copyright 2011 fennemore craig, p.c. 1 standards of conduct for nonprofit leaders laura a. lo bianco...
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STANDARDS OF CONDUCTFOR NONPROFIT LEADERS
Laura A. Lo BiancoFennemore Craig, P.C.
May 17, 2011
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FIDUCIARY DUTIES
A director’s and officer’s duties
are to be discharged:
• In Good Faith
• With a Duty of Care
• With a Duty of Loyalty
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GOOD FAITH
Honesty of purpose and honesty in fact.
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DUTY OF CAREWith the care an
ordinarily prudent person
in a
like position
would exercise
under similar circumstances.
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DUTY OF LOYALTY
In a manner the director/officer
reasonably believes
to be in
the best interests
of the
organization.
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Reliance on Others
In discharging duties, a director or officer may rely on information, opinions, or
reports, including financial statements and financial data, prepared/presented
by others in certain circumstances.
However…
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A director/officer is not acting in good faith
if he/she has knowledge
concerning the matter in
question that makes reliance
otherwise permitted unwarranted.
Reliance on Others
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Watch Out For• Conflicts of Interest
• Private Inurement
• Excess Benefit Transactions
• What are the Penalties?
– Conflicting transaction voided (state law)
– Revocation of exempt status (federal law)
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Conflict of Interest DefinedA “conflicting interest” is:
The interest an interested person affiliated with the nonprofit
has respecting a transaction effected or proposed to be effected by the nonprofit,
if at the time of the transaction or decision to enter into the transaction, the person has some
financial interest or is related to someone with a financial interest.
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Private Inurement
Prohibition found in many subsections of Code Section 501(c)
“…no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual…”
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Excess Benefit TransactionThe prohibition against excess benefit
transactions and the intermediate sanctions rules apply only to
excess benefit transactions between
“disqualified persons” and a public charity
or a social welfare entity.
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Step 1 Make the “required disclosure”
of the conflict of interest.
Step 2 Disinterested or “qualified” directors or
committee members should evaluate the transaction.
What should the Board do?
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Step 3
Decision should be made by the “qualified” directors –
without influence of the interested director.
Step 4
Basis for the transaction should be adequately documented.
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The Board should adopt a policy regarding transactions between the organization and
interested persons.May not be required under state law, BUTA GOOD IDEA FOR ALL ORGANIZATIONS• Provide structure under which to address potential
conflicts • Create rebuttable presumption against excess
benefit • Answer Form 1023 and Form 990 questions
positively
Conflicts of Interest Policy
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TOP TEN “BEST PRACTICES”
For Effective Board Governance
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TENIdentify the array of skills needed
for effective board oversight; assess whether board composition is appropriate; adjust board composition as needed.
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NINEClearly delineate and communicate the respective roles of the board, its committees and senior management.
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EIGHTEstablish a system of internal controls that require senior management to inform the board of significant transactions and create a means or employees to report
compliance concerns.
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SEVENEmpower the board to ask the “hard questions” by educating the directors about their fiduciary duty to be fully informed and make necessary inquiry.
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SIX Establish and implement an effective
annual self-evaluation mechanism (including the opportunity for anonymous input) for the board to review its performance and the performance of its committees.
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FIVEEstablish a board audit committee comprised of independent directors to oversee financial reporting, risk assessment and management practices; select an “independent” auditor.
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FOURAdopt a substantive conflict of interest policy, which will establish a rebuttable presumption of reasonableness for all transactions with interested parties.
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THREEKeep appropriate corporate and
financial records.
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TWOKnow and follow your governing
documents, policies, procedures and audit recommendations.
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ONE
WHEN IN DOUBT,
SEEK, OBTAIN AND FOLLOW
THE ADVICE OF AN EXPERT.
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Questions?
Laura A. Lo Bianco, Director
Fennemore Craig, P.C.
(602) 916-5000 | [email protected]