Help please! Legal/moral conflict of interest or not?

[veavea]

Hello all,

I am a trustee on the board of a charity where I have already stated my desire to stand down (months ago) but the Director is very dependent on me so I'm still hanging on. I now want to start my own organisation, not to step on her toes but just because it's what I want to do. I've gained a lot of knowledge and experience while working with this charity and I'm worried that I'll be in a conflict of interests situation if I stay on as trustee while running my own (roughly comparable) organisation, or will seem disloyal if I leave to do my own thing.

I feel like I'm answering my own question here... as I write it down it seems impossible I can stay on as a trustee! Anyway I asked the Yi if I was in a legal or moral conflict of interests and got 42.1 > 20.

Seems like I got a green light. But still I worry about seeming disloyal or even duplicitous...

 

[moss elk]

It is a charity, not a for-profit business, right?

So, How can there be a conflict of interest? ("I am the greatest helper!" "No, I am the greatest helper!')

I wonder if you may value others opinions of you too much.

I think the reading is encouraging you to go for it.

 

[veavea]

Hello, thanks for your reply. Yes, it's an educational non-profit. However, there is money involved such as applying for grants, needing to pay staff, bidding for contracts to provide services to certain sections of the community. I don't know how these systems work in other parts of the world, but in the UK charity trustees are unpaid and have a legal obligation to act in the interests of the charity they represent. If I set up my own (not dissimilar) thing, my loyalties will naturally shift and there's a possibility we might even end up competing for the same service contracts (although I will try to avoid that!!). In principle I'd still be happy to support the first charity and try not to step on anyone's toes.

I suppose I don't want to get a reputation as a shyster as I don't think that will help my charitable reputation! But you may be right, I probably am over-valuing others' opinions...

 

[equinox]

I also think you can do it. You couldn't have received a better line in this context.

 

[veavea]

Thanks... I think you’re right about the line. I’m just mildly terrified about taking the leap and looking for reasons not to...!! Things I might not have considered, pitfalls and obstacles. But I think I have to go forth...!!!

 

[rosada]

Increase - View.
Maybe you are being instructed to make your plans more visible. Certainly if you launch your own similar project without giving your current people a heads up it might cause some talk. Besides, your going to have to tell them eventually. Plus if you tell the Director your plans it might speed up their getting organized so your transition will be a smooth one.

 

[veavea]

Sensible indeed - I have actually now talked over my plans (broadly) and have announced that I will be stepping down although I remain committed to the broader vision... and will be focussing on some new projects for a while. And will assist with the transition in the meantime. The Director was fine with that and said she expected it. I feel a lot clearer now!