This Code of Ethics reflects and guides the conduct of all staff, positions, volunteers and members of the Board of Directors (regular, executive, honorary and otherwise), of the Green Zionist Alliance (GZA).

Environment

The GZA will do whatever it can to reduce its carbon footprint and minimize its negative environmental effects while encouraging others to do the same.

Compensation

The Green Zionist Alliance is an all-volunteer organization. All GZA positions, board members and volunteers are not compensated for their services in any way. The GZA may choose to compensate individuals who are not board members on a per-project basis, but only on the approval of a majority of the board.

Personal Integrity

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers exhibit a personal commitment to integrity in all circumstances by:

• Ensuring fairness and objectivity in all activities.
• Honoring the privacy rights of all people including board members, staff, positions, volunteers and contributors.
• Helping to promote public confidence in philanthropic institutions.

Personal Excellence

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers shall:

• Exhibit mutual respect for all those to whom they come in contact.
• Comply with all laws and regulations affecting the GZA.

Accountability and Efficiency

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers shall:

• Make full and fair disclosure of all information that is relevant to donors including how their donations are being spent.
• Spend donors’ and organizational money wisely, efficiently and objectively.
• Refrain from spending GZA funds in ways that do not directly advance the GZA mission.

Conflict of Interest

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers shall:

• Avoid any activity or outside interest which appears to conflict with the best interest of the GZA.
• Must disclose any relationships that might constitute a conflict, such as employment or significant ownership or interest on another board on which he or she may serve. Even if there has not been written acknowledgement of the conflict, if the other board members, positions, staff or volunteers are aware of the conflict, it is assumed that a conflict exists.
• Avoid any participation in or influencing any decision or action of GZA which could result in a direct or indirect benefit to his or her self, family, friend and/or any organization to which he or she is affiliated (i.e. other business or place of employment).
• After disclosing an actual or potential conflict of interest, a board member should leave the room (or conference call) when a matter is discussed and shall not vote on the matter. The conflicted board member may not attempt to influence the decision in any way, but may provide information as requested by the board.

Maintain Confidences

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers who receive confidential information about the organization and about GZA positions, board members, staff, volunteers, program participants, intern and volunteer applicants, and WZC slate members are obligated to keep this information confidential.

Ethics Officers / Reporting Violations

The GZA president and chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be designated as the organization’s Ethics Officers. The Ethics Officers shall:

• Help the board implement and realize the values articulated in the code of ethics.
• Make available the organization’s code of ethics to the board, positions, volunteers, staff and the general public.
• Review the code of ethics as needed with board members, positions, volunteers and staff.

All GZA positions, board members, staff and volunteers are obligated to report violations of the code of ethics. Violations may be reported to a direct supervisor, the president and chairperson of the board of directors. The board of directors shall decide consequences of ethics violations. There shall not be any action brought against the person(s) who report ethics violations in good faith.