The Institute for International Health and Education Inc. (IIHE) EIN: 8.....81
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The Institute for International Health and Education Inc. (IIHE)
It is important for the Institute for International Health and Education Inc. (IIHE) directors, officers, and staff to be aware that both real and apparent conflicts of interest or dualities of interest sometimes occur in the course of conducting the affairs of the IIHE and that the appearance of conflict can be troublesome even if there is, in fact, no conflict whatsoever. Conflicts occur because the many persons associated with the IIHE should be expected to have, and do in fact generally have multiple interests and affiliations and various positions of responsibility within the community. In these situations, a person will sometimes owe identical duties of loyalty to two or more corporations. The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect the IIHE’s tax-exempt interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the IIHE or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction. The policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable state and federal laws governing conflict of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Conflicts are undesirable because they potentially or eventually place the interests of others ahead of the IIHE’s obligations to its charitable purposes and to terthe public interest. Conflicts are also undesirable because they often reflect adversely upon the person involved and upon the institutions with which they are affiliated, regardless of the actual facts or motivations of the parties. However, the long-range best interests of the IIHE do not require the termination of all association with persons who may have real or apparent conflicts that are harmless to all individuals or entities involved.
Each member of the board of directors and the staff of the IIHE has a duty of loyalty to the IIHE. The duty of loyalty generally requires a director or staff member to prefer the interests of the IIHE over the director’s/staff’s interest or the interests of others. In addition, directors and staff of the IIHE shall avoid acts of self-dealing which may adversely affect the tax-exempt status of the IIHE or cause there to arise any sanction or penalty by a governmental authority.
In connection with any actual or possible conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.
2.1 Interested Person
Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with governing board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
2.2 Financial Interest
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 the IIHE has a transaction or arrangement,
(b) A compensation arrangement with a corporation or with any entity or individual with which the IIHE has a transaction or arrangement, or
(c) A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the IIHE is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.
Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are not insubstantial. A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate governing board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.
3.1 Duty to Disclose
In connection with any actual conflict of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence of the financial interest and be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with governing board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement
3.2 Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists
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 while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.
3.3 Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
(a) An interested person may make a presentation 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 the IIHE 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 IIHE's best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable. In conformity with the above determination, it shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
3.4 Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
(a) 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 afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.
(b) 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 conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.
4.1 Minutes
The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:
(a) 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 in fact existed.
(b) The names of the persons who were 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.
5.1 A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the IIHE for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
5.2 A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the IIHE for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member's compensation.
5.3 No voting member of the governing board or any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the IIHE, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.
Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with governing board delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms such person:
(a) Has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
(b) Has read and understands the policy,
(c) Has agreed to comply with the policy, and
(e) Understands that the IIHE is charitable and in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.
To ensure the IIHE operates in a manner consistent 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:
(a) Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable, based on competent survey information and the result of arm's length bargaining.
(b) Whether partnerships, joint ventures, and arrangements with management corporations conform to the IIHE's 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 in an excess benefit transaction.
I do hereby certify that the above-stated Conflict of Interest Policy and Agreement for the Institute for International Health and Education Inc. (IIHE) were approved and adopted by the board of directors on the day, February 21, 2019 and constitute a complete copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy of the IIHE.
David Carpenter MD; The Chair of the IIHE