Stop Abuse of Power #stopabuseofpower
Stop Abuse of Power #stopabuseofpower
The Issue
Weeks after I had a disagreement with Saving Promise’s Board Chair about the Board Chair’s friend who had been hired as the COO, I was summoned to a meeting with the Board Chair and Secretary and told that the board had decided to dissolve Saving Promise, suspend operations, and terminate me. As if that wasn’t unethical enough, in exchange for severance pay, the board also tried to force me to sign a Separation and Release of Claims Agreement that would prohibit me from suing and holding them accountable for their actions, leaving me with no choice but to hire attorneys to help me save Saving Promise. Before long, the board made additional demands such as trying to force me to maintain the employment of the Board Chair’s friend and pay their legal fees. In fact, as of the launch of this petition, one of the board members still has refused to resign.
After a thorough investigation, my attorneys found: “The vote to dissolve Saving Promise was done without the exercise of good judgment, with malicious intent, and without concern for the health of the organization as a whole”.
Read more about the attorneys’ findings.
Let me be clear, nonprofit boards have the right to terminate its CEO/Executive Director and dissolve the organization. However, the board’s decision was deeply flawed when they pursued these actions in a way that was inconsistent with organizational bylaws, not allowing open debate for a sound course of action, and unethically trying to disband the organization and terminate me without cause.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SAVING PROMISE IS NOT UNIQUE. Many nonprofits are hamstrung by bureaucracy, dysfunction, and the abuse of power that some nonprofit boards take for granted.
For example, a Harvard Business Review Study found that 42% of nonprofit boards did not have an audit committee and 69% of them had experienced at least one serious governance issue. In a Stanford Social Innovation Review article titled “Spotting and Fixing Dysfunctional Nonprofit Boards,” the author wrote: “Healthy boards of directors can magnify mission-driven organizations' positive impact on social progress, but they are more of an exception than a norm.” Common issues that have been cited include the low level of engagement of board members and failure to understand fiduciary duties.
When nonprofit boards do not honor their fiduciary duty of care and act carelessly and irresponsibly, it not only smears the integrity of nonprofit boards that do abide by good governance, but dishonors community stakeholders’ contributions (time, funds, and resources), and counters the greater good nonprofits set out to do to make our world a better place.
Learn more about the types of reforms that are being proposed.
THE #STOPABUSEOFPOWER CAMPAIGN speaks directly to people who abuse their power to prey on the vulnerabilities of others. We aim to challenge this hypocrisy and inspire change in our workplaces, relationships and communities.
Despite this disheartening and traumatic experience, to remain silent about what has happened to Saving Promise and what is happening to countless nonprofits, and frankly in many workplaces and communities around the globe, not only feels complicit in this dysfunction but violates the most important code of ethics: To do good and to do what’s right.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Sign this Petition to enforce stricter governance to hold nonprofit boards and others who abuse their power accountable.
- Consider Giving $1 to help with this campaign. Details about how your $1 tax-deductible donation will be used can be found at the above link. Note: Donations to Saving Promise are being collected through the link above. Donations to promote the campaign through Change.org are optional and not required to participate in this campaign.
- Connect with us! Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Linkedin.
My greatest hope is that you will stand with me on this very important campaign. It’s time we all speak out against abuse of power!
L.Y. Marlow
Founder & CEO, Saving Promise
Learn more about my family story
Five generations of mothers/daughters that suffered and survived 75+ years of domestic violence and inspired Saving Promise.
231
The Issue
Weeks after I had a disagreement with Saving Promise’s Board Chair about the Board Chair’s friend who had been hired as the COO, I was summoned to a meeting with the Board Chair and Secretary and told that the board had decided to dissolve Saving Promise, suspend operations, and terminate me. As if that wasn’t unethical enough, in exchange for severance pay, the board also tried to force me to sign a Separation and Release of Claims Agreement that would prohibit me from suing and holding them accountable for their actions, leaving me with no choice but to hire attorneys to help me save Saving Promise. Before long, the board made additional demands such as trying to force me to maintain the employment of the Board Chair’s friend and pay their legal fees. In fact, as of the launch of this petition, one of the board members still has refused to resign.
After a thorough investigation, my attorneys found: “The vote to dissolve Saving Promise was done without the exercise of good judgment, with malicious intent, and without concern for the health of the organization as a whole”.
Read more about the attorneys’ findings.
Let me be clear, nonprofit boards have the right to terminate its CEO/Executive Director and dissolve the organization. However, the board’s decision was deeply flawed when they pursued these actions in a way that was inconsistent with organizational bylaws, not allowing open debate for a sound course of action, and unethically trying to disband the organization and terminate me without cause.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SAVING PROMISE IS NOT UNIQUE. Many nonprofits are hamstrung by bureaucracy, dysfunction, and the abuse of power that some nonprofit boards take for granted.
For example, a Harvard Business Review Study found that 42% of nonprofit boards did not have an audit committee and 69% of them had experienced at least one serious governance issue. In a Stanford Social Innovation Review article titled “Spotting and Fixing Dysfunctional Nonprofit Boards,” the author wrote: “Healthy boards of directors can magnify mission-driven organizations' positive impact on social progress, but they are more of an exception than a norm.” Common issues that have been cited include the low level of engagement of board members and failure to understand fiduciary duties.
When nonprofit boards do not honor their fiduciary duty of care and act carelessly and irresponsibly, it not only smears the integrity of nonprofit boards that do abide by good governance, but dishonors community stakeholders’ contributions (time, funds, and resources), and counters the greater good nonprofits set out to do to make our world a better place.
Learn more about the types of reforms that are being proposed.
THE #STOPABUSEOFPOWER CAMPAIGN speaks directly to people who abuse their power to prey on the vulnerabilities of others. We aim to challenge this hypocrisy and inspire change in our workplaces, relationships and communities.
Despite this disheartening and traumatic experience, to remain silent about what has happened to Saving Promise and what is happening to countless nonprofits, and frankly in many workplaces and communities around the globe, not only feels complicit in this dysfunction but violates the most important code of ethics: To do good and to do what’s right.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Sign this Petition to enforce stricter governance to hold nonprofit boards and others who abuse their power accountable.
- Consider Giving $1 to help with this campaign. Details about how your $1 tax-deductible donation will be used can be found at the above link. Note: Donations to Saving Promise are being collected through the link above. Donations to promote the campaign through Change.org are optional and not required to participate in this campaign.
- Connect with us! Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Linkedin.
My greatest hope is that you will stand with me on this very important campaign. It’s time we all speak out against abuse of power!
L.Y. Marlow
Founder & CEO, Saving Promise
Learn more about my family story
Five generations of mothers/daughters that suffered and survived 75+ years of domestic violence and inspired Saving Promise.
231
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Petition created on December 12, 2022