The federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 (the VPA or the Act)[1] aims to promote volunteerism by limiting, and in many cases completely eliminating, a volunteer's risk of tort liability when acting for nonprofit organizations or government entities.
No volunteer of a nonprofit organization or governmental entity shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission of the volunteer on behalf of the organization or entity.
[2] People who volunteer to assist nonprofit organizations or government agencies or programs run the risk that their actions, while well-intentioned, may cause harm to another.
If those actions are deemed negligent, the volunteer may face civil liability for damages caused by the negligent conduct.
[3]