CODE OF ETHICS
PERSONAL INTEGRITY
A personal commitment to integrity in all circumstances benefits each individual as well as the organization. Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Respect and seek out the truth and avoid misrepresentation.
-
Ensure fairness and objectivity in all activities.
-
Set an example, as employees of a leading nonprofit organization, for high standards of professionalism.
-
Honor the right of privacy of all people, including co-workers, contributors, and beneficiaries.
-
Promote public confidence in philanthropic institutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
As an employer, Mid-Plains United Way promotes professional excellence and encourages open and honest communication among all employees to create an atmosphere conducive to personal growth and career development.
Mid-Plains United Way management:
-
Encourages employee development, and communicates with personnel to help them achieve their goals and increase their self-esteem through job enrichment.
-
Evaluates employees on a fair and consistent basis, so that all employees know what is expected of them and how they are progressing towards fulfilling expectations. Executive Board responsibilities done annually by June 30.
-
Shows respect and empathy for employees, and is considerate while being mindful of managerial responsibilities.
-
Regularly solicits and respects the opinions of subordinates.
Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Strive to meet performance standards of the highest level.
-
Refuse to engage in or tolerate any fraud, misuse, abuse or waste of Mid-Plains United Way resources.
-
Encourage growth and self improvement in themselves and their coworkers.
-
Exhibit respect for co-workers and all those they come in contact with.
-
Examine all alternatives with the understanding that the easiest action is not always in the best interest of the organization.
-
Comply with all other laws and regulations affecting the organization and their personal obligations.
-
Discuss any questions concerning interpretations or compliance with the Code of Ethic with the Board of Trustees.
-
Encourage the reporting of breaches of the Code and protect those who
report.
-
Refrain from any activities that negatively impact the Mid-Plains United Way Mission.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY
Mid-Plains United Way has responsibilities to its customers which include donors, participating agencies, users of services, volunteers, and the entire community. These customers have placed faith in Mid-Plains United Way.
To uphold this trust, Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Make full and fair disclosure of all relevant information to customers, who have a right to know how their dollars are spent.
-
Use customer resources wisely, efficiently and objectively.
-
Are good stewards of all contributions and grants that are utilized by Mid-Plains United Way to pay operating expenses, salaries and employee benefits; and refrain from allowing expenditures of Mid-Plains United Way funds that by nature or amount do not directly advance Mid-Plains United Ways mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES TO VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers who serve Mid-Plains United Way through its Board of Trustees or otherwise are crucial to the success of Mid-Plains United Way. In order to assist volunteers to serve effectively and to obtain satisfaction from their service, all Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Support volunteers so they can perform to the highest level of their contribution and personal satisfaction.
-
Treat all volunteers with fairness, equity and respect, providing appropriate mechanisms for their views and interests to be expressed.
-
Involve volunteers at appropriate levels of the decision-making process.
-
Assist in the development and the understanding of the roles of volunteers and employees, respectively: set clear standards for volunteers: and appropriately recognize their contributions.
Provide benefits and perquisites to volunteer which are consistent with the spirit of voluntarism.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers also represent Mid-Plains United Way and set examples through their ethical conduct and professionalism. Volunteers:
-
Review the Code of Ethics of Mid-Plains United Way and ensure that they adhere to the spirit of the Code when making policy or otherwise managing the affairs of the organization.
-
Do not knowingly take any action or make any statement to influence the conduct of Mid-Plains United Way in such a way as to confer any financial benefit on such volunteer, their immediate family, or any corporation in which they or their family members have significant interest as stockholders, directors or officers.
If in any event that there comes before the Board of Trustees a matter for a consideration or decision that raises a potential conflict of interest for any member of the Board, the member shall disclose the potential conflict of interest as soon as he or she becomes aware of it, and shall withdraw from discussion, review, and voting in connection with the matter. The disclosure and withdrawal shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting; and annual disclosures of potential conflicts shall be filed with the board by each member.
VENDOR RELATIONS
Vendors are treated fairly to avoid favoritism or appearances of impropriety.
United Way:
-
Affords all vendors the opportunity to offer or qualify their products or services on a competitive basis.
-
Conducts all competitive bidding in a fair and professional manner, giving no special preferences or advantages to any vendor.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Mid-Plains United Way is an equal opportunity employer.
Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Respect all co-workers and all other individuals without regard to gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
.
-
Support equal employment opportunity programs throughout Mid-Plains United Way.
-
Refuse to engage in, or tolerate in others, any form of sexual harassment.
-
Strive to create an environment conducive to professionalism.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
To avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest which would tarnish the image of the organization and undermine the public’s trust in Mid-Plains United Way, Mid-Plains United Way employees:
-
Avoid any activity or outside interest which conflicts or appears to conflict with the best interest of United Way, including involvement with a current or potential United Way vendor, grantee, or competing organization, unless disclosed to and approved by the employee’s supervisor.
-
Refrain from participating in or influencing any decision or other action of Mid-Plains United Way that could result in a direct or indirect benefit to his or her family or organization with which the employee is substantially affiliated
PERSONAL GAIN
No employee should accept any gratuity for doing their job. Employees:
-
Do not solicit or accept gratuities, gifts or favors other than promotional gifts of nominal value for themselves or their families.
-
Do not accept food transportation, lodging, or entertainment unless directly related to United Way business.
-
Do not use United Way resources for personal gain.
TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED EXPENSES
Travel, entertainment and related expenses are incurred on a basis consistent with the mission of Mid-Plains United Way. Accordingly, expenses incurred will comply with policies adopted by the Mid-Plains United Way Board of Trustees.
OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Employees ensure that outside employment and other activities do not interfere with their responsibilities within the Mid-Plains United Way and do not adversely affect Mid-Plains United Way. Employees are encouraged to inform the Board of any significant outside activities. Employees do not use Mid-Plains United Way resources to facilitate any outside employment or other activity.
FAVORITISM
Favoritism based on family or close personal relationships is unfair to employees. The appearance of favoritism is easily perceived, even in some cases of friendship that otherwise are harmless. Accordingly:
• Persons related to Mid-Plains United Way employees by blood or marriage are not employed except under special circumstances that are clearly in the best interest of Mid-Plains United Way and disclosed immediately to the Mid-Plains United Way Board of Trustees.
Mid-Plains United Way employees do not supervise or exercise management authority over staff with whom they have a relationship that adversely affects impartiality.
• Mid-Plains United Way employees consider the nature and appearance of their relationships with other employees to ensure that their decisions and actions are fair to all staff.
• Mid-Plains United Way employees with decision-making authority do not improperly influence the selection of service providers who are affiliated with, or employ or employed by a person with whom they havea relationship that adversely affects impartiality.
SOLICITATIONS
Mid-Plains United Way employees are never required to contribute or respond to a solicitation, Mid-Plains United Way or otherwise, for fear that their response will be a factor in their career standing or development.
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Confidentiality is: hallmark of professionalism. Mid-Plains United Way employees, volunteers and representatives:
• Ensure that all information which is confidential or privileged or which is not publicly available is not disclosed inappropriately.
• Ensure that all non-public information of other persons or firms acquired by Mid-Plains United Way personnel in dealing with outside firms on behalf of Mid-Plains United Way is treated as confidential and not disclosed.
DISCLOSURE (Whistle Blower)
Mid-Plains United Way employees, volunteers and representatives are encouraged to disclose any perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics of which they are aware. Disclosure should be made to the Board of Trustees. Any reported breaches will be investigated and appropriate action, if needed, will be taken. Confidentiality will be maintained for the employee disclosing the breach, unless the matter raises serious legal implications. In such instances, the employee disclosing the breach will be notified. Mid-Plains United Way management will not take any adverse action against employees solely for disclosing perceived breaches of the Code. Mid-Plains United Way encourages all employees to be prompt, open, and forthright in reporting perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics.
Policy first approved on November 16, 2006
Revised June 26, 2008