Community Guidelines

1. Purpose

These Community Guidelines ("Guidelines") govern the conduct of all individuals and organizations that interact with the Embassy Row Project ("the Organization"), a philanthropic initiative founded by James Scott and headquartered in Washington, D.C. These Guidelines apply to grant applicants, scholarship recipients, donors, partners, event attendees, platform users, and any other community members (collectively, "Participants") across all Organization-operated websites, platforms, events, and communications channels.

2. Core Values

The Embassy Row Project is built on the principles of Strategic Capability Philanthropy. All Participants are expected to uphold the following values:

• Integrity: Honest, transparent, and ethical conduct in all interactions with the Organization and fellow Participants.
• Respect: Courteous and professional treatment of all individuals regardless of nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, age, disability, or socioeconomic status.
• Collaboration: Good-faith engagement with the Organization's mission to empower communities through environment, human rights, innovation, and global trade initiatives.
• Accountability: Acceptance of responsibility for one's actions and their impact on the broader community.
• Non-Discrimination: The Organization does not tolerate discrimination, harassment, or exclusionary behavior of any kind.

3. Expected Conduct

All Participants shall:

• Provide truthful and accurate information in all applications, reports, and communications.
• Use Organization resources, platforms, and services solely for their intended purposes.
• Respect the intellectual property rights of the Organization, its partners, and fellow Participants.
• Maintain the confidentiality of proprietary information, research data, and personal information shared within the community.
• Report any suspected violations of these Guidelines, fraud, or unethical behavior promptly to the Organization.
• Comply with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.

4. Prohibited Conduct

The following conduct is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal from the community, termination of services, and referral to law enforcement where applicable:

• Fraud and Misrepresentation: Submitting false information, fabricated credentials, or misleading claims in applications, reports, or communications.
• Harassment and Abuse: Threatening, intimidating, bullying, or engaging in any form of harassment toward Organization staff, partners, or fellow Participants.
• Hate Speech: Language or conduct that promotes violence, discrimination, or hostility based on protected characteristics.
• Misuse of Funds: Diverting grant funds, scholarships, or donated resources for purposes other than those specified in the award agreement.
• Intellectual Property Theft: Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or use of the Organization's proprietary content, research, or tools.
• Spam and Solicitation: Unsolicited commercial messages, chain letters, or promotional content distributed through Organization channels.
• Impersonation: Misrepresenting one's identity, affiliation, or authority within the community.
• Illegal Activity: Any conduct that violates applicable laws, including but not limited to money laundering, terrorism financing, sanctions violations, or exploitation of minors.

5. Donor Conduct

Donors are valued partners in the Organization's mission. Donors shall not attempt to influence the selection of grant or scholarship recipients, attach conditions to donations that conflict with the Organization's mission, or use their donor status to gain preferential treatment. All donations are subject to the Organization's Donation Terms and Fund Usage Policy.

6. Applicant and Recipient Conduct

Grant applicants and scholarship recipients shall submit only genuine applications, provide accurate documentation, use awarded resources exclusively for approved purposes, and submit required progress reports on time. Failure to comply may result in revocation of awards, repayment obligations, and permanent disqualification from future programs. Full terms are detailed in the Scholarship & Grant Terms and Anti-Fraud Policy.

7. Event and Platform Conduct

Participants in Organization-hosted events (virtual or in-person), webinars, workshops, and digital platforms shall conduct themselves professionally. Recording, photographing, or live-streaming events without prior written consent from the Organization is prohibited. Participants shall not disrupt proceedings, monopolize discussions, or engage in conduct that diminishes the experience for others. The Organization reserves the right to remove disruptive Participants without refund or recourse.

8. Content Standards

Any content submitted to the Organization — including applications, reports, research papers, comments, and media — must be original or properly attributed, factually accurate to the best of the submitter's knowledge, free from malware, viruses, or malicious code, and compliant with all applicable intellectual property laws. The Organization reserves the right to remove, edit, or refuse any content that violates these standards. For copyright-related concerns, refer to the DMCA Policy.

9. Reporting Violations

The Organization encourages all Participants to report suspected violations of these Guidelines. Reports may be submitted via the Contact page or by emailing [email protected]. All reports are treated confidentially to the extent permitted by law. The Organization prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports a violation in good faith.

10. Enforcement

The Organization reserves the sole and absolute right to enforce these Guidelines. Enforcement actions may include, but are not limited to:

• Verbal or written warnings.
• Temporary suspension of access to Organization platforms and services.
• Permanent removal from the community and termination of all services.
• Revocation of grants, scholarships, or other awards.
• Referral to law enforcement authorities where criminal conduct is suspected.
• Legal action to recover damages or enforce the Organization's rights.

The severity of enforcement action shall be proportionate to the nature and gravity of the violation, as determined by the Organization in its sole discretion.

11. Children and Minors

The Organization operates youth-focused programs including the Emancip8 Project and Art of the Hak. All interactions involving minors (individuals under 18 years of age) must comply with the Organization's Children's Privacy Policy. Adults interacting with minors through Organization programs shall maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times. Any suspected exploitation, abuse, or inappropriate contact involving a minor must be reported immediately.

12. Modifications

The Organization reserves the right to modify these Guidelines at any time without prior notice. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page indicates when the most recent revisions took effect. Continued participation in the community after modifications constitutes acceptance of the updated Guidelines. Participants are encouraged to review these Guidelines periodically.

13. Governing Law

These Guidelines are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, United States, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Guidelines shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Washington, D.C.

14. Contact

For questions about these Community Guidelines, contact the Embassy Row Project via the Contact page.