Ethics Scenario #72: Harristown Wildlife Protection Association

72. The State Legislature was considering legislation that would open up a local wildlife preserve near Harristown to limited hunting. The board of the Harristown Wildlife Protection Association, a nonprofit, tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization,  was considering how to respond. There was rapid agreement that the organization should launch a public education campaign to educate the public about why enacting legislation to do this would be unwise. The Secretary of the Board, Kimberly, was the owner of a public relations organization with a decade of experience in formulating campaigns of this type, one of the reasons he was solicited to join the board several years ago. There is some discussion about whether to find an organization to do this campaign that is not directly connected to the organization, but it is clear that Kimberly has the experience to do this kind of work. The board passes a motion that Kimberly’s company should be hired to do the campaign, provided that this work is provided “at cost.”

a. Is Kimberly’s behavior ethical?

b. Is the board’s behavior ethical?