In connection with their work for or on behalf of the Maryland Museums Association (hereafter referred to as MMA) all members of the Board of Directors are responsible for furthering the interests of MMA as opposed to furthering their own personal interests or the interests of a related third party. At all times, Board and staff members are prohibited from using their job titles or the organization’s name or property for private profit or benefit.

It is the policy of MMA to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in the administration of the organization. Therefore, all members of the Board of Directors, staff, and board committee members of MMA should promptly disclose any and all actual, perceived, or potential conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest is defined as an actual or perceived interest by a member of the MMA Board of Directors or staff member in an action that results in, or has the appearance of resulting in, personal, organizational, or professional gain.

Board and staff members are obligated to always act in the best interest of the organization. This obligation requires that any Board or staff member, in the performance of organization duties, seek only the furtherance of the organization mission.

A. Board and staff members should neither solicit nor accept gratuities, favors, or anything of monetary value from contractors/vendors. This is not intended to preclude bona-fide organization fundraising activities.

B. No Board or staff members shall participate in the selection, award, or administration of a purchase or
contract with a vendor where, to his or her knowledge, any of the following has a financial interest in that
purchase or contract:
-- 1. A Board or staff member;
-- 2. Any member of their immediate family;
-- 3. Their partner;
-- 4. An organization in which any of the above is an officer, director or employee;
-- 5. A person or organization with whom any of the above individuals is negotiating or has an arrangement concerning prospective employment.

C. Disclosure. Any possible conflict of interest shall be disclosed by the person or persons concerned.

D. Board Action. When a conflict of interest is relevant to a matter requiring action by the Board, the interested person(s) shall call it to the attention of the Board and said person(s) shall not vote on the matter. In addition, the person(s) shall not participate in the final decision or related deliberation regarding the matter under consideration. When there is a doubt as to whether a conflict exists, the matters shall be resolved by vote of the Board of Directors, excluding the person(s) concerning whose situation the doubt has arisen.

E. Record of Conflict. The official minutes of the Board shall reflect that the conflict of interest was disclosed and the interested person(s) did not participate in the final discussion or vote and did not vote on the matter.

F. This policy will be sent to each covered person annually. Each covered person shall be required to (a) affirm the that they have read the policy and (b) disclose any conflicts and potential conflicts or report that no conflicts exist.

I have received and carefully read the Conflict of Interest Policy for members of the Board of Directors of MMA. By signing this affirmation of compliance, I hereby affirm that I understand and agree to comply with this Conflict of Interest Policy.

I understand that MMA exists to serve its charitable purposes, and in order to maintain its 501c3 tax exempt status, MMA must primarily manage its activities to further its charitable purposes.

Except as otherwise indicated below, I hereby state that I do not, to the best of my knowledge, have any interest, matter, or intent that gets in the way of and/or competes with the interests, matters, or intents of MMA nor does any relative or business associate or related entity have such an actual, perceived or potential conflict of interest.

If any situation should arise in the future which I think may involve me in a conflict of interest, I will promptly and fully disclose the circumstances to the Chair of the Board of Directors of MMA.

In the event a potential conflict arises during a meeting of the Board of Directors of MMA or board committee meeting, I shall give full and frank disclosure of the situation.  The body in which such disclosure is made shall thereupon determine, by majority vote, if a conflict or potential conflict exists.  Should one exist, I may not participate in that body’s deliberations and decision-making pertaining to the conflict.