About Us

Board Approved 8/26/21

CODE OF ETHICS UNITED WAY OF KAW VALLEY
 

Aspirational Statement
 

UNTIL THE FIGHT IS WON
Creating and cultivating an unbreakable network of support for a strong, healthy and equitable community.
 

INTRODUCTION
United Way of Kaw Valley is synonymous with charitable service in the Topeka area. The general public associates the United Way name with thousands of worthy causes all over the country, in Topeka and the surrounding areas. Indeed, for many people United Way is the primary way they meet their desire to help their fellow human beings.
UWKV has a unique role as a local leader of philanthropy to benefit human services and as a major resource to United Way partner agencies. Throughout Topeka and surrounding areas, United Way partners have earned public trust, nurtured by years of ethical, honest and responsible charitable service by UWKV. The continued success of UWKV depends upon the ethical conduct of each organization, its employees and representatives.
UWKV places the highest priority on its relationship with its members, the partner agencies. As part of this relationship, UWKV responds to, serves and supports its members in working to increase the organized capacity of people to care for one another. In an effort to achieve this goal, UWKV strives to create a vision and direction that will generate leadership and encourage the agencies, partners and other recipients of United Way funding to perform at the highest level.
UWKV employees set an example for other non-profit organizations by their high standards of performance, professionalism, volunteer and charitable activities, helping our neighbors in need, and ethical conduct.
UWKV volunteers serve in various capacities. This includes, but is not limited to: Board members, Standing Committee members, special task force volunteers and campaign ambassadors.
This Code of Ethics is the mandatory policy of UWKV and expresses fundamental values as described in its Bylaws and policy manual.
Accordingly, this Code guides the conduct of all employees and representatives of UWKV, and is intended to foster an environment that promotes ethical conduct in carrying out their responsibilities.
 

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
To truly Live United, we must commit to placing diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of our work, internally and externally. A successful fight for the education, financial stability, and health of every person requires that we listen to, learn from, and amplify the voices of those who are most in need and those who have been traditionally underrepresented. We recognize that everyone in our United Way community brings value to our mission. We understand every employee, donor, volunteer, partner and stakeholder brings different experiences, perspectives, and expectations. We respect and encourage insight and participation from all. We actively promote a variety of voices among our staff, volunteer committees and Board of Directors, and the non-profit community. We commit to being curious and courageous in how we communicate with each other. We do so in a constant effort to grow and move our community forward together.
 

PERSONAL INTEGRITY
• A personal commitment to integrity in all circumstances benefits each individual as well as the organization. Each UWKV employee:
• Respects and seeks out the truth and avoids misrepresentation.
• Ensures fairness and objectivity in all activities.
• Sets an example, as an employee of a leading nonprofit organization, for high standards of professionalism.
• Honors the right of privacy of all people, including co-workers, contributors and beneficiaries.
• Promotes public confidence in philanthropic institutions.
PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE
As an employer, UWKV promotes professional excellence and encourages open and honest communication among all employees to create an atmosphere conducive to personal growth and career development.
UWKV management:
• Encourages employee development and communicates with personnel to help them achieve their goals and increase their self-esteem through job enrichment.

• Evaluates employees on a fair and consistent basis, so that all employees know what is expected of them and how they are progressing toward fulfilling expectations.
• Shows respect and empathy for employees, and is considerate while being mindful of managerial responsibilities.
• Regularly solicits, and respects, the opinions of co-workers.
All UWKV employees, at every level:
• Strive to meet performance standards at the highest level.
• Refuse to engage in or tolerate any fraud, misuse, abuse or waste of UWKV resources.
• Encourage growth and self-improvement in themselves and their co-workers.
• Exhibit respect for co-workers and all those they come into contact with.
• Support and encourage input from diverse voices and always consider equity and social justice in UWKV matters.
• Have the courage to face situations squarely and offer a minority opinion when necessary.
• Examine all alternatives with the understanding that the easiest action is not always in the best interest of the organization.
• Not engage in or promote illegal use or abuse of drugs or alcohol.
• Comply with all other laws and regulations affecting the organization and their personal obligations.
• Discuss any questions concerning interpretations or compliance with the code of ethics with their manager or other designated person.
• Encourage the reporting of violations and protect those who report.
 

ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY
UWKV has responsibilities to its customers, which include partner agencies, donors and other stakeholders. These customers have placed faith in United Way of Kaw Valley. To uphold this trust, UWKV employees:
• Make full and fair disclosure of all relevant information to customers, who have a right to know how their dollars are spent.
• Spend customers' money wisely, efficiently and objectively.
• Are good stewards of contributions, grants, and other earnings that are utilized by UWKV to pay operating expenses, salaries and employee benefits, and refrain from allowing expenditures of UWKV funds that by their nature or amount do not directly advance UWKV's mission.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers represent United Way of Kaw Valley and set examples through their ethical conduct and professionalism.
Volunteers review the code of ethics of United Way of Kaw Valley and ensure that they adhere to the spirit of the code when making policy or otherwise managing the affairs of the organization.
A volunteer does not knowingly take any action or make any statement intended to influence the conduct of United Way of Kaw Valley in such a way as to confer any financial benefit on such volunteer, a member of his or her immediate family, or any corporation in which he or she or such member has a significant interest as stockholder, director or officer.
In the event that there comes before the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee a matter for consideration or decision that raises a potential conflict of interest for any member of the board or the committee, the member shall disclose the potential conflict of interest as soon as he or she becomes aware of it, and shall withdraw from the meeting room during discussion, review, and voting in connection with the matter. The disclosure and withdrawal shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting; annual disclosures of potential conflicts shall be filed with the board by each member.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES TO VOLUNTEERS
In order to enable those volunteers to serve effectively, UWKV managers and employees:
• Support volunteers so they can perform to the highest level of their contribution and personal satisfaction.
• Treat all volunteers with fairness, equity and respect, providing appropriate mechanisms for their views and interests to be expressed.
• Involve volunteers at appropriate levels and phases of the decision-making process.
• Assist in the development and the understanding of the roles of volunteers and employees, respectively; set clear standards of performance for volunteers, and appropriately recognize their contributions.
• Provide benefits and perquisites to volunteers that are consistent with the spirit of voluntarism.
 

VENDOR RELATIONS
Vendors are treated fairly to avoid favoritism or appearances of impropriety. UWKV:
• Affords all vendors the opportunity to offer or qualify their products or services on a competitive basis.
• Conducts all competitive bidding in a fair and professional manner, giving no special preferences or advantages to any vendor.
• Gives priority when economically and logistically feasible to vendors who are local and/or minority owned business.
 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
UWKV is an equal opportunity employer. Every employee and volunteer:
• Respects all co-workers and all other individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or physical or mental disability.
• Supports equal employment opportunity programs throughout UWKV.
• Refuses to engage in or tolerate in others any form of sexual harassment.
• Strives to create an environment conducive to professionalism.
 

CONFLICT OF INTEREST
To avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest that would tarnish the image of the organization and undermine the public's trust in all partners agencies, UWKV employees:
• Avoid any activity or outside interest which conflicts or appears to conflict with the best interest of UWKV. Any involvement with a current or potential UWKV vendor, grantee, or competing organization may violate this code and should be cleared with the employee's supervisor.
• Refrain from participating in or influencing any decision or other action of UWKV that could result in a direct or indirect benefit to his or her family or any organization with which the employee is substantially affiliated.
 

PERSONAL GAIN
• No employee should accept any gratuity or favor for doing his or her job. Accordingly, UWKV employees do not:
• Solicit or accept gratuities, gifts or favors, other than promotional gifts of nominal value, for themselves or their families.
• Accept food, transportation, or entertainment unless directly related to UWKV business.
• Use UWKV resources for personal gain.
 

TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT AND RELATED EXPENSES
Travel, entertainment and related expenses are incurred on a basis consistent with the mission of UWKV.
 

OUTSIDE EMPLOYMENT AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
Employees ensure that outside employment and other activities do not interfere with their responsibilities within UWKV and do not adversely affect UWKV. An employee is encouraged to inform his or her supervisor of any significant outside activities. An employee does not use UWKV resources to facilitate any outside employment or other activity.
 

POLITICAL ACTIVITY
Except as may be otherwise provided by law, the following restrictions on political activity will apply to UWKV employees:
• Will not use their UWKV positions or influence either for or against any candidate for public office in any jurisdiction or for or against any political issue unless in furtherance of UWKV government relations programs.
• Will not use working hours or UWKV facilities in any way that is concerned with soliciting or receiving subscriptions, contributions, political service, or to circulate petitions or campaign literature or in any other manner on behalf of candidates for public office in any jurisdiction; or for or against any political issue unless in furtherance of UWKV Advocacy Committee’s Public Policy Agenda.
 

FAVORITISM
Favoritism based on family or close personal relationships is unfair to other employees. The appearance of favoritism is easily perceived, even in some cases of friendship that otherwise are harmless. Accordingly:
• Persons related to UWKV employees by blood or marriage are not employed except under special circumstances that are clearly in the best interest of UWKV and disclosed immediately to the Finance committee of the UWKV Board of Directors.
• UWKV employees never have supervisory or management authority over staff with whom they have a relationship that adversely affects impartiality.
• UWKV employees consider the nature and appearance of their relationships with other employees to ensure that their decisions and actions are fair to all staff.
• UWKV employees with decision-making authority do not improperly influence the selection of consultants or service providers who are affiliated with, or employ or are employed by, a person with whom they have a relationship that adversely affects impartiality.
 

SOLICITATIONS
UWKV employees are not subjected to outside solicitation. Further, employees are free from unwarranted interruptions in the form of solicitation from other employees, in order to concentrate on work. A UWKV employee:
• Does not solicit or distribute literature for purposes inconsistent with the UWKV mission on UWKV premises.
• Does not use UWKV working time for non-UWKV purposes.
• Is never required to contribute or respond to a solicitation for fear that their response will be a factor in their career standing.
 

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION
Confidentiality is a hallmark of professionalism. Each UWKV employee and volunteer:
• Ensures that all information which is confidential or privileged or which is not publicly available is not disclosed inappropriately.
• Ensures that all non-public information of other persons or firms acquired by UWKV personnel in dealing with outside firms on behalf of UWKV is treated as confidential and not disclosed.
DISCLOSURE
 

UWKV employees and representative are encouraged to disclose any perceived breaches of the Code of Ethic of which they are aware. Disclosure should be made to a supervisor, the Chair of the Board, the Chair of the Finance Committee or the President (contact information below). Any reported breaches will be investigated and appropriate action, if needed, will be taken. Confidentiality will be maintained for the employee disclosing the breach, unless the matter raises serious legal implications. In such instances, the employee disclosing the breach will be notified. UWKV management will not take any adverse action against employees solely for disclosing perceived breaches of the Code. UWKV encourages all employees to be prompt, open and forthright in reporting perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics.
 

President/CEO: Jessica Lehnherr at 785-228-5115 or jlehnherr@uwkawvalley.org
Board Chair: Matt All at 785-291-7631 or matt.all@bcbsks.com
Finance Committee Chair: Stephanie Flood at 785-270-6147 or sflood@capfed.com
 

CERTIFICATE

This Code of Ethics will be examined, updated and restated annually through a joint effort of the staff and Executive Committee of the Board. All staff and UWKV volunteers, as defined in this Code, will be required to sign the Code annually.