Equal Employment Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination Policy

1. Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

We provide equal employment and service opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic established by federal, state, or local laws. All decisions are based strictly on merit, qualifications, and organizational needs.

2. Anti-Discrimination

Discrimination of any kind is strictly prohibited and fundamentally opposed to the Foundation's core values. The Foundation will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination or harassment against any individual by anyone, including managers, co-workers, vendors, clients, beneficiaries, or visitors.

3. Anti-Harassment

Harassment includes unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Harassment becomes unlawful where enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment or service, or the conduct is severe or pervasive enough to create an environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive.

4. Reasonable Accommodations

The Foundation is committed to complying fully with all applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its amendments. We will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities and for individuals whose work or service requirements interfere with sincerely held religious beliefs, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship on the organization.

5. Complaint and Reporting Procedures

Any person who believes they have been subjected to discrimination or harassment, or who has witnessed such conduct, is strongly encouraged to report it immediately to their supervisor, Human Resources, any member of the Board of Directors, or directly using the contact information provided in Section 11.

• Reports can be made verbally or in writing.
• There is no required chain of command for reporting; individuals may bypass their direct supervisor if the supervisor is the subject of the complaint.
• All complaints will be investigated promptly, impartially, and thoroughly.

6. Non-Retaliation

The Foundation strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports discrimination, harassment, or participates in an investigation of such reports. Retaliation is a severe violation of this policy and will be subject to immediate disciplinary action, regardless of the outcome of the underlying complaint.

7. Disciplinary Action

Any individual found to have engaged in discriminatory conduct, harassment, or retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including immediate termination of employment, termination of volunteer status, or removal from the Board of Directors.

8. Training and Awareness

The Foundation provides periodic training to ensure that all personnel understand their rights and responsibilities under this policy. Managers and supervisors receive additional specialized training on identifying, preventing, and properly handling complaints to enforce this policy effectively.

9. Confidentiality

All reports of discrimination or harassment will be kept as confidential as possible, consistent with the need to conduct a comprehensive and fair investigation and to take appropriate corrective action. Information will only be shared on a strict "need-to-know" basis.

10. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually and updated as necessary by the Board of Directors and legal counsel to ensure continuous compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, and to reflect best practices in promoting a truly inclusive environment.

11. Contact Information

For any questions regarding this policy, to report an incident, or to request a reasonable accommodation, please contact us immediately: