Dear Nonprofit Ethicist,
I am a fundraising consultant. I was asked to be on the board of directors of one of my clients. I was caught off guard and immediately accepted. Is it unethical for me to be on the board of directors of a client and still be paid for my fundraising services?
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Blindsided
Dear Blindsided,
In theory a board member can engage in an economic transaction with his organization, provided (1) he discloses his interest to the board, (2) the transaction is in the best interest of the organization, (3) and the board discusses and votes on the transaction in the absence of the affected party. In your case, these tests are easy, but I predict that your fellow board members will expect you to discount your rate. Unless you work for free, your rate will always be too high to satisfy your colleagues. Thank them for the honor, and resign now. Ethics is like spinach: it is good for you even if you have to make yourself eat it.
