United Way of Aroostook (UWA) is synonymous with charitable service. The general public associates the United Way name with worthy causes all over the County. Indeed, for many people United Way is the primary way they meet their desire to help their fellow human beings.

UWA has a unique role as the County’s leader of philanthropy to benefit human services. UWA has earned public trust, nurtured by years of ethical, honest, and responsible charitable service. The continued success of UWA depends upon the ethical conduct of its employees and volunteers.

UWA employees and board of directors should set an example for other non-profit organizations by their high standards of performance, professionalism, volunteer and charitable activities, helping of the less fortunate, and ethical conduct.

Thus this code of ethics was developed to guide the conduct of all employees and board members of UWA.

PERSONAL INTEGRITY

A personal commitment to integrity in all circumstances benefits each individual as well as the organization. Each UWA employee and board member should:

• Respect and seek out the truth and avoid misrepresentation

• Ensure fairness and objectivity in all activities

• Set an example, as an employee or board member of a leading non-profit organization, for high standards of professionalism.

• Honor the right of privacy of all people, including co-workers, contributors, and beneficiaries.

• Promote public confidence in philanthropic institutions.
   

PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

As an employer, UWA promotes professional excellence and encourages open and honest communication among all employees to create an atmosphere conducive to personal growth and career development.

It is management’s responsibility to:

• Encourage employee development. Communicate with personnel to help them achieve their goals and increase their self-esteem through job enrichment.

• Evaluate employees on a fair and consistent basis. All employees should know what is expected of them and how they are progressing toward fulfilling expectations.

• Show respect and empathy for employees. Be considerate while being mindful of managerial responsibilities.

• Solicit and respect the opinions of subordinates.

All UWA employees, at every level, have the responsibility to:

• Strive to meet performance standards at the highest level.

• Refuse to engage in or tolerate any fraud, misuse, abuse or waste of UWA resources.

• Encourage growth and self- improvement in themselves and their co-workers.

• Exhibit respect for co-workers and all those they come in contact with.

• Have the courage to face situations squarely and offer a minority opinion when necessary.

• Examine all alternatives with the understanding that the easiest action is not always in the best interest of the organization.

• Comply with all legal requirements concerning substance abuse.

• Comply with all other laws and regulations affecting the organization and their personal obligations.

Discuss any questions concerning interpretations or compliance with the code of ethics with the Executive Director or Board President.
Encourage the reporting of violations and protect those who report.

 

ACCOUNTABILITY TO DONORS

UWA has responsibilities to its donors. Donors have placed faith in UWA. To uphold this trust, UWA employees:

• Make full and fair disclosure of all information relevant to donors, who have a right to know how their dollars are spent.

• Spend the donors’ money wisely, efficiently and objectively.

• Always observe the wishes of the donors as to allocation of their specific donation.

• Are good stewards of contributions that are utilized by UWA to pay operating expenses, salaries and employee benefits, and refrain from allowing expenditures of UWA funds that by their nature or amount do not directly advance the mission of the UWA.
   

RESPONSIBILITIES TO VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers who serve the UWA through its Board of Directors or otherwise are crucial to the success of the UWA. In order to assist volunteers to serve effectively and to obtain satisfaction from their service, UWA employees:

• Support volunteers so they can perform to the highest level of their contribution and personal satisfaction.

• Treat all volunteers with fairness, equity and respect, providing appropriate mechanisms for their views and interests to be expressed.

• Involve volunteers at appropriate levels and phases of the decision-making process.

• Assist in the development and the understanding of the roles of volunteers and employees, respectively; set clear standards of performance for volunteers, and appropriately recognize their contributions.

• Provide benefits and perquisites to volunteers which are consistent with the spirit of voluntarism.
   

RESPONSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTEERS

Volunteers also represent UWA and should set examples through their ethical conduct and professionalism.

Volunteers will review the code of ethics of the UW of Aroostook and ensure that they adhere to the spirit of the code when making policy or otherwise managing the affairs of the organization.

A volunteer does not knowingly take any action or make any statement intended to influence the conduct of UWA in such a way as to confer any financial benefit on such volunteer, a member of his or her immediate family, or any organization in which he or she or such member has a significant interest as stockholder, director, or officer.

In the event that there comes before the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee a matter for consideration or decision that raises a potential conflict of interest for any member of the board, the member shall disclose the potential conflict of interest as soon as he or she becomes aware of it, and shall withdraw from the room during discussion, review and vote in connection with the matter. The disclosure and withdrawal shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting, and annual disclosure of potential conflicts shall be filed with the board by each member.

 

VENDOR RELATIONS

Vendors must be treated fairly to avoid favoritism or appearances of impropriety. United Way of Aroostook:

• Affords all vendors the opportunity to offer or qualify their products or services on a competitive basis.

• Conducts all competitive bidding in a fair and professional manner, giving no special preferences or advantages to any vendor.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

UWA is an equal opportunity employer. Every employee:

• Respects all co-workers and all other individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled or handicapped individual.

• Supports affirmative action and equal employment opportunity programs throughout UWA.

• Refuses to engage in or tolerate in others any form of sexual harassment, as provided in the organization’s policy against sexual harassment.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

To avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest which would tarnish the image of the organization and undermine the public’s trust in UWA, employees:

• Avoid any activity or outside interest which conflicts or appears to conflict with the best interest of UWA. Any involvement with a current or potential UWA vendor, grantee, or competing organization may violate this code and should be cleared with the Executive Director or President of the Board of Directors.

• Refrain from participating in or influencing any decision or other action of UWA that could result in a direct or indirect benefit to his or her family or any organization with which the employee is substantially affiliated.

PERSONAL GAIN

No employee or board member should accept any gratuity or favor for doing his or her job. Accordingly, they should not:

• Solicit or accept gratuities, gifts or favors, other than promotional gifts of nominal value, for themselves or their families.

• Accept food, transportation, or entertainment unless directly related to UWA business.

• Use UWA resources for personal gain.

TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED EXPENSES

Travel, entertainment and related expenses should be incurred on a basis consistent with the mission of UWA. Accordingly, expenses incurred should comply with policies adopted by the UWA Board of Directors.

 

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Employees ensure that outside employment and other activities do not interfere with their responsibilities within UWA and should not adversely affect UWA. An employee is encouraged to inform the Executive Director or President of the Board of any significant outside activities. An employee does not use UWA resources to facilitate any outside employment or other activity.

 

NEPOTISM

Favoritism to relatives is unfair to other employees, and the appearance of favoritism is easily perceived. Accordingly, each UWA employee should:

• Understand that persons related to UWA employees by blood or marriage are not employed except under special circumstances that are clearly in the best interest of UWA and approved by the UWA Board of Directors.

• UWA employees never have supervisory or management authority over relatives.

• UWA employees with decision-making authority avoid selecting a consultant or service provider who is a relative or personal friend or who employ or is affiliated with a relative or personal friend.

SOLICITATIONS

UWA employees are not subjected to outside solicitation. Further, employees are free from unwarranted interruptions in the form of solicitations from other employees, in order to concentrate on work. An employee:

• Does not solicit or distribute literature for purposes inconsistent with the UWA mission on UWA premises.

• Does not use UWA working time for non-UWA purposes.

• Is never required to contribute or respond to a solicitation or fear that his or her response will be a factor in the employee’s career standing.

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION

Confidentiality is a hallmark of professionalism. Each UWA employee and board member:

• Ensures that all information which is confidential or privileged or which is not publicly available is not disclosed inappropriately.

• Ensures that all non-public information of other persons or firms acquired by UWA personnel or board members in dealing with outside firms on behalf of UWA is treated as confidential and not disclosed.

Adopted 10/94
United Way of Aroostook

Mission Statement

The United Way of Aroostook’s primary mission is to improve the quality of life of Aroostook County residents by collecting and distributing County resources to various agencies that respond to the County’s health and human services needs.


Adopted 10/94
United Way of Aroostook Mission: To improve the quality of life of Aroostook County residents.