June 30, 2018
There’s more to doing business with your nonprofit organization than just the disclosure required for “interested transactions” and avoiding a conflict of interest when making decisions on the organization’s behalf. As a board member, your status is similar to a trustee. The organization’s money is not yours to spend as you please. You are a “steward” for the organization. You must make prudent financial decisions. And generally, you must use a higher level of care and caution than you do with your own business. Your board will also want to make sure that the membership doesn’t feel excluded from any paying contract opportunities that arise (remember, they’re not illegal; you just have to handle them carefully). These issues are referred to as “arm’s length transactions” and “procedures.” Hopefully these scenarios will illuminate them: 1. Board member “A” submits a proposal to draft a strategic plan for organization XYZ. She prices the proposal at $500,000. (Most people with her experience level in the industry would charge $50,000.) “A” discloses that her firm would receive the funds.…
Continue ReadingThe first time it happened, I was shocked. (Okay–naïve too, but shocked). “What did I do wrong?” I wondered. “Wasn’t the client happy with the service I provided? After all, I swooped in, saved the…
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