Conflict of Interest Policy Walker Community Action Alliance, Inc.
Article I
Purpose
The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt
organization's (Walker Community Action Alliance, Inc. (WCAA)) interest when it
is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit
the private interest of an officer or director of WCAA or might result in a
possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but
not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest
applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Article II
Definitions
1. Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board
delegated powers, which has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined
below, is an interested person.
2. Financial Interest
A person has a
financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business,
investment, or family:
a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity
with which the WCAA has a transaction or arrangement,
b. A compensation
arrangement with WCAA or with any entity or individual with which WCAA has a
transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or investment
interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with
which WCAA is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation
includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are
not insubstantial.
A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of
interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest
may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or
committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
Article III
Procedures
1. Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual or
possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence
of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material
facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated
powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2.
Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
After disclosure of the
financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the
interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting
while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon.
The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest
exists.
3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
a. An
interested person may make a presentation at the governing board or committee
meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the
discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the
possible conflict of interest.
b. The chairperson of the governing board or
committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to
investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.
c. After
exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine
whether WCAA can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction
or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of
interest.
d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not
reasonably possible under circumstances not producing a conflict of interest,
the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the
disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in WCAA’s best
interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In
conformity with the above determination it shall make its decision as to whether
to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the
Conflicts of Interest Policy
a. If the governing board or committee has
reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible
conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of thebasis for such belief
and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
b. If, after hearing the member's response and after making further
investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or
committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible
conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective
action.
Article IV
Records of Proceedings
The minutes of the
governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
a. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a
financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of
interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine
whether a conflict of interest was present, Conflict of Interest Policy
and
the governing board's or committee's decision as to whether a conflict of
interest in fact existed.
b. The names of the persons who were present for
discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of
the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or
arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.
Article V
Compensation
a. A voting member of the governing board
who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from WCAA for services is
precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
b.
A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation
matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from WCAA for
services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's
compensation.
c. No voting member of the governing board or any committee
whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation,
directly or indirectly, from WCAA, either individually or collectively, is
prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
Article VI
Signing Requirements (rev. March 4, 2016)
Each
director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board
delegated powers shall (rev. March 4, 2016) sign a statement, which affirms such
person:
a. Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
b. Has
read and understands the policy,
c. Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
d. Understands WCAA is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax
exemption it
must engage primarily in activities, which accomplish one or
more of its tax-exempt
purposes.
Article VII
Periodic Reviews
To ensure WCAA operates in a manner consistent with charitable purposes and
does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status,
periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum,
include the following subjects:
a. Whether compensation arrangements and
benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information, and the result
of arm's length bargaining.
b. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and
arrangements with management organizations conform to WCAA's written policies,
are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and
services, further charitable purposes and do not result in inurement,
impermissible private benefit or in an excess benefit transaction.
Article VIII
Use of Outside Experts
When conducting the periodic
reviews as provided for in Article VII, WCAA may, but need not, use outside
advisors. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing
board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.
Policy adopted by WCAA board of Directors on 01/07/2011
Resolution Number:
010710-01:
Policy revised by WCAA board of Directors on 03/04/2016
Resolution Number: 030416
I have received, read and understand fully the
Conflict of Interest Statement and will comply with the statement by bringing
any potential conflict of interest situations to the WCAA Board of Directors for
consideration.
_____________________
__________________________________
Date Signature