Code of Conduct

FundedYouth is committed to creating a learning environment that is welcoming, safe, and respectful for everyone — students, parents, mentors, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and visitors.

This Code of Conduct (“Code”) applies to all FundedYouth contexts:

The Makerspace at 415 Parkway Plaza, Suite 519, El Cajon, CA 92020
FundedYouth classes, workshops, sessions, and bootcamps (in person and online)
FundedYouth competition teams (FIRST Tech Challenge, NASA Student Launch, and others) on-site, at competitions, and during travel
The FundedYouth Portal and public website
FundedYouth social media accounts and online communities
FundedYouth events, partnerships, and off-site programs at schools

FundedYouth is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit registered in California (EIN 93-4090260).

1. Our expectations

Everyone in a FundedYouth context is expected to:

Be respectful

Treat every person as a full participant, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, disability, body size, neurotype, family status, socioeconomic background, or any other characteristic
Use the names and pronouns people give you
Disagree without disrespect — engage with ideas, not identities
Listen actively; share airtime in group discussions

Be safe

Follow staff and instructor directions about equipment, materials, and movement around the Makerspace
Report safety hazards or near-misses to staff
Keep workspaces and walkways clear
Wear required safety equipment (eyewear, gloves, closed-toe shoes) when working with tools or chemicals

Be honest

Submit only your own work for assignments and competition projects (collaboration is encouraged when explicitly invited)
Credit other people’s work, code, designs, and ideas when you use them
Tell staff if you damaged something or if something is broken
Disclose conflicts of interest (e.g. a relative is judging a competition)

Be a good neighbor

Clean up after yourself
Return tools to their storage locations
Don’t take FundedYouth property home without permission
Be a good guest at competition venues, host schools, and partner sites

2. Prohibited behavior

The following are not acceptable in any FundedYouth context:

Harassment

Unwelcome comments about another person’s body, appearance, gender, sexuality, race, religion, disability, or other personal characteristics
Persistent unwelcome attention, including following someone, sending unwanted messages, or unwanted physical contact
Sexual harassment of any kind, including sexual comments, jokes, imagery, advances, or contact
Bullying, threats, intimidation, or coordinated exclusion of an individual
Showing or sharing sexually explicit, violent, or hateful content

Discrimination

Treating someone less favorably because of their identity, including refusing to work with them, excluding them from group activities, or denying access to resources

Violence and threats

Physical violence or the threat of it
Bringing weapons of any kind onto FundedYouth premises
Damaging property out of anger

Substance use

Possessing, using, or being under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances at the Makerspace or during FundedYouth programs (except prescribed medications taken as directed)
Smoking or vaping inside the Makerspace

Dishonesty

Plagiarism, cheating, or fabricating results
Misrepresenting your affiliation with FundedYouth (e.g. posing as staff or board)
Using FundedYouth resources for personal commercial gain without authorization

Unsafe behavior

Operating equipment you have not been trained or authorized to use
Bypassing safety guards, interlocks, or warning systems
Leaving long-running equipment unattended without staff approval
Bringing unauthorized hazardous materials onto the premises

Misuse of the Portal or website

Accessing accounts that are not yours
Sharing your login with others
Using the Portal or website to harass other users
Submitting false or fraudulent information through any FundedYouth form

3. Special expectations for adults working with minors

If you are an adult (18+) working with minors at FundedYouth as a mentor, instructor, volunteer, contractor, or staff member, you also agree to:

Maintain transparency. Do not be alone in a closed room with a single minor unrelated to you. Where one-on-one mentoring is necessary, keep doors open and stay in public sightlines.
Maintain professional distance. No physical contact beyond brief, professional gestures (handshakes, high-fives). No private social media contact, no personal phone numbers exchanged, no private messaging outside FundedYouth-approved channels.
Mandatory reporting. California law requires certain adults working with children to report suspected child abuse or neglect. By participating as an adult mentor or instructor, you agree to act consistent with mandated-reporter expectations whether or not you are technically a mandated reporter, and to report concerns to FundedYouth staff and the appropriate authorities.
Background checks. Volunteers and staff may be subject to background checks. You agree to cooperate with the check process.

[ATTORNEY REVIEW] Important section. Verify with counsel that mandated-reporter obligations are correctly described under California Penal Code §11164–11174.4. Decide whether to require Live Scan background checks for adults with regular minor contact.

4. Reporting

If you experience, witness, or learn about a violation of this Code, please report it as soon as you safely can.

How to report

In person: Speak to any FundedYouth instructor, mentor, or staff member you trust.
By email: info@fundedyouth.org (or, if you would like to flag for the board specifically, write “Board Attention” in the subject line).
By phone: (619) 728-5002.
Anonymously: You may report without sharing your identity. Anonymous reports are taken seriously but may be harder to act on if we cannot ask follow-up questions.

[ATTORNEY REVIEW] Decide whether to add an external/third-party reporting channel (e.g. an anonymous hotline service like Lighthouse Services or EthicsPoint) — common for nonprofits as a board-governance best practice.

Emergency

If someone is in immediate danger, call 911 first, then notify FundedYouth.

If you suspect child abuse or neglect, also contact the California Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-540-4000, in addition to telling FundedYouth.

What happens after a report

We acknowledge reports within [ATTORNEY REVIEW — DEFAULT 2 BUSINESS DAYS].
We investigate confidentially, sharing information only on a need-to-know basis.
We protect reporters from retaliation. Retaliating against a good-faith reporter is itself a violation of this Code.
We document the investigation and the outcome.
We follow up with the reporter (when possible) about the outcome.

5. Consequences

Depending on the severity and circumstances, consequences for violating this Code may include:

A private conversation with staff
A written warning
A required apology or restorative conversation
Temporary suspension of access to the Makerspace, classes, sessions, or the Portal
Permanent removal from FundedYouth programs
Forfeiture of unused FYBITS membership benefits (but not unused FYBITS credits — those remain in the wallet though may be inactive without an active membership)
For staff and volunteers: discipline up to and including termination of role
Referral to law enforcement when warranted

We strive to be fair, consistent, and proportionate.

6. Relationship to other agreements

This Code is in addition to other agreements:

General Release Agreement (liability waiver)
Makerspace Use Agreement (safety and premises rules)
Photo and Media Release (use of likeness)
Privacy Policy (data practices)
Terms of Service (website use)
Portal agreements at docs.fundedyouth.org/agreements/

If there is a conflict, the most specific agreement controls.

7. Changes

We may update this Code from time to time. We will:

Post updates at docs.fundedyouth.org/legal/code-of-conduct/
Notify active participants by email or at the Makerspace
For material changes affecting expectations of adults working with minors, require re-acknowledgment

8. Governing law

This Code is governed by the laws of the State of California.

9. Acknowledgment

By participating in any FundedYouth program, accessing the Makerspace, or using the Portal, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to this Code.

For minors under 18: a parent or legal guardian acknowledges this Code on the minor’s behalf as part of registration.

FundedYouth 415 Parkway Plaza, Suite 519 El Cajon, CA 92020 (619) 728-5002 · info@fundedyouth.org EIN 93-4090260 · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit