Confidentiality

One of the legal obligations for board members is a duty of loyalty. One aspect of this duty expects board members to keep confidential issues confidential. Confidential issues may deal with performance evaluations, personnel dilemmas, business negotiations, communication with the organization’s legal counsel, patient or client information, desired anonymity by a donor, or any other sensitive matter that needs to remain within the walls of the boardroom or in the files of the organization. Any legitimate activity that has not been made public should be treated as confidential or should be communicated only by the organization’s chosen spokesperson.

Here are sample confidentiality policies:

The Nonprofit FAQ http://www.idealist.org/npofaq/0/1505.html

NC Center for Nonprofits http://www.ncnonprofits.org/faq/confidentiality.pdf