Foundation Policies

Conflict of Interest Policy

Those entrusted with overseeing the charitable operations of The John and Elizabeth Veenstra Foundation, Inc. (the "Corporation") must maintain the highest ethical standards and avoid actual or apparent conflicts between their personal interests and those of the Corporation. This policy statement is intended to provide specific guidance to all Directors, committee members, officers and employees of the Corporation in maintaining the foregoing standards. This statement, as may be amended or supplemented from time to time by the Board of Directors, applies and shall be disseminated to all Directors, committee members, officers and employees (hereinafter collectively referred to as "Corporation Representatives") as the official statement of the Corporation’s general policy. Read More...

Staff Travel and Expense Policy

The foundation's Staff Travel and Expense Policy requires employees to steward our resources by following guidelines on making and reporting travel and other business-related expenses.

Objectives

The purpose of this policy is threefold:

• To ensure our policies support employees in performing at their best in the office and while traveling on business.
• To mitigate the impacts of travel on our employees, and support them in integrating and managing their work and personal live.
• To ensure that our policies are appropriate relative to the sectors in which we work, including grantees, other foundations, and nonprofit organizations.

The foundation assumes that employees will use their best judgment when traveling or spending money in support of foundation-related business.

This policy provides specific guidelines on employees' reporting responsibilities, air and ground travel, lodging, meals, tipping, visas and passports, combining business and personal travel, non-reimbursable expenses, insurance, and other business-related expenses, such as team building and employee recognition.

Ethics Conduct and Governance

What follows is the foundation's "whistleblower" policy in its entirety. It is addressed to our employees.

The foundation is committed to lawful and ethical behavior in all of its activities and requires its employees to conduct themselves in a manner that complies with all applicable laws and regulations. If at any time a concern exists regarding the propriety or legality of any action contemplated to be taken or that has been taken by any foundation employee, or grantee, contractor, vendor, as the action relates to foundation activities, or if an action needs to be taken in order for the foundation to be in compliance with law or appropriate ethical standards, you can address the issue directly by going to your manager or to the next level of management as needed until matters are satisfactorily resolved.

Alternatively, if you are not comfortable speaking to a manager or do not feel your issue has been properly addressed, you may contact contact the foundation's outside legal counsel.

Under this policy (sometimes referred to as a "whistleblower policy"), those who report illegal or improper activity will be protected. Efforts will be made to treat a report of unethical or illegal conduct as confidential, consistent with the need to investigate and prevent or correct the action. The individual making the report will not be discharged, threatened, harassed, or discriminated against for reporting in good faith what they perceive to be wrongdoing, violations of law, or unethical conduct.