Camp Ramah in Wisconsin Conflict of Interest Policy

Camp ramah in wisconsin
conflict of interest policy

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Conflict of Interest Policy (“Policy”) is to ensure that the activities and decisions of the Board of Directors, Va’ad Members and Year-Round staff (“Team”) of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin (“Camp”) are conducted in a manner that promotes transparency, accountability, and the best interests of the Camp. The Policy is designed to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure that members of the Team avoid situations that could impair their impartiality or objectivity in decision-making. This policy provides guidelines for identifying conflicts, disclosing conflicts and procedures to be followed to assist Camp manage conflicts of interest and situations that may result in the appearance of a conflict.

2. Definition of Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest arises when a Team member has a personal, financial, or familial interest that could interfere, or appear to interfere, with their ability to act in the best interests of the Camp. A conflict of interest may exist when a Team member, or their immediate family, stands to gain or lose financially, or experiences a significant personal benefit, as a result of their involvement with the Camp. Situations or transactions arising out of a conflict of interest can result in either inappropriate financial gain or the appearance of a lack of integrity in the Camp’s decision-making process.

Avoiding the appearance of impropriety is, often, as valuable as avoiding actual impropriety. Either circumstance can be damaging to Camp, yield distraction, incur expenses, undermine confidence in Camp, its actions, and its process. As such, both are to be avoided.

Example #1: A person in a position of authority at Camp (or a family member, business, or person with whom they are closely associated) may benefit financially from a transaction between Camp and the board/staff member.

Example #2: A conflict of interest could be a direct or indirect financial interest such as those described above, or a personal interest such as the situation where a board member of Camp is also a board member of another nonprofit or for-profit entity in the community with which the Camp collaborates or conducts business.

Example #3: Accepting gifts, entertainment, or other things of value from individuals or entities can create a conflict interest when the party providing the gift does so under circumstances where it might be reasonably inferred that the gift was intended to influence the recipient in the performance of his or her duties. This does not preclude the acceptance of items of nominal value which are not related to any particular transaction or activity of Camp or the exchange of gifts based upon personal relationships.

3. Disclosure of Potential Conflicts

Every Team member must timely disclose any potential or actual conflict of interest to the Board of Directors. This includes, but is not limited to, situations where a Team member or a family member:

Stands to receive substantial financial benefit from the Camp.

Stands to be or is involved in a business or financial arrangement with the Camp, including vendors, service providers, or other third parties. This obligation extends to first degree family members).

Has a familial relationship with a current or prospective employee of the Camp.

4. Family Members on the Professional Team

Board and Va’ad members must not have first-degree family members (e.g., parents, siblings, children, spouses, or domestic partners) serving in a professional capacity on the Camp’s year-round professional team. This is to ensure that decisions involving compensation, evaluation, or other employment-related matters are made impartially and without the appearance of favoritism or bias.

5. Financial Benefit from Camp

A Team member who directly benefits, financially or otherwise, from Camp Ramah in Wisconsin, whether through contracts, services, or other arrangements, must disclose the nature and extent of that benefit. This excludes year-round Team member salaries, tuition scholarships, awards or similar benefits. Such financial relationships must be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the Board and receive prior approval before proceeding. In addition, the Team member with a financial interest must not participate in and be recused from discussions and votes regarding matters where they may directly benefit.

6. Board Review, Consideration, and Waiver

Generally, conflicts of interest with Camp are to be avoided as a matter of policy. However, there are unquestionably conflicts of interest which may be appropriately waived. For each interest disclosed, the Executive Committee will determine whether the organization should: (a) take no action or (b) disclose the situation more broadly and invite discussion/resolution by the full board of what action to take, or (c) refrain from taking action and otherwise avoid the conflict. In most cases, the broadest disclosure possible is advisable so that decision-makers can make fully informed decisions that are in the best interests of the organization.

For the Waiver of a conflicts of interest to be effective, it requires full, timely, and complete disclosure of the conflict of interest in accordance with this policy and ratification based upon a majority vote of the Board of Directors.

All such decisions should be appropriately documented within the minutes of the Board.
It shall be the obligation of Camp’s Director and President, or their designee, to monitor proposed or ongoing transactions of the organization (e.g., contracts with vendors and collaborations with third parties) for conflicts of interest and disclose them to the Board and staff, as appropriate.

7. Confidentiality

Camp Director, President of the Board, board members, and senior staff shall exercise care not to disclose confidential information acquired in connection with disclosures of conflicts of interest or potential conflicts. Furthermore, Camp Director, President of the Board, board members, and senior staff shall not disclose or use information relating to the business of Camp Ramah in Wisconsin or the Ramah Day Camp for their personal profit or advantage or the personal profit or advantage of their Family Member(s).

8. Annual Disclosure

Each Team member must sign a Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form annually, which will disclose any potential or actual conflicts of interest, and affirm their understanding and compliance with this Policy. This disclosure must be updated promptly whenever new conflicts arise or existing conflicts change.

9. Enforcement

Failure to comply with this Conflict of Interest Policy can result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from the Team. The Board reserves the right to take appropriate action to resolve conflicts of interest in a manner consistent with the best interests of the Camp.

10. Acknowledgment

All Team members must acknowledge, in writing, that they have received, read, and understand this Policy and agree to abide by its provisions.

Disclosure

In the box below, list any potential or actual Conflicts of Interest or perceived Conflicts of Interest, as described above, including other relevant lay or professional positions you hold at organizations relevant to the work of Camp. If you have any questions about what might constitute a Conflict, please email Jacob Cytryn, jcytryn@ramahwisconsin.com.

By signing below, I acknowledge that I have read and understood Camp Ramah in Wisconsin’s Conflict of Interest Policy and agree to comply with the terms outlined herein.(Required)

Printed Name(Required)

First Last

Date(Required)

This policy is designed to help ensure that the Board of Directors, Va’ad and Professional Teams operate with integrity, transparency, and in the best interest of the Camp.

Camp ramah in wisconsinconflict of interest policy