Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA)
In late 2025, Welborn achieved a milestone with statewide impact: approval from the Indiana Department of Insurance to start the Nonprofit Benefits Consortium, Inc., a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA) created exclusively for Indiana nonprofits. This initiative launched on January 1, marking the end of an 18-month process and the beginning of a direct response to a long-standing challenge across the sector: access to affordable, high-quality health insurance.
For many nonprofits, limited size and constrained budgets make it difficult to offer competitive health insurance benefits. Through the MEWA, nonprofit employers can pool resources, gain purchasing power, and manage health insurance costs more predictably over time. While MEWAs already serve other industries in Indiana, this is the first designed solely for nonprofits, offering a new, sustainable option to strengthen the sector’s workforce.
Built Through Collaboration
The MEWA reflects the power of partnership across Indiana’s philanthropic ecosystem. Welborn provides vision and financial backing; NFP contributes technical expertise and plan administration; and the Indiana Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) serves as the convener.
A founding group of 12 nonprofit organizations participated as early adopters, helping the MEWA meet regulatory requirements and launch successfully. Their leadership created a pathway for many more nonprofits to benefit in the future.
A Statewide Investment
Although Welborn’s grantmaking footprint spans 14 counties across southwest Indiana, southern Illinois, and southeastern Kentucky, this initiative was intentionally designed to benefit nonprofits across Indiana. Interest has been strong, signaling both the scale of the challenge and the promise of a collective solution.
Looking Ahead
With the Nonprofit Benefits Consortium (DBA Indiana Nonprofit Benefits Trust) approval secured, nonprofits will be invited to explore coverage options and assess whether participation is right for their organization.
As participation grows, the MEWA is expected to increase affordability, stabilize premium growth, and help nonprofits attract and retain the talent needed to deliver on their missions.
Visit the official website here.
