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Conflict of Interest Policy

Article I: Purpose

The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect the interest of Support The Helmet when it contemplates entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of Support the Helmet or result in a possible excess benefit transaction. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.

 

Article II: Definitions

  1. Interested Person

    2. Any director, principal officer, or committee member with governing board delegated powers who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.


  2. Financial Interest

    3. A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:

        a. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which Support The Helmet has a transaction or arrangement,
        b. A compensation arrangement with Support The Helmet or any entity or individual with which Support The Helmet has a transaction or arrangement or
        c. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which Support The Helmet contemplates entering into a transaction or arrangement.

     

    Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration and gifts or favors that are not insubstantial.

     

    A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person with a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee supports the Helmet Board and determines that a conflict of interest exists.

Article III: Procedures

  1. Duty to Disclose

    2. In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be allowed to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers that are considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.


  2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists

    3. After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the governing board or committee meeting. In contrast, determining a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.


  3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest

    4. a. An interested person may present at the governing board or committee meeting, but after the presentation, he/she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement involving the possible conflict of interest.

    b. The chairperson of the governing board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.

    c. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether Support The Helmet can obtain with reasonable efforts a more advantageous transaction or arrangement from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest.

    d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under the circumstances not producing a conflict of interest, the governing board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors whether the transaction or arrangement is in the best interest of Support The Helmet for its benefit and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall decide whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.


  4. Violations of the Conflict of Interest Policy

    5. If the governing board or committee has reasonable cause to believe a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and allow the member to explain the alleged failure to disclose.

     

    If, after hearing the member’s response and after making further investigation as warranted by the circumstances, the governing board or committee determines the member has failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.

Article IV: Records of Proceedings

    The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board-delegated powers shall contain the following:

  1. The names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the governing board’s or committee’s decision as to whether a conflict of interest existed.


  2. The names of the persons present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.

Article V: Compensation

  1. A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation directly or indirectly, from Support The Helmet for services is precluded from voting on matters about that member’s compensation.


  2. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from Support The Helmet for services is precluded from voting on the issues about that member’s compensation.


  3. Each voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from Support The Helmet, individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.

Article VI: Annual Statements

    Each director, principal officer, and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement that affirms such person:

  1. Has received a copy of the conflict of interest policy,
  2. Has read and understands the policy,
  3. Has agreed to comply with the policy
  4. Understands that Support The Helmet is is charitable, and to maintain its federal tax exemption, it must engage primarily in activities that accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.

Article VII: Periodic Reviews

    To ensure that Support The Helmet operates consistently with charitable purposes and does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its tax-exempt status, periodic reviews shall be conducted. The periodic reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:

  1. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information and the result of arm’s length bargaining.


  2. Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management  organizations conform to Support the Helmet written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable investment or payments for goods and services, further charitable purposes, and do not result in inurement, impermissible private benefit or an excess benefit transaction.

Article VIII: Use of Outside Experts

As Article VII provides, Support the Helmet may, but need not, use outside advisors when conducting periodic reviews. If outside experts are used, their use shall not relieve the governing board of its responsibility for ensuring periodic reviews are conducted.

 Modified June 13, 2024