---
title: "Coverdash vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds"
description: "Coverdash brokers employee-dishonesty fidelity from a digital surety catalog; Founder Shield places ERISA fidelity bonds at the statutory 10% / $500,000 requirement."
canonical: "https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/fidelity-bonds"
page-type: "line-comparison"
updated-at: "2026-09-23"
---

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# Coverdash vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds

Coverdash brokers employee-dishonesty fidelity from a digital surety catalog; Founder Shield places ERISA fidelity bonds at the statutory 10% / $500,000 requirement.

## Research Scope and Use

Use this comparison to evaluate Coverdash and Founder Shield for Fidelity Bonds against the same documented criteria. It identifies differences and questions to confirm; it does not select a winner for a particular business. Offering claims are what each provider publishes about this line unless marked otherwise. “Not found” describes the evidence reviewed, not proof that a feature is unavailable. Confirm the insurer, policy wording, limits, retentions, exclusions and cost in an actual quote.

## Summary

Coverdash lists fidelity bonds on its surety page as protecting clients against employee dishonesty and describes a digital quote-to-purchase path. Founder Shield places ERISA fidelity bonds for plan sponsors, fiduciaries and 401(k) sponsors, restating the federal 10% of funds handled rule with a $500,000 statutory maximum. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond")

## What Is Coverdash Insurance?

Coverdash is an insurance brokerage and digital platform for small businesses, startups and e-commerce sellers. Buyers can compare quotes, purchase policies and manage coverage directly or through an embedded partner service. [1](https://www.coverdash.com/faq "Frequently Asked Questions") [2](https://www.coverdash.com/about "About Us") [3](https://www.coverdash.com/terms "Terms And Conditions")

[Coverdash profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/coverdash)

## What Is Founder Shield Insurance?

Founder Shield is a commercial insurance broker for venture-backed and growing businesses. Buyers can request coverage through its online portal and work with advisors on insurer selection, policy changes and claims reporting. [5](https://foundershield.com/ "Founder Shield") [6](https://apx.foundershield.com/ "Quote Portal") [7](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") [8](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/ "What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?") [9](https://foundershield.com/claims/ "Claims")

[Founder Shield profile](https://spot.insure/insurance-providers/foundershield)

## What Are Fidelity Bonds?

Fidelity bonds and employee-dishonesty policies address losses caused by dishonest employees, within the limits and terms purchased. [12](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms "Glossary of Insurance Terms")

## Key Differences in Fidelity Bonds

### Surety-Catalog Card Versus an ERISA Product Page

Coverdash and Founder Shield both broker this line. Coverdash lists fidelity on a surety-bond page as protecting clients against loss from employee dishonesty, with no dedicated fidelity page. Founder Shield publishes an ERISA Fidelity Bond page aimed at plan sponsors, fiduciaries, third-party administrators and small businesses with a simple 401(k). Coverdash’s card does not mention ERISA; Founder Shield’s page is that statutory bond. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") [3](https://www.coverdash.com/terms "Terms And Conditions") [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond") [11](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us")

### Digital Purchase Versus Advisor Placement

Coverdash describes a fully digital quote-to-purchase process on the surety page that includes fidelity among four bond types. Founder Shield asks you to request the bond on its site or through an advisor, then approaches AM Best A- or better carriers. Coverdash’s surety page does not name the issuer; Founder Shield names a rating floor but not the specific carrier. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") [11](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [7](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")

### Unpublished Amount Versus Statutory ERISA Figures

Coverdash does not publish bond-amount figures. Founder Shield restates ERISA: at least 10% of plan funds handled, minimum $1,000, maximum $500,000 (up to $1 million if the plan holds employer securities). Coverdash’s page-level eligibility text is written for contractors and licensed trades bidding on contracts, not for employee-dishonesty bonds specifically. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond")

## What to Confirm in Fidelity Bonds Quotes

- Ask Coverdash whether the bond is first-party, third-party or ERISA, which the surety card does not specify, and which carrier issues it. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds")
- Ask Founder Shield for the calculated ERISA penalty and which A-rated carrier will write it. [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond") [7](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?")
- Confirm whether you need a client-facing employee-dishonesty bond or a benefit-plan statutory bond. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond")
- Get written bond amounts from Coverdash; the public page does not show them. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds")

## Offering Details

| Criteria | Coverdash Fidelity Bonds | Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Role in This Line | Coverdash arranges fidelity bonds as a broker rather than an insurer, placing coverage with a carrier under its standard brokerage terms. [3](https://www.coverdash.com/terms "Terms And Conditions") [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General brokerage terms applied to the fidelity-bonds card on the surety-bond page; not specific to any one carrier or state..) | Founder Shield is a retail insurance brokerage, described on its site as “the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group,” and places Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond with third-party carriers rather than underwriting the policy itself. [11](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us page; applies to Founder Shield's brokerage model generally, restated here for this line..) |
| Issuing Insurer | The surety-bond page does not name the insurer that issues fidelity bonds. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Reviewed surety-bond page as of 2026-09-23; the page describes coverage without naming a specific carrier..) | Founder Shield says it places policies, including Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond, only with carriers rated A- or better by AM Best, chosen for the client's industry. It does not name the issuing insurer for this line; that depends on which carrier the policy is placed with. [7](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: General carrier-selection FAQ, not specific to this line's placements..) |
| Who It’s For | The surety-bond page's eligibility description (contractors, licensed trades and businesses bidding on contracts) is written for surety bonds generally and does not separately describe who needs a fidelity bond specifically. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not found in reviewed sources; scope: Page-level eligibility text is shared across all four bond types on the page; it was not written specifically for employee-dishonesty coverage..) | Founder Shield says this bond is required for plan sponsors offering a retirement plan, the fiduciaries who manage it, third-party administrators, and even small businesses with a simple 401(k). [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: ERISA Fidelity Bond product page..) |
| Coverage Features | Coverdash's surety-bond page describes fidelity bonds in a single line as protecting clients against loss from employee dishonesty; it does not have a dedicated fidelity-bond product page. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: One catalog card on the surety-bond page, not a full product description. Fidelity bonds are a distinct crime-type coverage rather than a three-party surety guarantee, even though Coverdash lists them on the same page as its surety bonds..) | Founder Shield lists theft and embezzlement of plan assets, forgery, misappropriation and larceny by those who handle a benefit plan's funds as what an ERISA fidelity bond covers. [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page; the issued bond and its terms control actual coverage..) |
| Limits and Retentions | The surety-bond page does not publish specific limit or bond-amount figures for fidelity bonds. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Not publicly disclosed; scope: Reviewed surety-bond page as of 2026-09-23; figures are quote-specific and not shown on the public page..) | Founder Shield's page states the federal ERISA bonding requirement: at least 10% of plan funds handled, with a minimum bond of $1,000 and a maximum of $500,000 (up to $1 million for plans holding employer securities). This is the statutory minimum, not a Founder Shield-specific limit. [10](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/ "ERISA Fidelity Bond") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product page describing the ERISA statutory bonding requirement..) |
| How to Apply | Coverdash describes a fully digital quote-to-purchase process on its surety-bond page, which includes the fidelity-bond option among its four bond types. [4](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond "Surety Bonds") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: Product-page company information and cross-sell section..) | You request Founder Shield ERISA Fidelity Bond through Founder Shield's website or an insurance advisor rather than binding coverage directly; Founder Shield says its placement team then approaches carriers on the client's behalf. [11](https://foundershield.com/about-us/ "About Us") [7](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/ "How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?") (Evidence: Company-reported; scope: About-us and carrier-selection pages describe the general placement process, not a line-specific application form..) |

## Full Comparison

- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield): all coverage lines, business roles, service and claims.
- [What Are Fidelity Bonds?](https://spot.insure/coverage/fidelity-bonds): Fidelity bonds and employee-dishonesty coverage protect against specified losses caused by dishonest employees or people handling plan assets.
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Cargo and Transit Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/cargo-transit)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Commercial Property Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/commercial-property)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Crime Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/crime)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Cyber Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/cyber)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield D&O Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/directors-officers)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Employment Practices Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/employment-practices)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Fiduciary Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/fiduciary)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield General Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/general-liability)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Media Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/media)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Product Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/product-liability)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Professional Liability (E&O) Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/professional-errors-omissions)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Representations and Warranties Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/representations-warranties)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Umbrella and Excess Liability Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/umbrella-excess)
- [Coverdash vs Founder Shield Workers’ Compensation Insurance](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/workers-compensation)
- [Beazley vs Coverdash Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-coverdash/fidelity-bonds)
- [Beazley vs Founder Shield Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/beazley-vs-foundershield/fidelity-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs Gallagher Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-gallagher/fidelity-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs Heffernan Insurance Brokers Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-heffernan/fidelity-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs HUB International Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-hub-international/fidelity-bonds)
- [Coverdash vs Marsh Fidelity Bonds](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-marsh/fidelity-bonds)

## Sources

### Coverdash

1. [Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.coverdash.com/faq). Coverdash; Getting a quote & buying coverage; Claims & certificates; Billing & managing your policy; About Coverdash. Accessed 2026-09-15.
2. [About Us](https://www.coverdash.com/about). Coverdash; How Coverdash Works: direct and embedded channels; Our Investors. Accessed 2026-09-15.
3. [Terms And Conditions](https://www.coverdash.com/terms). Coverdash; "Coverdash does not provide any underwriting services"; broker/agent of record designation. Accessed 2026-09-23.
4. [Surety Bonds](https://www.coverdash.com/coverage/surety-bond). Coverdash; Types of Coverage card 04, Fidelity bonds: "Protect clients against loss from employee dishonesty". Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Founder Shield

5. [Founder Shield](https://foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Opening broker description; Specialized Practices; Smart Tech, Smarter People; quote and sign-in links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
6. [Quote Portal](https://apx.foundershield.com/). Founder Shield; Public landing screen, Create Account and Sign In links. Accessed 2026-09-15.
7. [How Do You Decide Which Carriers to Approach?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/how-do-you-decide-which-carriers-to-approach/). Founder Shield; FAQ answer on carrier selection: works exclusively with A-rated (AM Best) carriers, matched by industry appetite. Accessed 2026-09-23.
8. [What If Our Company Grows A Lot or Things Change During the Year?](https://foundershield.com/insurance-faqs/general-faqs/what-if-our-company-grows-a-lot-or-things-change-during-the-year/). Founder Shield; Carl Niedbala answer, November 25, 2024: operational changes and coverage adjustments. Accessed 2026-09-15.
9. [Claims](https://foundershield.com/claims/). Founder Shield; Our Approach; How We Support Claims Management, steps 1–5; Make a claim link. Accessed 2026-09-15.
10. [ERISA Fidelity Bond](https://foundershield.com/coverage/erisa-fidelity-bond/). Founder Shield; What Is ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance?; Who Needs ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance Coverage?; What Does ERISA Fidelity Bond Insurance Cover?. Accessed 2026-09-23.
11. [About Us](https://foundershield.com/about-us/). Founder Shield; “Founder Shield is the innovation arm of The Baldwin Group”; company history and mission. Accessed 2026-09-23.

### Fidelity Bonds Guide

12. [Glossary of Insurance Terms](https://content.naic.org/glossary-insurance-terms). National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Fidelity; Surety Bond. Accessed 2026-09-16.

Updated 2026-09-23. Spot, a product of Tools for Enlightenment, publishes this research and works in the commercial insurance market. The comparison applies the same criteria to both providers. [Editorial policy](https://spot.insure/editorial-policy). To suggest a correction, [contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) with the page URL and supporting source.

## Agent and Developer Resources

- [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/compare/coverdash-vs-foundershield/fidelity-bonds.md)
- [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers)
- [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp)
- [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json)
- [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json)
- [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)