The Jake Cassell Fund’s mission can only be realized through a common code of ethics upheld by our Officers, Board of Directors, and Staff. The Jake Cassell Fund will comply with all applicable laws and regulations and expects its Directors, Officers, and Employees to conduct business in accordance with the letter and spirit of all relevant laws; to refrain from illegal, dishonest, or unethical conduct, to act in a professional manner and to work for the betterment of the special needs community.  The following is a statement of our Code of Ethics:

• We will work with integrity, honesty, professionalism and trustworthiness in all our dealings with our supporters, colleagues, grantees and the broader special needs community.
• We will pursue responsible action on behalf of the organization and are accountable and transparent to our constituents and to one another.
• We will work tirelessly to be good stewards of the financial resources with which we have been entrusted. We refuse to engage in or tolerate any fraud, misuse, abuse or waste of the organization’s resources.
• We will provide financial reports that are factually accurate and complete in all material respects.
• We will pursue and demonstrate sound financial and administrative management practices.
• No employee, Board Member or volunteer should accept any form of gratuity, gifts or favors for performing his or her duties on behalf of the organization.
• Where applicable, we will Conduct all competitive bidding in a fair and professional manner, giving no special preferences or advantages to any vendor.
• We will treat each other and all with whom we engage with respect. We respect the opinions of and the differences among individuals.
• We will consistently pursue a culture of open and proactive communication to challenge preconceived notions and foster adaptation and growth in our organization.
• We will rigorously pursue fairness and objectivity in our actions internally and externally.
• We will respect the privacy of each other and those whom we serve.
• We will respect each other, co-workers and other individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled individual;
• We will refuse to engage in or tolerate in others any form of sexual harassment, abuse or coercion.
• We expect our actions to demonstrate our care for others and the community as a whole. We care about the well-being of each other and the communities and individuals we serve.
• To avoid even the appearance of conflict of interest which would tarnish the image of The Jake Cassell Fund and undermine the public’s trust, all Jake Cassell Fund employees, Board Members and volunteers will refrain from participating in or influencing any decision or other action of The Jake Cassell Fund that could result in a direct or indirect benefit to his/her family or any organization with which an employee, volunteer, or Board member is substantially affiliated.
• Confidentiality is a hallmark of professionalism. Jake Cassell Fund employees, Board Members, consultants and volunteers shall ensure that all information which is considered confidential or privileged or which is not publicly available is not disclosed inappropriately and ensure that all non-public information acquired by Jake Cassell Fund personnel in dealing with outside organizations or any information acquired on behalf of Jake Cassell Fund is treated as confidential and not disclosed without the consent of those third parties.
• We will actively report to the Board of Directors and Organizational Management any breach of this code of ethics for whatever appropriate action is deemed necessary and protect those who report such violation.