Does your favorite charity have a written conflict of interest policy?
IRS Form 990 asks charities whether they have such a policy. While having one isn’t required by the Internal Revenue Code, the Form 990 question is a pretty strong suggestion that a charity have such a policy in place. We agree wholeheartedly with the suggestion.
The IRS has gone so far as to include a sample policy in Appendix A to Form 1023 (application for tax exemption). IRS Sample Conflicts Policy
We’ve also attached a sample policy we created — feel free to use it, subject to the caveats included at the top. SGG sample Conflicts of Interest Policy
Read the IRS website comment on conflict of interest policies.