Article I

Purpose

The purpose of the conflicts of interest policy is to protect Operation Breakthrough, Inc.’s (OBI) interest when it is contemplating entering into a transaction or arrangement that might benefit the private interest of an officer or director of OBI. This policy is intended to supplement but not replace any applicable laws or rules governing conflicts of interest applicable to nonprofit and charitable corporations, or to specific grants or funding sources. Specifically, the rules regarding conflicts of interest in administering Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funded activities are attached hereto as Appendix A and incorporated by reference. In any matter which involves CDBG funded activities, the rules in Appendix A shall apply.

Article II

Definitions

1. Interested Person

Any director, principal officer, or member of a committee with board delegated powers who has a direct or indirect financial interest, as defined below, is an interested person.

2. Financial Interest

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

a. an ownership or investment interest in any entity with which OBI has a transaction or arrangement, or

b. a compensation arrangement with OBI or with any entity or individual with which OBI has transaction or arrangement, or

c. a potential ownership or investment interest in, or compensation arrangement with, any entity or individual with which OBI is negotiating a transaction or arrangement. Compensation includes direct and indirect remuneration as well as gifts or favors that are substantial in nature. A financial interest is not necessarily a conflict of interest. Under Article III, Section 2, a person who has a financial interest may have a conflict of interest only if the appropriate board or committee decides that a conflict of interest exists.

Article III

Procedures

1. Duty to Disclose

In connection with any actual or possible conflicts of interest, an interested person must disclose the existence and nature of his or her financial interest and must be given the opportunity to disclose all material facts to the directors and members of committees with board delegated powers considering the proposed transaction or arrangement.

2. Determining Whether a Conflict of Interest Exists

After disclosure of the financial interest and all material facts, and after any discussion with the interested person, he/she shall leave the board or committee meeting while the determination of a conflict of interest is discussed and voted upon. The remaining board or committee members shall decide if a conflict of interest exists.

3. Procedures for Addressing the Conflict of Interest

a. An interested person may make a presentation at the board or committee meeting, but after such presentation, he or she shall leave the meeting during the discussion of, and the vote on, the transaction or arrangement that results in the conflict of interest.

b. the chairperson of the board or committee shall, if appropriate, appoint a disinterested person or committee to investigate alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement.

c. After exercising due diligence, the board or committee shall determine whether OBI can obtain a more advantageous transaction or arrangement with reasonable efforts from a person or entity that would not give rise to a conflict of interest,

d. If a more advantageous transaction or arrangement is not reasonably attainable under circumstances that would not give rise to a conflict of interest, the board or committee shall determine by a majority vote of the disinterested directors: whether the transaction or arrangement is in OBI's best interest and for its own benefit and whether the transaction is fair and reasonable to OBI and shall make its decision as to whether to enter into the transaction or arrangement in conformity with such determination.

4. Violations of the Conflicts of Interest Policy

a. If the board or committee has reasonable cause to believe that a member has failed to disclose actual or possible conflicts of interest, it shall inform the member of the basis for such belief and afford the member an opportunity to explain the alleged failure to disclose.

b. If, after hearing the response of the member and making such further investigation as may be warranted in the circumstances, the board or committee determines that the member has in fact failed to disclose an actual or possible conflict of interest, it shall take appropriate disciplinary and corrective action, including censure and/or expulsion.

Article IV

Records of Proceedings

The minutes of the board and all committees with board-delegated powers shall contain

1. the names of the persons who disclosed or otherwise were found to have a financial interest in connection with an actual or possible conflict of interest, the nature of the financial interest, any action taken to determine whether a conflict of interest was present, and the board's or committee's decision as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed.

2. the names of the persons who were present for discussions and votes relating to the transaction or arrangement, the, content of the discussion, including any alternatives to the proposed transaction or arrangement, and a record of any votes taken in connection therewith.

Article V

Annual Statements

Each director, principal officer and member of a committee with board-delegated powers shall annually sign a statement which affirms that such person

a. has received a copy of the conflicts of interest policy,

b. has read and understands the policy,

c. has agreed to comply with the policy,

d. and understands that OBI is a charitable organization and that in order to maintain its federal tax exemption it must engage primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of its tax-exempt purposes.

Article VI

Periodic Reviews

To ensure that OBI operates in a manner consistent with its charitable purposes and that it does not engage in activities that could jeopardize its status as an organization exempt from federal income tax, annual reviews shall be conducted. The reviews shall, at a minimum, include the following subjects:

a. Whether compensation arrangements and benefits are reasonable and are the result of arm's-length bargaining.

b. Whether acquisitions of services result in impermissible private benefit.

c. Whether partnership and joint venture arrangements conform to written policies, are properly recorded, reflect reasonable payments for goods and services, further OBI's charitable purposes and do not result in inurement or impermissible private benefit.

In conducting the periodic reviews provided for in Article VII, OBI may, but need not, use outside advisers. If outside experts are used their use shall not relieve the board of its responsibility for ensuring that periodic reviews are conducted.