Project Invent Volunteer Agreement
Project Invent is a nonprofit organization, committed to empowering high school students with meaningful, community-based experiences. We believe in trusting young people to make real change in the world, and we couldn’t do this work without volunteers like you. Thank you for joining us on our Mission to build a generation of compassionate problem-solvers.
This agreement details the nature of volunteer engagements with Project Invent. Please read carefully and reach out to us (hello@projectinvent.org) with any questions!
VALUES
Volunteers are asked to uphold Project Invent’s Values, which include: Have Fun, Be Bold, Make Failure OK, Design for Equity, Make it Happen, Deliver Outstanding Quality, Stay Curious.
In addition, volunteers are asked to uphold Project Invent’s prohibition of discrimination and harassment. Project Invent prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind, including discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, veteran status, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, age, mental or physical disability, medical condition, national origin, marital status, or any other characteristics protected under U.S federal or state law or local ordinance.
NATURE OF VOLUNTEERING
As a volunteer, you recognize that you are not an employee, independent contractor, or agent of Project Invent. You will not receive any compensation or payment from Project Invent. Furthermore, volunteers are not covered by or eligible for any Project Invent insurance, health care, worker’s compensation, or other benefits. Volunteers are not permitted to make any contracts (or other commitments) on behalf of Project Invent, and should not claim to have such authority, without first obtaining prior written consent. If your status as a volunteer changes at any time, Project Invent will initiate a formal employment process.
BACKGROUND CHECK
All volunteers are required to undergo background checks prior to engaging in any activities. Background checks may include a review of relevant sex offender registries, child abuse records, and criminal activity records. Volunteer engagement is conditional upon the results of background checks.
MEDIA RELEASE
Project Invent is committed to empowering and inspiring students to become agents of change in the world. Storytelling is an important part of bolstering our students’ confidence and opening new pathways for student impact. Please consider agreeing to Project Invent’s media release waiver, which will allow us to share stories about you and the students you work with. The media release waiver is as follows:
I grant Project Invent the right to record my likeness on any medium, including, but not limited to, videotapes, moving pictures, digital pictures, audio recordings and/or photographs (all of which are referred to as “Photos”).
I consent to and authorize Project Invent to use my Photos in any publication or promotion. I waive the right to inspect or approve the finished product, including written or electronic copy, wherein the Photos appear. I grant Project Invent the right to associate my Photos with my first name only.
I understand and acknowledge that I will not be compensated for any such use of the Photos. I further understand that my participation as a volunteer will not be affected by my decision to confirm or deny this release and agreement.
I agree that, should any part of this release agreement be determined to be unenforceable by a court of law, that part of this agreement shall be severable and the remainder of the authorization and release shall remain in full force and effect.
If after you have signed this agreement and release, you wish to rescind it, you may do so at any time by providing written notice to Project Invent (hello@projectinvent.org).
STUDENT SAFETY AND SECURITY
The safety and privacy of Project Invent students is our top priority. Project Invent volunteers must not engage in are prohibited from the following:
Interacting with students in a one-on-one setting, virtually or in-person
Requesting personal, identifying information from students (e.g. home address, phone number)
Disseminating confidential or private information shared by students (confidential information includes any information learned by you that is not available to the public) without prior written consent from the student’s parent or guardian
Sharing photo or video representations of students on personal, online accounts or social media, without prior written consent from the student’s parent or guardian
Requesting or engaging in student interactions outside of project-related meetings
Harassment, intimidation, discrimination, bullying, or predatory behavior of any kind
Using language or engaging in behavior that causes Project Invent participants (students, teachers, other volunteers, staff) to feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way
Sharing content, discussing topics, or engaging in conduct that is inappropriate for kids as young as age 13. This means no profanity, nudity, violence, sexual content, etc.
If you believe that a volunteer may have engaged in any of the activities listed above, immediately report the issue to safety@projectinvent.org. All policy violation claims will be responded to immediately and investigated. If a volunteer is accused of violating this policy, or of making students, teachers, or other volunteers feel uncomfortable/unsafe, they will be removed from all volunteer activities until the investigation is concluded.
AWARENESS AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK
There are risks associated with volunteering. Project Invent volunteers knowingly, freely, and voluntarily: (a) sign up to volunteer for Project Invent; (b) engage in volunteer activities; and (c) assume and accept the risks of all injury, illness, property damage or loss, financial obligation, loss of privacy, loss of reputation, and all other injuries and other consequences, whether known or unknown, whether foreseen or unforeseeable, that may result, directly or indirectly, from participation as a Project Invent volunteer, regardless of the cause.
If, at any time, you feel uncomfortable in your volunteer role, please share your concerns with a teacher at your volunteer site or Project Invent staff via safety@projectinvent.org.
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF CLAIMS
In consideration for your participation as a volunteer, you waive and release Project Invent and its directors, officers, agents, employees, volunteers, and affiliates (collectively, “Released Parties”), from any and all liability, claims, costs, and expenses of any kind and of whatever nature which you or your heirs, next of kin, or legal representatives may have or which may later accrue, caused by or arising directly or indirectly from your participation in Project Invent activities. This release and waiver includes, in each such case, all claims in respect of the risks noted above, known and unknown, foreseen and unforeseeable, regardless of the cause or whether such claims arise from tort, contract, or otherwise, and even if caused by negligence, whether passive or active. You will not sue any of the Released Parties on the basis of these waived and released claims. You waive the protections of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code, which provides as follows:
A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
This Volunteer Agreement will be binding during the volunteer engagement period, and will remain binding after the volunteer engagement period ends. Volunteers may terminate their volunteer engagement at any time for any reason. Project Invent may terminate volunteers’ engagement at any time. This Volunteer Agreement will run in favor of, and may be enforced by, each of the Released Parties, and will bind your heirs, next of kin, and legal representatives. This Volunteer Agreement will be binding to the fullest extent permitted by law. If any provision of this Volunteer Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the other terms remain effective. This Agreement will be governed by California law.