Q (Remember, in these forums you need to reply to my initial post after you post your own response) A reader writes: I work for a small nonprofit. I manage a small team and my program is pretty well-resourced, though of course the organization can always use more unrestricted funding. I travel often for work, usually on my organization’s dime. Once or twice a year, I have to go to meetings for which another, very well-resourced organization covers my flights and gives me a per diem for other expenses. Their policy is to transfer the per diem in advance directly to the individual’s bank account, rather than to the organization (I think this is to avoid having to pay indirect costs). They give a pretty generous per diem, and as I travel modestly (nothing ascetic, I just usually prefer more casual places), there tends to be a surplus, usually in the order of $100-300 for a four-day trip. In the past, I’ve used my company card when traveling for expenses and just given the whole per diem over to the organization even if my actual expenses are less than that. But I’m starting to wonder if I can ethically (I’m pretty sure I can legally/policy-wise as my organization doesn’t have a formal policy on this) just keep the surplus for myself, and only pay over to the organization what I’ve actually spent against the company card. (For budgeting and trip planning and rewards points for the org purposes, it is preferable for me to keep using the company card for the travel upfront and then I would definitely reimburse it fully.) To be totally frank, the trips suck, and it’d be nice to get something other than jet lag out of them. (I’m writing you at 3:15 a.m.) It’s a small amount of money to the organization but would mean something to me. I work way longer hours when I’m traveling, too– though I’m obviously exempt so that’s probably irrelevant, but it matters psychologically! And I’d like to be able to give this small perk to my staff who also make similar trips a couple times a year. If it matters, our organization’s policy is to let us keep our airline miles from work-related travel. Would it be ethical to keep the extra income from the per diem? And if so, do I need to communicate this to anyone above me? I basically set the current habit of just turning over the full per diem based on a suggestion from a former coworker, but other coworkers have done this differently. I’m pretty sure my boss (our ED) wouldn’t care and wouldn’t want to be bothered, though if I’m really honest I think if I asked him he would suggest we turn it all over. I generally have a lot of autonomy but since this is something from which I’d benefit, I want to ask someone objective. And if it is something I can switch without talking to my boss, how should I communicate this to my team that they can do the same? My team is very principled so I just wouldn’t want to look like I’m doing anything shady for our personal gains. Finally, this may be out of your wheelhouse, but if I do pocket the extra, is this taxable income I’d have to declare?