Conflict of Interest Policy
This is a page concerning a policy or procedure in development.
Once fleshed out, we'll consider it for adoption as official policy at Free Geek.
The board agreed to this policy at their January 9, 2008 meeting. RfS 19:19, 9 January 2008 (PST)
Something like this would be signed by board and staff members.
The standard of behavior at Free Geek is that all staff, board members and volunteers participating in decision making at Free Geek scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest between the interests of Free Geek on one hand, and personal, professional, and business interests on the other. This includes avoiding potential and actual conflicts of interest, as well as perceptions of conflicts of interest.
I understand that the purposes of this policy are to protect the integrity of Free Geek's decision-making process, to enable our constituencies to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the integrity and reputations of volunteers, staff and board members. Upon or before election, hiring or appointment, I will make a full, written disclosure of interests, relationships, and holdings that could potentially result in a conflict of interest. This written disclosure will be kept on file and I will update it as appropriate.
In the course of meetings or activities, I will disclose any interests in a transaction or decision where I (including my business or other nonprofit affiliations), my family and/or my significant other, employer, or close associates will receive a benefit or gain. After disclosure, I understand that I will not be permitted to participate in the decision and I may be asked to leave the room. I further understand that I will have an opportunity to briefly state my opinion before leaving the room.
I understand that this policy is meant to supplement good judgement, and I will respect its spirit as well as its wording.
Signed:
Date:
(OpenOffice version of this document) This section on conflict of interest is based on one taken from "Boardroom Dancing", a handbook for nonprofit boards written by Jan Masaoka and Jude Kaye of CompassPoint Nonprofit Services, available February 2000.