MAKE ART HAPPEN
The Infinity Tunnel. Photo Credit: Cory Bluhm

CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY

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GENERAL

 

The Board and staff of the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund have a duty at all times to act in the best interests of the corporation rather than of their personal self-interest on behalf of constituencies they represent. However, it is a definite advantage that directors and staff play active roles in the arts community by serving as board members, staff members or otherwise being involved as volunteers with a wide spectrum of non-profit organizations. This means that, from time to time, potential conflicts of interest or the appearance of such conflicts will inevitably arise.

 

The purpose of this policy is to enable the Arts Fund to deal with such conflicts in as open and appropriate a way as possible. It also sets out procedures by which the individual directors and the Board will address and resolve issues of conflict of interest.

 

It is understood that Arts Fund directors will perform their duties without remuneration in such a way as to promote public confidence and trust in the integrity, objectivity and impartiality of the Board. Consistent with the Governing By-law (By-law #1), no director shall directly or indirectly receive any profit from his/her position provided that reasonable expenses may be paid in the performance of their duties.

 

 

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DEFINITIONS

  • “Immediate family members” means individuals related by blood, adoption, or marriage within one family unit (father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, including in laws).
  • “Business partner” means individuals in a formal partnership or shared ownership of a for-profit company or enterprise.
  • “Staff” and “staff member” mean an individual who is employed for pay by an organization or company.
  • “Volunteer” means any individual involved in any aspect or program of an organization on a non-paid basis.
  • “Arts Fund directors” mean individuals formally elected to the board and serving as directors.
  • “Applicant” means any individual applying for funding from the Arts Fund.
  • “Applicant organization” means any group or organization (more than one individual), applying for funding from the Arts Fund. This includes partnerships, alliances, collectives, cooperatives and corporations.

 

 

CONFLICTS

 

Conflicts arise when directors, staff or invited advisors may benefit, directly or indirectly, financially or otherwise, from their position. Such involvements include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Arts Fund board or staff members serving as directors, officers or members of applicant organizations;
  • Immediate family members and business partners of Arts Fund board or staff members serving as board members of applicant organizations;
  • Arts Fund directors or staff members or their immediate family members being employed by or doing business with applicants or applicant organizations;
  • Arts Fund members or staff members with a close personal association with directors or staff of an applicant or applicant organizations, such that a reasonable inference may be drawn of a lack of impartiality towards an application, applicant, or applicant organization.

A conflict of interest may be “real”, “potential”, or “perceived”; the same duty to disclose applies to each. The pecuniary interests of immediate family members or close personal or business associates of a director are considered to also be the pecuniary interests of the director. Full disclosure in itself does not remove a conflict of interest.

 

Please read full Conflict of Interest Policy here.

 

 

PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

 

It is important that directors be sensitive to appearance and perception and err on the side of transparency. In case of conflicts or appearance of conflicts, Arts Fund directors and staff are expected to fully disclose any potential conflict as soon as it arises and before the board (or its committees) makes any decisions in the matter where the potential conflict exists. In particular, this means making full disclosure prior to discussing or voting on any related grant decisions.

 

Once such a disclosure has been made, the remaining board members will determine, by vote, whether or not there is a potential conflict of interest. Should it be so considered, the board member involved shall abstain from voting and shall not participate in the discussion of the application, applicant or applicant organization. The affected director in conflict must not attempt to influence the outcome of any discussion or vote and must leave the meeting room for the duration of any discussion and vote on the matter.

 

In cases where the Arts Fund’s board decides to award a grant to an organization and one or more of the Arts Fund’s board members or staff has abstained from voting as a result of conflict or the appearance of conflict, such grants and board or staff members in conflict shall be identified in the minutes of the meeting and/or in the Arts Fund’s annual report. In the minutes, the time the person left and returned shall be recorded.

 

It is the responsibility of other board members who are aware of real, potential or perceived conflict of interest on the part of a fellow board member to raise the issue for clarification at the earliest possible opportunity, first with the board member him/herself and, if still unresolved, with the Chair.

 

Following a review of policies and procedures mid-way through its second decade, the Board has strengthened its commitment to the Conflict of Interest policy. If a Board member submits an application, he or she then declares a conflict for that round, and does not review any applications at all. The Director does not participate in any granting evaluations or decision making for as long as the application is being assessed.

 

The Chair of the Arts Fund will seek legal advice, where necessary, from the Regional Solicitor. Individual directors are free to seek independent advice on conflicts or potential conflicts.

 

 

QUORUM

 

Where the number of directors who, by reason of conflict, are disabled from participating in a meeting such that the remaining members no longer constitute a quorum as set out in the Arts Fund bylaws, then remaining members shall be deemed to constitute a quorum provided there are not less than two directors present.