Ethics Scenario #85: Historic Preservation Society of Harristown County

85. Neva is the executive director of the Historic Preservation Society of Harristown County, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. One of the area’s real estate developers, with whom Neva has had run-ins in the past as a result of his, in her opinion, unprincipled irresponsible conversions of historic landmarks in the county into modern condominiums, has sent the organization a contribution of $40,000 without any strings attached. This contribution was never solicited, and she is suspicious about his motives. However, she recognizes that $40,000 will pay for a full-time fundraising staff person that is called for in the Society’s strategic plan but never funded, and that the salary check for that staff person will still be able to be cashed regardless of the source of the money. She immediately writes a grateful substantiation letter to the developer, with an abject apology for her behavior towards him during their last confrontation.

a. Is Neva's behavior ethical?