Conflict of Interest Policy

Article I — Purpose

The purpose of the conflict of interest policy is to protect the American Academy of Religion, Inc. (“Academy”) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of the Academy or might result in a possible excess benefit transaction.

Article II — Definitions

1. Interested Person
   Any director, officer, or member of a committee with board delegated powers, who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.
    
2. Financial Interest
   A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:
   1. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the Academy has a transaction or arrangement,
   2. A compensation arrangement with the Academy or with any entity or individual with which the Academy has a transaction or arrangement, or
   3. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Academy 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.

Article III — Procedures

1. Duty to Disclose
   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. 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. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
   3. After exercising due diligence, the governing board or committee shall determine whether the Academy 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.
   4. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably possible under 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 Academy’s best interest, for its own benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable, then make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement.
4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy
   1. 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.
   2. 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 or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action.

Article IV — Records of Proceedings

The minutes of the governing board and all committees with board delegated powers shall contain:

1. 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.
2. The names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, whether or not any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement were considered, and a record of any votes taken in connection with the proceedings.

Article V — Compensation

1. A voting member of the governing board who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Academy for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
2. A voting member of any committee whose jurisdiction includes compensation matters and who receives compensation, directly or indirectly, from the Academy for services is precluded from voting on matters pertaining to that member’s compensation.
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 Academy, either individually or collectively, is prohibited from providing information to any committee regarding compensation.

Article VI — Annual Statements

Each director, officer, and member of a committee with board-delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms that they:

1. Have received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,
2. Have read and understand the policy, and
3. Have agreed to comply with the policy.

(Board resolution, November 2010)