The BCYF Community Grant Review Panel and BCYF staff consist of individuals with roots and connectedness to the Baltimore community and experience in grassroots, community-based programming. Naturally, some of these individuals may have connections to some of the organizations seeking BCYF funding. Our application reviewers' life experiences, which qualify them to take on this work, create an inherent risk of conflict of interest. Professionalism and transparency are the only ways we can control this risk.
Conflicts of Interest
No member, official, representative, or employee of BCYF may have any personal interest, direct or indirect, in this grant.
No member, official, representative, or employee of BCYF can participate in any decision relating to this Grant which affects their personal or immediate family interests or the interest of any corporation, partnership or association in which they are, directly or indirectly, interested.
BCYF application reviewers and staff must disclose if they:
Helped prepare or submit a potential grantee’s application;
Received (or expect to receive) anything of value, including a gift, from an applicant at any time;
Might be paid by the applicant, partnership, or a third party if the application is accepted;
Are related to an applicant by birth or marriage;
Suspect that your participation would violate the Baltimore City Code of Ethics;
Are friends, coworkers, or colleagues with the applicant;
Provided a letter of support for the proposal;
Or are otherwise personally affected by the project.
When a Grantee signs a BCYF Grant Agreement, the Grantee is indicating that they have not engaged in any practice or entered into any past or ongoing agreement that would be considered a conflict of interest with the grant. It also indicates that the Grantee agrees to refrain from engaging in or entering into all such practices or agreements during the term of the grant, including any agreements or practices that would give the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Recusal
An application reviewer must recuse themselves from the decision-making process for any application if they:
Helped prepare or submit a potential grantee’s application;
Received (or expect to receive) anything of value, including a gift, from an applicant at any time;
Might be paid by the applicant, partnership, or a third party if the application is accepted;
Are related to an applicant by birth or marriage;
Suspect that your participation would violate the Baltimore City Code of Ethics; or
Provided a letter of support for the proposal.
Upon Review
The Board Chair may, at their discretion, require an application reviewer to recuse themselves if they:
Are friends, coworkers, or colleagues with the applicant;
Live or work in the affected community;
Or are otherwise personally affected by the project.
Voluntary
Anyone may recuse themselves at any point if their conscience tells them it is the right thing to do. If BCYF discovers that a Board member, staff member, or grantee has failed to disclose a conflict of interest, the matter will be forwarded to the Board Chair who will determine an appropriate course of action based on the details of the incident.
Do not be afraid to disclose a conflict of interest if you discover there is one.