By electronically submitting your application or signing the application form for membership, each volunteer agrees to adhere to the MBA CORPS Code of Ethics and Conduct. Members are asked to read the Code of Ethics and Conduct annually.

 A.                 Client Interests

 To best serve MBA CORPS clients, MBA CORPS members shall:

 ·        Always conduct their counseling and other MBA CORPS activities in a manner that unequivocally places the interests of their clients first. Members shall ensure that all available resources are offered to clients, including assistance by other counselors or chapters, or by outside organizations where appropriate.

·        Initiate follow-up contacts to ensure the potential success of their clients. Members will continue counseling a client as long as the counseling is of value to the client. If the member is unable to continue counseling for personal reasons, the case will be reassigned to another member.

·        At all times protect the confidentiality of business information provided by the clients. No disclosure will be made of any information, or of the existence of a counseling relationship, without the client’s prior approval.

·        Not counsel two or more competing clients at the same time without the full knowledge and approval of all parties.

·        Not accept or participate in counseling that creates a conflict of interest between the counselors and their or their family’s outside business or financial activities or interests.

  B.                 Compensation

 As unpaid volunteers, MBA CORPS members shall:

 ·        Neither charge nor accept fees, honoraria or things of value as payment for individual counseling services or for their participation in training activities on behalf of MBA CORPS

·        Not accept payment from a client for travel or other expenses incident to counseling or training or any other activity, since those expenses are eligible for reimbursement by MBA CORPS

 A MBA CORPS member assigned to counsel a client may become a paid consultant for or accept other employment by a client being counseled or by a participant in a workshop, provided these four conditions are met:

1. The client makes a written request to the MBA CORPS and the change in status is not prompted by the counselor.

2. The counselor has made his or her final written report on the case or has sought and obtained approval from MBA CORPS to withdraw from the case after making a full disclosure of the circumstances in writing.

3. MBA CORPS is satisfied that there is no misconduct by either the client or counselor and that the change in status will not reflect adversely upon MBA CORPS’ volunteer program.

4. MBA CORPS authorizes the counselor to accept the position and terminates the counselor’s membership in MBA CORPS; or does not authorize the counselor to accept the position and terminates the counselor’s membership upon such acceptance.

The following guidelines apply to interactions between MBA CORPS members and third parties:

 ·        MBA CORPS members shall not accept fees, commissions, kickbacks or things of value from third parties as a result of recommending any services, equipment or supplies, nor shall they recommend the purchase of goods or services in which they have a direct or indirect interest, financial or otherwise.

·        When members perform MBA CORPS services for another organization or agency (other than SBA or MBA CORPS clients), the organization may reimburse MBA CORPS for the expenses of the members by providing an honorarium to MBA CORPS or the chapter, which can then reimburse the members for their expenses.

·        MBA CORPS members shall neither charge nor accept fees or things of value for assistance in the preparation of loan applications nor accept so-called finders fees for the location of lending sources.

·        MBA CORPS members, when advising clients about obtaining professional or other services or goods, shall identify, whenever feasible, several sources from which the client may select.

 D.                Personal Interests

To safeguard the integrity of the MBA CORPS mission, it is vital to avoid any actual or apparent conflict of interest. To that end, MBA CORPS members shall not:

 ·        Advertise, solicit or propose the use of their outside businesses in the course of their counseling and/or business training activities. MBA CORPS membership is not to be used as a source of or basis for developing business contacts for personal or family gain.

·        Directly or indirectly become officers, directors or shareholders, or provide funding (by way of investing, loans or otherwise) for a for-profit business organization that is seeking counseling assistance from MBA CORPS or has received it within the past three years.

 E.                 Personal Conduct

 As long as they are part of MBA CORPS, MBA CORPS members shall:

 ·        Shall maintain the standards for conduct and counseling agreed to by the member.

·        Be responsible for staying current with continuing advances in successful business practices and relevant technical developments.

·        Not discriminate in any of their MBA CORPS-related activities against any person because of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status, handicap or sexual preference.

·        Not make public statements that appear to associate MBA CORPS with personal opinions of the members or which are critical of MBA CORPS or any of its sponsors.

·        Not make statements that appear to identify MBA CORPS with a political party or a candidate for federal, state or local office.

·        At all times, during the performance of their services, conduct themselves in such a manner as not to discredit themselves or MBA CORPS.

·        Not engage in any form of sexual harassment or sexual discrimination. Sexual harassment includes the making of deliberate or repeated unsolicited verbal comments, gestures or physical contact of a sexual nature in circumstances where such conduct reasonably is or would be unwelcome to the offended person or persons. Further, when such unwelcome conduct reasonably interferes with or creates an intimidating, offensive or hostile counseling or other work environment, it is considered sexual harassment.

·        Seek advance advice about the propriety of any action or inaction that they have reason to believe may be or may lead to a violation of the MBA CORPS Code of Ethics and Conduct before they or others engage in the activity or fail to act. If needed, the chapter chair shall consult the district director or CEO concerning the proper decision. Any member requesting advice from any chapter, district or national officer shall receive a decision in writing.

 F.                 Commitment to the Code

Members shall be fully aware of the MBA CORPS Code of Ethics and Conduct. When individuals apply for membership in MBA CORPS, they agree by signing the membership application or agree by submitting the electronic application that they “shall comply with the provisions of MBA CORPS’ Code of Ethics and Conduct, which I have read, and also with the other rules for its members.”

 Accordingly, applicants shall review the current Code of Ethics and Conduct online at the time they apply for membership. Further, since changes may occur in the Code of Ethics and Conduct and to refresh members’ knowledge of the provisions of the code, each MBA CORPS member shall review the Code of Ethics and Conduct annually.