Is there a conflict of interest policy?

• A. No policy exists.
• B. There is a policy but no requirement to disclose.
• C. Conflicts may be ignored for trusted members.
• D. Yes; members must disclose conflicts and recuse themselves from affected decisions.

Answer: (D)

Having a clear conflict of interest policy is about maintaining fair, trustworthy decision-making. The best answer requires that members disclose any conflicts and recuse themselves from decisions affected by those conflicts. Disclosure lets everyone see potential biases, while recusal prevents personal interests from swaying outcomes, preserving integrity and accountability within the organization. The other options undermine governance—no policy leaves risk of unclear standards; a policy with no disclosure still hides conflicts; and ignoring conflicts for trusted members contradicts the duty to act in the group's best interest.