Board Member Code of Ethics

• Date: 01 March 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ban.30638
• Published date: 01 March 2018

6 Board & Administrator

DOI 10.1002/ban © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., A Wiley Company • All rights reserved

Resource

Board Member Code of Ethics

As a member of the board team, I will:

• Act in a manner that is consistent with the mission, vision and values of the organization.

• Keep confidential matters confidential.

• Support the actions of the board of directors, even when my position is in the minority.

• Listen carefully to my board colleagues and the administrator.

• Respect the opinions of others.

• Respect and support the majority decisions of this board.

• Recognize that all authority is vested in the full board only when it meets in legal session.

• Be well-informed of developments relevant to the issues that come before the board.

• Prepare and actively participate in board and committee meetings.

• Attempt to interpret the needs of those we serve at this organization, and interpret the actions

of the nonprofit to those we serve.

• Refer complaints to the proper level of the organization’s chain of command.

• Recognize that my job is to ensure that the nonprofit is well-managed, not to manage the orga-

nization.

• Represent everyone who this nonprofit serves, and not a particular interest group.

• Understand that I am a trustee of this organization and do my best to ensure that it is well-

maintained, has sound finances and is always operating in the best interest of those we serve.

• Work to learn to do my job effectively.

• Declare conflicts of interest between my personal life and my position on the board, and ab-

stain from voting when appropriate.

• Commit to my administrator, and recognize that we have given him or her the authority to hire,

manage and supervise, evaluate and fire staff when necessary.

• Never exclude the administrator from meetings of the board.

As a board member, I will not:

• Criticize fellow board members or their opinions publicly, in or out of the boardroom.

• Use the nonprofit’s property, services, equipment or staff for my own personal gain, or the ben-

efit of my friends, family or business interests or acquaintances.

• Discuss confidential proceedings of the board outside of the boardroom.

• Promise how I will vote on an issue before a board meeting.

• Interfere with the duties of the administrator, or undermine his or her authority with staff

members.

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Signature Date ■