Members of the Society of St Vincent de Paul seek to serve Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope, and joy and work to shape a more just and compassionate society. The work of the Society is based on trust - trust from the people we assist, the community, the Church, and from one another. One important way members honour that trust is by understanding and properly managing conflicts of interest.

What Do We Mean by “Conflict of Interest”?

A conflict of interest arises when personal relationships, financial interests, or outside activities could influence - or could reasonably appear to influence - decisions you make during Society work. The emphasis on appearance is important.

Even if you feel sure you can remain impartial, others may perceive the situation differently, and that perception can adversely affect trust in both you and the Society generally. A conflict of interest may either be potential, perceived or actual, and may be financial or non-financial.

Conflicts of interest are common but are not always the same thing as to knowingly engage in wrongdoing. What does matter is that if you recognise a potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest you raise the matter as early as possible and ensure the potential, perceived or actual conflict of interest is managed transparently.

Common Situations for Members

Given the personal nature of our Vincentian work, potential conflicts can occur naturally in the following situations:

• Assisting someone you know personally - a friend, neighbour, colleague, or relative.
• Providing Society-funded support to a business owned by you, a family member, or a close associate.
• Using privileged or confidential information about a person your Conference assists or about Society business activities in a way that could benefit someone connected to you.
• Taking part in decisions about allocation of funds or purchases when you will or could be perceived by others to stand to gain, directly or indirectly

Each of these situations has the potential to be, or perceived to be, improper. Therefore, they require transparent handling.

Why Conflicts Matter to Our Mission

When conflicts of interest are managed well, we:

• Ensure fairness in all assistance provided.
• Protect the reputation and credibility of the Society.
• Protect members from misunderstandings or unintentional breaches of governance.
• Uphold the Vincentian values that shape our service.
• Act according to The Rule.
• Comply with the Society’s Conflicts of Interest Policy, which applies to all members, volunteers and employees.

Good governance strengthens our ability to respond compassionately and responsibly to people in need.

What Members Should Do

Ensure you have read and understand the Conflicts of Interest Policy which can be found on the MAVS website and that you are familiar with the Procedural Guidelines in The Rule, especially the section titled ‘Society Employees’ if you are a member who is also an employee of the Society.

If you think you may have a conflict - or you’re unsure - the right step is always disclosure. Speak with your President or Regional Director, who can help determine the best way to manage the situation. This may involve stepping back from a decision, asking another member or President to take the lead, and recording the conflict for transparency.

By openly addressing conflicts of interest, we protect our mission, our people, and the sacred trust placed in the Society. Finally, thank you for your continued integrity and dedication to those who seek assistance.