Code of Conduct
Board conduct must protect mission, fiduciary duty, independent judgment, records, confidentiality, lawful transparency, and the people affected by Foundation decisions. This webpage is an informative summary; the Charter and any formally adopted policy control.
Standards of conduct
- Prepare for meetings and review materials in advance.
- Speak directly and document decisions carefully.
- Keep the mission above personal preference.
- Treat confidential matters as confidential.
- Avoid performative governance and empty symbolism.
- Respect disagreement without collapsing into faction or personalization.
Board culture
The Foundation should expect board members to be:
- clear about limits
- disciplined with time
- willing to ask hard questions
- willing to recuse when needed
- serious about the public trust attached to the role
Expectations in practice
Good board service should look like:
- reading materials before meetings
- contributing substantive comments
- following through on assigned actions
- helping the institution improve rather than merely appear active