On Conflicts of Interest & When to Recuse

ZCG members sign an annual conflict of interest declaration. As part of this declaration the committee members agree to recuse themselves from any discussion that constitutes a conflict of interest. The document states there is a COI if a committee member has a financial interest in common with the grantee:

A person has a financial interest if the person has, directly or indirectly, through business, investment, or family:

  1. An ownership or investment interest in any entity with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement,

  2. A compensation arrangement with the Organization or with any entity or individual with which the Organization has a transaction or arrangement, or

  3. A potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which the Organization is negotiating a transaction or arrangement.

Contributing code to a project’s repository does not constitute a conflict of interest. However, if the committee member disclosed a financial interest in the applicant then yes, they would not be present for discussion or voting on the application.

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