness and Reputation Management Program designed to train Church personnel in crisis communications and provide emergency communications support.
• Axis Reinsurance CompanysupportOthersReinsurance partner with A+ (Superior) XV AM Best Rating as part of Excess of Loss Treaty Cessions Agreement.
• Everest Reinsurance CompanysupportOthersReinsurance partner with A+ (Superior) XV AM Best Rating as part of Excess of Loss Treaty Cessions Agreement.
• Swiss Reinsurance AmericasupportOthersReinsurance partner with A+ (Superior) XV AM Best Rating as part of Excess of Loss Treaty Cessions Agreement.
• National Catholic Services, LLCcoreOthersWholly owned subsidiary of TNCRRG formed March 8, 2000. IRS ruled a 'disregarded entity' for tax purposes. Governed by a five person Board of Governors appointed by TNCRRG Board. Houses all employees and provides underwriting, claims management, risk control, broker management, VIRTUS and executive management services to TNCRRG. Functions on a 'break-even' basis charging management fee to TNCRRG.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Lockton Companies: Largest privately held insurance broker providing placement, risk management, and consulting services across specialty commercial and religious institution lines. Comparable as a distribution and risk advisory counterparty in the same specialty insurance ecosystem as TNCRRG.
• Sera-Brynn: Cyber risk management firm with national intelligence and military information security background, partnered exclusively with TNCRRG to provide discounted cyber audits, compliance assessments, and incident response to Catholic shareholders. Directly involved in TNCRRG's cyber service offering.

Direct peers

• Church Mutual Insurance Company: One of the largest specialty insurers serving religious organizations, schools, and senior living facilities. Directly comparable as a P&C carrier specializing in religious institutional risk - the main commercial competitor to TNCRRG's Catholic-focused offerings.
• Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company: Specialty property & casualty insurer focused on Christian churches and ministries, providing property, liability, and ministry-specific coverages to congregations and religious organizations - directly comparable to TNCRRG in both target market (faith-based institutions) and offering structure (specialty liability insurance).
• GuideOne Insurance: Specialty P&C insurer serving churches, religious organizations, and schools with property, liability, and workers' compensation coverage. Directly competes with TNCRRG for religious institutional customers across multiple denominations.
• Adventist Risk Management: Captive insurer serving Seventh-day Adventist institutions, structured similarly to TNCRRG as a denomination-affiliated risk management entity providing property, liability, and mission-focused services to its religious community.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Listed Risk Retention Groups: Risk retention groups operate under the same federal LRRA framework as TNCRRG; other RRGs in medical, legal, and professional liability lines provide structural comparables for the captive operating model even though their target insureds differ.
• Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY): A broad specialty P&C carrier with a dedicated religious institutions practice offering property, liability, D&O, and auto coverage to churches, synagogues, and mosques. Overlaps with TNCRRG on religious-institution liability but competes as a broader commercial insurer rather than a denomination-specific captive.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-catholic-risk-retention-group-inc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 The National Catholic Risk Retention Group