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Conflicts of Interest

1. Point regents, trustees, staff, alumni and scholars will avoid activities or outside interests which conflict with the best interests of Point Foundation.

2. Regents, trustees, staff and committee members must specifically acknowledge and identify any relationship with applicants before and during the evaluation and selection of future scholars.  Such regents must excuse themselves from any role in the evaluation of an applicant with whom they have such a relationship. (Favoritism based on family or close personal relationships is unfair to other scholar applicants.)

3. If a regent, trustee, staff or committee member has an interest in a proposed transaction with the Foundation in the form of a significant personal or organizational financial interest in the transaction or holds a position as regent, trustee or staff member in such organization, he or she must make full disclosure of such interest before any discussion or negotiation of such transaction.  This also includes the "appearance" of conflict of interest.

4. Any regent, trustee, staff or committee member who has a potential conflict of interest with respect to any matter coming before the board of regents, board of trustees, or the committee shall not participate in any discussion of or vote in connection with the matter unless invited to respond to questions or provide factual information.

5. Any regent, trustee, staff or committee member who gains privileged information by virtue of their role, as a regent, trustee, staff or committee member shall not use that privileged information for personal or professional gain. 

6. Any regent, trustee, staff or committee member who is affiliated with a leadership role at another non-profit organization must disclose their relationship to the board of directors.  Solicitation on behalf of another non-profit organization to Point Foundation donors is prohibited unless the Point Donor is currently associated with such organization.

7. Communications: Regents, trustees, staff and committee members requesting Point staff to send mass emails on their behalf are limited to Point Foundation business only and upon approval of the Executive Director & CEO.

8. Gifts: Regents, trustees, staff and committee members are prohibited from accepting gifts from individuals, foundations or firms with which the Foundation does business that may constitute a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.  The Foundation realizes that in some situations an individual, firm or foundation may want to express its gratitude through an occasional gift of flowers, a meal or another minor gift.  Acceptance of those types of gifts will be allowed, providing the gifts are occasional and generally have a value of no more than $50.  If the regent, trustee, staff or committee member is unsure whether a gift is considered minor, the BOD Chair should be consulted.  In no circumstance shall a regent, trustee, staff or committee member accept a cash gift.

9. Regents, trustees, staff and donors must not use his or her role:
          -For financial gain for him/herself or a relative;
          -To advance a personal agenda or to meet a personal need; or,
          -To be in "control" of the organization or its employees.
 
Annual Disclosure Statement
Regents, trustees, staff or committee members shall file a conflict of interest statement with the Executive Director & CEO of Point each year disclosing any anticipated or possible conflict situations. This statement shall include current participation, affiliation or other involvement with any corporation and/or organization that Point may have a business relationship with, in which an affiliated person or an immediate family member may have interest.
 
Each regent, trustee, staff or committee member shall annually sign a statement that affirms that such person:

1. has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy set forth above,
2. has read and understands the policy,
3. has agreed to comply with the policy, and
4. understands that the Foundation is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its federal tax-exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax exempt purposes.