Community Underwriting Agency

What Community Underwriting Agency does

Community Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd is an Australian underwriting agency founded in 2014 by Meals on Wheels NSW Ltd to provide insurance products exclusively to Not for Profit and community organisations. The firm distributes six core insurance products (General Liability, Property/Business Package, Commercial Motor Vehicle, Voluntary Workers Personal Accident, Association Liability, and Event Cancellation) plus an Excess Liability layer, exclusively through Australian insurance brokers. Products are underwritten via agency partnerships with Berkley Insurance Australia, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited, and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company.

The firm's defining structural feature is mutualized ownership: the majority shareholders are the NFP clients it insures, and 70% of annual surplus is returned to shareholders while 5% funds a Small Grants Program for smaller NFP clients. The company serves approximately 4,000 NFP organisations across Australia with more than $11 million in annual premiums, headquartered in Balmain East (Sydney) with a Brisbane office and a team of 11-50 staff.

The go-to-market motion is entirely broker-mediated: the company does not sell direct to end clients. Quote-based, annually billed premiums are channelled through brokers, and the firm has received the Insurance Business Magazine Gold Medal for best underwriting agency for NFP clients for ten consecutive years through 2024. Revenue derives from commission on GWP and the surplus-return / grants mechanic functions as both a social-impact engine and a switching-cost mechanism for larger contributors who qualify as Growth Shareholders above $75,000 in annual premium.

Name

Community Underwriting Agency

Legal name

Community Underwriting Agency Pty Ltd

Website

https://communityunderwriting.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Community Underwriting Agency is an Australian underwriting agency, founded in 2014 and owned by its Not for Profit clients, that distributes General Liability, Property, Motor, Voluntary Workers Personal Accident, Association Liability, and Event Cancellation insurance exclusively through brokers to approximately 4,000 NFP organisations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Insurance Underwriting

NAICS

Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Other Insurance Related Activities (52429)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411), Fire, Marine & Casualty Insurance (6331)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mid-Market Commercial Package (Package Policies) (FSAJAFAB), Commercial Property Insurance (FSAJACAE)

Keywords

• Not for profit insurance
• Underwriting agency services
• General liability insurance
• Association liability insurance
• Voluntary workers accident

Headquarters

HQ city

East Baldwin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premium Revenue: Community Underwriting operates as an underwriting agency collecting insurance premiums from not-for-profit clients. The company generates revenue through insurance premiums, with more than $11 million in annual premiums mentioned. The unique business model returns 70% of surplus annually to shareholders and donates 5% to a small grants program for eligible clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Community Underwriting Agency is an Australian underwriting agency that designs, prices and distributes a portfolio of insurance products tailored exclusively to not-for-profit and community organisations. The portfolio covers general liability, property/business package, commercial motor, voluntary workers personal accident, association liability, industrial special risks, event cancellation and excess liability. All products are sold through licensed insurance brokers across Australia, with capacity provided by partner insurers Berkley Insurance Australia, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance.

Product overview

Community Underwriting Agency operates as an underwriting agency offering a portfolio of insurance products specifically designed for not-for-profit and community organisations in Australia. The product suite comprises six core insurance products: General Liability Insurance, Property/Business Package Insurance, Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance, Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Insurance, Association Liability Insurance, and Event Cancellation Insurance. Additionally, Excess Liability Insurance provides supplementary coverage above standard limits. All products are distributed exclusively through insurance brokers and are underwritten by partner insurers Berkley Insurance Australia, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited, and Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company. The company operates under a unique ownership model where the majority shareholders are the not-for-profits they insure, with 70% of annual surplus returned to shareholders and 5% allocated to a small grants program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• General Liability Insurance Insurance designed to protect not-for-profit organisations against legal liability to pay compensation for personal injury or damage to third-party property in connection with the organisation's activities, including liability to volunteers who suffer injury whilst volunteering. Coverage options of $10 million or $20 million.
• Property Insurance (Business Package) Business Package insurance covering buildings and contents for damage from defined events (fire, storm, impact, accidental damage, vandalism, malicious damage), plus Business Interruption, Theft, Money, Glass, Machinery Breakdown, Electronic Equipment, Deterioration of Stock and General Property cover for not-for-profit organisations.
• Commercial Motor Vehicle Insurance Insurance covering loss or damage to motor vehicles owned by the organisation and legal liability to third parties for property damage, including loss of no claim bonus and reimbursement of excess for vehicles owned by employees and volunteers.
• Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Insurance Personal accident insurance providing financial compensation and cover for defined out-of-pocket expenses if an accident results in injury or death of a volunteer, including lump sum compensation for broken bones, weekly benefits, non-Medicare medical expenses and no upper age limits for voluntary workers. Benefit options of $250,000 Death and Capital Benefits with $1,000 Weekly Benefit or $500,000 Death and Capital Benefits with $2,000 Weekly Benefit.
• Association Liability Insurance Insurance protecting a community organisation and its Directors, Office bearers, employees and voluntary workers for liabilities arising out of the work of the organisation, including Employment Practices cover, Directors & Officers Liability, Professional Indemnity, Libel and Slander, Tax Audit, Fidelity cover and Fines and Penalties cover. Coverage options of $1m, $2m, $5m, $10m or $20m.
• Industrial Special Risks Insurance Comprehensive insurance coverage for industrial and special risk exposures faced by not-for-profit organisations, underwritten by Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance.
• Event Cancellation Insurance Coverage for event liability and cancellation risks for community, religious and charity events, underwritten by Berkley Insurance Australia.
• Excess Liability Insurance Excess liability coverage provided by Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, sitting in excess of Berkley Insurance Australia where the Limit of Liability under the General Liability product exceeds $20 million.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than $10 million donated to Not for Profit sector since 2014
• +3 more outcomes

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

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Berkley Insurance AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2015Berkley Insurance Australia provides security for General Liability, Association Liability and Event Cancellation Products. The partnership commenced in May 2015 and has been a strong contributor to Community Underwriting's business model. Berkley also contributes to the Small Grants Program.
• Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company Limited provides security for Industrial Special Risks, Business Package, Motor Vehicle and Voluntary Workers Personal Accident Products. They also contribute to the Small Grants Program.
• Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance CompanyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBerkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company provides Excess General Liability product and acts in excess of Berkley Insurance Australia where the Limit of Liability exceeds $20m.
• Meals on Wheels NSW LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMeals on Wheels NSW Ltd founded Community Underwriting in 2014 as the parent organisation. They are the majority shareholder and the primary beneficiary of the unique business model that returns surplus funds to shareholders.
• Underwriting Agencies CouncilminorOthersCommunity Underwriting is a member of the Underwriting Agencies Council, an industry body for underwriting agencies in Australia.
• CQIB (Commercial and Quality Insurance Brokers)minorOthersCommunity Underwriting is a Business Partner of CQIB, an organisation focused on commercial and quality insurance broker standards.
• Calliden Insurance LimitedminorOthersPrior to May 2015, Community Underwriting acted as agent for Calliden Insurance Limited. The transition occurred when Calliden became part of the Steadfast Group and later Munich Re group.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Honan Insurance Group: Australian underwriting-focused brokerage group operating multiple niche underwriting agencies. Comparable as a multi-agency underwriting platform in Australia, competing for broker-distributed specialty placements including community and SME risks.
• Ansvar Insurance: Australian specialist insurer underwriting community, faith-based, education, and care-sector risks. Directly comparable as a niche Australian underwriting agency targeting mission-driven organisations, including NFP, faith, and community segments that overlap with Community Underwriting's book.
• Austcover: Australian underwriting agency with community care and disability services specialisation. Directly comparable as a niche Australian MGA serving NFP, community care, and disability segments — a recognised competitor for NFP broker placement.
• Catholic Church Insurance (CCI): Australian insurer specialising in faith-based, community, and care organisations. Directly comparable as a specialist carrier for NFP, faith, education, and community risks with overlapping broker channel and overlapping NFP client base.

Broad incumbents

• Steadfast Group: Largest Australian broker network with underwriting agency arm. Comparable as a broad Australian insurance distribution and underwriting agency group whose broker network competes with and complements Community Underwriting's broker channel.
• Allianz Australia: Major Australian general insurer offering commercial package, liability, and association products. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same Australian P&C distribution channels where brokers place community and NFP risks.
• Dual Australia: International MGU/managing general agent platform with Australian operations distributing specialty lines through brokers. Comparable as a broader specialty underwriting agency distributor in Australia, with overlapping broker channel and NFP/community exposure.

Regional players

• Ecclesiastical Insurance: Specialist insurer for faith-based, charity, and not-for-profit organisations operating in Australia (and broader UK group). Comparable as a faith and charity specialist carrier with overlapping Australian NFP risk appetite and broker distribution model.

Others

• Calliden Insurance (Munich Re): Former capacity provider to Community Underwriting's predecessor CRISP NFP facility, now part of Munich Re group. Comparable as a former underwriting agency relationship partner in the Australian NFP insurance market.

Emerging players

• Guild Insurance: Australian specialist insurer serving allied health, community services, and education sectors. Comparable as a niche Australian insurer covering community-services and not-for-profit-adjacent segments, offering overlapping liability and association products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/communityunderwriting
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/community-underwriting-agency

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

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 Community Underwriting Agency