Addressing Conflict of Interest in Not-For-Profit Organizations

A policy governing conflicts of interests is one if the most important policies a nonprofit needs to have. To be the most effective, the policy should be in writing, and the board and staff should review the policy regularly.

While AMC makes efforts to ensure accuracy of our articles, it is the responsibility of the reader to verify accuracy with the relevant governing bodies when necessary.

Also read: A Guide To Setting Ethical Standards For Your NPO

Advice to the Society

All people involved in a society –its members, directors, officers and employees– have duties they owe the society. This is a general statement of the legal principles that apply. It should be made readily available to society participants. While everyone in a society is subject to these duties, some people, like directors and officers, are subject to higher duties, such as those set out in the [Standards of Conduct Act.]

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The Definition of Conflict of Interest

A “conflict of interest” is any situation where:

(a) your personal interests, or

(b) those of a close friend, family member, business associate, corporation or partnership in which you hold a significant interest, or a person to whom you owe an obligation could influence your decisions and impair your ability to

(i) act in the society’s best interests, or

(ii) represent the society fairly, impartially and without bias.

It is important to note that a “conflict of interest” exists if the decision could be influenced – it is not necessary that influence takes place.

General Duties

2.1 Unless authorized to do so by the board, or by a person the board designates, you may not

(a) act on behalf of the society, or deal with the society, in any matter where you are in a conflict of interest or appear to be in a conflict of interest, nor

(b) use your position, office or affiliation with the society to pursue or advance your personal interests or those of a person described in paragraph 1.1(b).

2.2 The “appearance of a conflict of interest” occurs when a reasonably well informed person properly could have a reasonable perception that you are making decisions on behalf of the society that promote your personal interests or those of a person described in paragraph 1.1(b).

2.3 If you are a director, you must immediately disclose a conflict of interest in writing individually to each person on the board of directors. It is important to make the disclosure when the conflict first becomes known. If you do not become aware of the conflict until after a transaction is concluded, nevertheless you must still make the disclosure immediately.

2.4 If you are in doubt about whether you are or may be in a conflict of interest, you must request the advice of the board of directors or a person the board designates.

2.5 Unless otherwise directed, you must immediately take steps to resolve the conflict or remove the suspicion that it exists.

Avoiding a Conflict of Interest

3.1 If you are a director,

(a) you must not use your relationship with the society to confer a benefit on a person described in paragraph 1.1(b). This duty does not prevent you or anyone else from transacting business with other people connected with the society.

(b) you must not personally benefit from any transaction involving the society except in unique situations, authorized by the board.

(c) you must not indirectly benefit from any transaction involving the society except in unique situations, authorized by the board.

3.2 An “indirect benefit” is

(a) a benefit derived by a close friend, family member, business associate, or a corporation or partnership in which you hold a significant interest, or

(b) a benefit which advances or protects your interests although it may not be measurable in money.

Using Society Property and Society Information

4.1 You must have authorization from the board, or from a person the board designates

(a) to use, for personal purposes, property owned by the society, or

(b) to purchase society property unless it is through channels of disposition equally available to the public. Even then you may not purchase the property without authorization if you are involved in some aspect of the sale.

(b) the opportunity is equally available to members of the public.

4.3 You may not use your position with the society to solicit a society’s clients for a personal business or one operated by a close friend, family member, business associate or a corporation or partnership in which you hold a significant interest. This duty does not prevent you or anyone else from transacting business with other people connected with the society.

4.4 “Society information” is information that is acquired solely by reason of involvement with the society and which the society is under an obligation to keep confidential.

4.5 You may use society information only for society purposes.

4.6 You must not use society information for your personal benefit.

4.7 You must protect society information from improper disclosure.

4.8 You must report to the board, or to a person the board designates, any incident of abuse of society information.

4.9 You may divulge society information if

(a) you are authorized by the board or by a person designated by the board to release it, and

(b) it is to a person who has a lawful right to the information.

4.10 If you are in doubt about whether society information may be released, you must request advice from the board or from a person the board designates.

Rules About Gifts

5.1 You may accept a gift made to you because of your involvement in the society in the following circumstances:

(a) the gift has no more than token value,

(b) it is the normal exchange of hospitality or a customary gesture of courtesy between persons doing business together,

(c) the exchange is lawful and in accordance with local ethical practice and standards, and

(d) the gift could not be construed by an impartial observer as a bribe, pay off or improper or illegal payment.

5.2 You personally may not use society property to make a gift, charitable donation or political contribution to anyone on behalf of the society. Any gift must have the authorization of the board of directors or a person the board designates.

Guidelines for Authorizing a Transaction From Which a Member May Derive a Benefit

6.1 Even if you are not a director, if you are in a position to influence decisions made on behalf of the society, the board must treat you as if you are a director.

Note: The origin of this policy statement is a document prepared by the BC Law Reform Commission. It was designed to provide, in relatively plain language, guidance on conflicts of interests and related issues. Permission to reprint has been granted.

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How To Handle Conflict Of Interest In A Meeting

I’m really excited to announce, we have a new course out on how to run effective meetings. Inside the course there’s a powerful lesson, on a bit of a touchy subject – how to handle conflict of interest.

It happens from time to time, more often than it should at not-for-profit organizations. So, in the course, I’m going to share with you four tips on handling conflict of interest.

I call it the four R’s of Handling Conflict of Interest.

I’m want to share with you one quick tip. The first R of my 4 Rs of handling conflict of interest: Reveal.

You have to reveal that you are in or could be in a potential conflict of interest. If a reasonable person might assume that you could potentially be in a conflict of interest then you have to reveal that fact.

For example, if you work at a hotel and you sit on the Board of Directors and the Board is discussing where the AGM should be held and you put up your hand and say: “Hey, I have a hotel, maybe we can give you a good deal. In fact, we’ll give me the best deal out of all the properties out there” And guess what? You are in a conflict of interest, real or perceived but in this case, it’s pretty darn real.

Because your personal interests take precedent over those of the association. You have something to gain here so the first thing you have to do is to reveal. That’s the first R of handling conflict of interest.

Log in to NPO Academy to get the rest of the tips of handling conflict of interest and everything you need to run productive meetings.

4Rs Of Handing Conflict Of Interest – Infographic

Reveal

Promptly declare to the board of directors any conflict of interest and ask that such declaration be recorded in the minutes.

Recuse

Refrain from all discussion of, and voting on, the matter giving rise to the conflict of interest.

Remove

Excuse yourself from the portion of the meeting where the matter giving rise to the conflict of interest is being discussed.

Return

After the matter giving rise to the conflict of interest has been discussed and/or voted on, you may return to the meeting.

Master the entire process of running nonprofit board meetings

Stop the confusion, conflict and chaos of “bored” meetings.

Our online course makes it fast and easy to train new board members on the dos and don’ts of meetings.

You will learn:
✓ The role and responsibilities of the Chair at meetings
✓ What is expected of the participants at meetings
✓ How to manage the meeting so everything runs smoothly
✓ How to create and follow the meeting agenda
✓ What to include in your meeting minutes
✓ How to avoid conflict of interest at meetings

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