SOUTHWEST CHULA VISTA CIVIC
ASSOCIATION
a California Nonprofit
Corporation
Conflict of Interest Policy
Adopted
by Resolution of the Board of Directors on 5/17/07
Article
I - Purpose
The purpose of the conflict of
interest policy is to protect this tax-exempt organization's (Organization)
interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement
that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the
Organization 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, who 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 Organization has a transaction or
arrangement,
b. A compensation arrangement with
the Organization or with any entity or individual with which the Organization
has a transaction or arrangement, or
c. A potential ownership or
investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or
individual with which the Organization 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 the Organization 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 the Organization'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 the
basis 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, 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 the Organization
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 the Organization 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 the Organization, either
individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any
committee regarding compensation.
Article
VI - Annual Statements
Each director, principal officer and
member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually 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 the Organization 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 the Organization 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 the
Organization'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, the Organization 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.