Whistleblower Policy

Layer 1 — At a glance

DRAFT

Protects individuals who report suspected misconduct in good faith from retaliation. Establishes clear reporting channels including an anonymous option, defines investigation timelines, and ensures Board-level oversight. Required for IRS Form 990 governance disclosures.

Anonymous reporting: whistleblower@civicos-institute.orgNon-retaliation: Strictly enforced; violations treated as separate offenseInvestigation target: 30 days; hard limit: 90 daysBoard oversight: Annual reporting at fiscal year-end meeting
Last reviewed: Not yet reviewed

Layer 2 — Full text

Whistleblower Policy (Doc 08)

Purpose

Protect good-faith reporting of suspected misconduct and prohibit retaliation.

Reporting Channels

  • Executive Director
  • Board Chair
  • Designated board committee/independent director
  • Anonymous channel: whistleblower@civicos-institute.org (routed to Board Chair + one designated independent director)

Non-Retaliation

Retaliation against good-faith reporting is prohibited and treated as a separate violation.

Intake + Investigation Timelines

  • intake acknowledgment target: 5 business days where contact is available
  • anonymous reports are logged and reviewed but may not receive acknowledgment
  • investigation target: 30 calendar days
  • hard limit: no investigation exceeds 90 calendar days without written Board Chair notification and revised completion date

Oversight

Board oversight reporting occurs no less than annually, at or before the fiscal year-end board meeting.

Board Member Misconduct Track

If substantiated against a sitting board member, corrective action follows Bylaws Article III Section 3.05 with mandatory recusal of subject director.

Layer 3 — Download

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Version 1.0 · Status: DRAFT · Pending adoption