SHIFT Code of Conduct

The National Fund welcomes you to SHIFT Toward an Equitable Future. While you are here, we appreciate your partnership in ensuring that the environment we share is one defined by mutual respect and inclusiveness.

We honor our commitment to learning and collaboration by providing a welcoming space for all, regardless of race, national origin, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, or religion.  This code of conduct outlines our expectations for all SHIFT participants, including staff, attendees, presenters, vendors, and other guests as well as the consequences of unacceptable behavior.

Every participant has the right to enjoy their experience without fear of harassment or discrimination. In that spirit, please:

• Engage in discussion and debate respectfully and with curiosity.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.
• Acknowledge and attend to the impact of words and actions.
• Respect and be considerate of hotel and event venue employees.

Unacceptable behavior includes (but is not limited to):

• Sexual harassment of any kind, including unwelcome sexual attention and inappropriate physical contact.
• Abuse of power (including abuses related to position, wealth, race or gender).
• Intimidating, threatening, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, demeaning or disorderly conduct taking place anywhere on the event premises.

Unacceptable behavior will not be tolerated. The National Fund reserves the right in its sole discretion to determine what constitutes unacceptable behavior and to limit the participation of any person who violates our Code of Conduct from this and future National Fund events.

Participants should alert National Fund staff if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of this policy, even if they seem minor. Incidents may also be reported directly to National Fund Chief Administrative Officer Mary O’Neill via phone, text or email at 202-669-6713 or moneill@nationalfund.org . 

Retaliation against those who file a report or have filed a report after witnessing an incident is prohibited. Threats, intimidation and any other form of retaliation are not tolerated, and the National Fund may take any reasonable appropriate action needed to prevent and respond to retaliation.