Conflict of Interest

It’s A Family Affair is committed to maintaining a fair, impartial, and transparent scholarship selection process.

Scholarship Board members must disclose any actual or potential conflict of interest involving a scholarship applicant before reviewing, scoring, discussing, or voting on that applicant.

What May Be a Conflict of Interest?

A conflict may exist when a Scholarship Board member:

• Is related to the applicant.
• Has a close personal relationship with the applicant or the applicant’s family.
• Has a financial or business relationship with the applicant or their family.
• Has a relationship that could reasonably affect their ability to evaluate the applicant fairly.
• Believes another circumstance could create the appearance of favoritism or bias.

Disclosure Requirement

If a potential conflict exists, the board member should disclose it to the Scholarship Board Chair and complete the Conflict-of-Interest/Recusal Form.

Disclosing a potential conflict does not mean that a board member has done anything wrong. Disclosure helps protect the fairness and integrity of the scholarship process.

Recusal

When recusal is required, the board member should not:

• Review the applicant’s application.
• Score the applicant.
• Participate in deliberations concerning that applicant.
• Attempt to influence other reviewers.
• Vote on the applicant’s selection.

The recusal should be documented as part of the scholarship selection records.

Confidentiality

Information disclosed regarding a conflict of interest should be handled appropriately and shared only with individuals who need the information to administer the scholarship selection process.

Board Member Responsibility

Each Scholarship Board member is responsible for identifying and disclosing potential conflicts before participating in the review of an applicant.

When there is uncertainty about whether a conflict exists, the board member should disclose the relationship or circumstance before proceeding with the review.