Policy on Conflicts of Interest and Disclosure of Certain Interests

This conflict of interest policy is designed to help trustees, officers, and employees of Minnesota Public Radio (“MPR”) identify situations that present potential conflicts of interest and to provide MPR with a procedure which, if observed, will allow a transaction to be treated as valid and binding even though a trustee or officer has or may have a conflict of interest with respect to the transaction. The policy is intended to comply with the procedure prescribed in Minnesota Statutes, Section 317A.255, governing conflicts of interest for directors of nonprofit corporations and with Section 4.9 of MPR’s Bylaws. In the event there is an inconsistency between the requirements and procedures prescribed herein and those in section 317A.255, the statute shall control, except as it may be limited by Section 4.9 of the Bylaws. All capitalized terms, other than MPR and Board of Trustees of MPR, are defined in paragraph 2 of this policy.

  1. Conflict of Interest Defined. For purposes of this policy, the following circumstances shall be deemed to create Conflicts of Interest:
    1. Direct Interests. A Contract or Transaction between MPR and a Responsible Person or Family Member.
    2. Indirect Interests. A Contract or Transaction between MPR and an entity other than a governmental unit in which a Responsible Person or Family Member has a Material Financial Interest or of which such person is a compensated or uncompensated director, officer, partner, associate, trustee, personal representative, receiver, guardian, custodian, conservator or other legal representative; provided however, that this provision shall not apply to a contract or transaction between MPR and any of its related organizations (within the meaning of Minnesota Statutes, § 317A.011, subd. 18) where there would be no conflict of interest present but for the fact that a trustee or officer of MPR is also a trustee, director or officer of such related organization.
    3. Gifts and Entertainment. A Responsible Person accepting gifts, entertainment or other favors from any individual or entity that:
      1. does or is seeking to do business with MPR; or
      2. has received, is receiving or is seeking to receive a grant or to secure other financial commitments from MPR;

    under circumstances where it might be inferred that such action was intended to influence or possibly would influence the Responsible Person in the performance of his or her duties. Any such gift or entertainment shall be deemed to create a Material Financial Interest with respect to each Responsible Person involved. This does not preclude the acceptance of items of nominal or insignificant value or entertainment of nominal or insignificant value which are not related to any particular transaction or activity of MPR.

  2. Definitions.
    1. A “Conflict of Interest” is any circumstance described in Part 1 of this Policy.
    2. A “Responsible Person” is any person serving as an officer, employee, or member of the Board of Trustees of MPR, or as an officer or member of the governing board of American Public Media Group, Greenspring Company or any subsidiary of Minnesota Public Radio or Greenspring Company.
    3. A “Family Member” is a spouse, parent, child or spouse of a child, brother, sister, or spouse of a brother or sister, of a Responsible Person.
    4. A “Material Financial Interest” in an entity is a financial interest of any kind, which, in view of all the circumstances, is substantial enough that it would affect a Responsible Person’s judgment with respect to transactions to which the entity is a party. For purposes of this policy, a financial interest with respect to a Contract or Transaction shall constitute a Material Financial Interest if, but only if, an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would reasonably conclude that such interest would affect his or her judgment with respect to the Contract or Transaction. However, and as provided in Minnesota Statutes, § 317A.255, subd. 2(1), a trustee of MPR does not have a material financial interest in a resolution fixing his or her compensation or fixing the compensation of another trustee as a trustee, officer, employee or agent of MPR.
    5. A “Contract or Transaction” is any agreement or relationship involving the sale or purchase of goods, services, or rights of any kind, the providing or receipt of a grant or loan, or the establishment of any other type of pecuniary relationship with MPR.
    6. “Board” is MPR’s Board of Trustees.
  3. Board action. As provided in Section 4.9 of MPR’s Bylaws, a Contract or Transaction involving a Conflict of Interest may be approved by the Board if the material facts as to the Contract or Transaction and the Conflict of Interest are fully disclosed or known to the Board and the Board approves the Contract or Transaction in good faith by the affirmative vote (without counting the interested director) of a majority of the entire Board at a meeting at which there is a quorum present, again without counting the interested director.
  4. Procedures.
    1. Prior to Board action on a Contract or Transaction involving a Conflict of Interest, a trustee who has a Conflict of Interest and who is in attendance at the meeting shall disclose all facts material to the Conflict of Interest. Such disclosure shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting or, at the option of the Secretary, in a separate memorandum that is filed with the original minutes of the meeting.
    2. A trustee who does not plan to attend a meeting at which he or she has reason to believe that the Board will act on a matter in which the person has a Conflict of Interest shall disclose to the Chair of the meeting all facts material to the Conflict of Interest. The Chair shall report the disclosure at the meeting and the disclosure shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting or, at the option of the Secretary, in a separate memorandum that is filed with the original minutes of the meeting. If the trustee having the Conflict of Interest is the Chair, then the required disclosure shall be made to, and the required report to the board shall be made by, the Secretary.
    3. A person who has a Conflict of Interest shall not participate in the Board’s discussion of the matter except to disclose material facts and to respond to questions. Such person shall not attempt to exert his or her personal influence with respect to the matter, either at or outside the meeting.
    4. A person who has a Conflict of Interest with respect to a Contract or Transaction that will be voted on at a meeting shall not be counted in determining the presence of a quorum for purposes of the vote. The person having a Conflict of Interest may not vote on the Contract or Transaction. Such person’s ineligibility to vote shall be reflected in the minutes of the meeting.
    5. Responsible Persons who are not trustees of MPR, or who have a Conflict of Interest with respect to a Contract or Transaction that is not the subject of Board or committee action, shall disclose to the President any Conflict of Interest that such Responsible Person has with respect to such Contract or Transaction. Such disclosure shall be made as soon as the Conflict of Interest is known to the Responsible Person. The Responsible Person shall refrain from any action that may affect MPR’s participation in such Contract or Transaction. The President shall promptly report such Conflict of Interest to the Chair or the Chair’s designee.
    6. If it is not entirely clear whether or not a Conflict of Interest exists, then the individual with the potential conflict shall disclose the circumstances to the Chair or the Chair’s designee, who shall determine whether there exists a Conflict of Interest that is subject to this policy.
  5. Confidentiality. Each Responsible Person shall exercise care not to disclose confidential information acquired in connection with such status or information the disclosure of which might be adverse to the interests of MPR. Furthermore, a Responsible Person shall not disclose or use information relating to the business of MPR for the personal profit or advantage of the Responsible Person or a Family Member.
  6. Review of Policy; Annual Disclosure.
    1. Each new Responsible Person shall be required to review a copy of this policy and to acknowledge in writing that he or she has done so.
    2. Each Responsible Person shall annually complete a disclosure form which shall be submitted to the President. The disclosure form will identify the businesses and nonprofit organizations, including a governmental unit, of which such Responsible Person is a director, officer, employee, or partner, and the business organizations in which such Responsible Person has an ownership interest of 5 percent or more. Any information regarding the business interests of a Responsible Person shall be treated as confidential and shall generally be made available only to the Chair, the President, and any committee appointed to address Conflicts of Interest, except to the extent additional disclosure is necessary in connection with the implementation of this Policy. Until such other committee may be appointed to address Conflicts of Interest, the Finance Committee is hereby appointed to address such conflicts.
    3. This Policy shall be reviewed annually by each Responsible Person. Any changes to the policy shall be communicated immediately to all Responsible Persons.