CODE OF CONDUCT

DUTY OF LOYALTY

The duty of loyalty is a standard of faithfulness; all members must give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization. This means that a member can never use information obtained as a member for personal gain, and must act in the best interests of the organization.

DUTY OF CARE

The duty of care describes the level of competence that is expected of a governing member and is commonly expressed as the duty of “care that an ordinarily prudent person would exercise in a like position and under similar circumstances.” This means that a governing member owes the duty to exercise reasonable care when he, she or they make a decision as a steward of the organization.

DUTY OF OBEDIENCE

The duty of obedience requires governing members to be faithful to the organization’s mission. They are not permitted to act in a way that is inconsistent with the central goals of the organization. A basis for this rule lies in the public’s trust that the organization will manage donated funds to advance the organization’s mission. This duty also requires governing members to obey the law and the organization’s internal rules and regulations.