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Governance & Transparency
Governance & Transparency

Integrity must be visible in how we work

This public framework explains the standards Attitude to Thrive applies to governance, programs, funding, partnerships, information, and stewardship.

How to read this page

Public framework

Published standards and commitments.

Pending confirmation

Awaiting confirmation by the organization.

Controlled

Available to authorized parties upon request.

Governance & accountability
Public framework

Governance committed to mission and integrity

The Board provides strategic direction, fiduciary oversight, and accountability for the organization’s mission. The governance framework is designed to be sound, transparent and professional.

Board of Directors

Who governs

Pending confirmation

The names and roles of the Board of Directors will be published here once they have been confirmed by the organization.

Institutional leadership

Grant and strategic leadership

Ángeles Chávez

Executive Director of Grants and Strategic Initiatives

Ángeles Chávez brings more than 30 years of experience in education, curriculum, multilingual learning, nonprofit collaboration, and government-related initiatives. She coordinates opportunity review, capture strategy, partner alignment, proposal development, submission readiness, and post-award planning.

Board responsibilities
Public framework

What the Board is responsible for

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Protect the mission

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Approve strategy

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Oversee the use of resources

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Select and supervise the executive director

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Review results

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Ensure transparency

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Prevent conflicts of interest

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Support fundraising

Committees

Five committees

The governance framework provides for five standing committees. Membership is published once confirmed.

01

Programs and Impact Committee

02

Finance and Audit Committee

03

Fundraising Committee

04

Governance and Nominations Committee

05

Communications and Partnerships Committee

Transparency
Public framework

Nine commitments to transparency

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Use resources responsibly

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Publish results

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Maintain financial controls

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Maintain conflict-of-interest policies

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Protect participant privacy

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Prevent any form of discrimination

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Apply child-protection protocols

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Evaluate the quality of programs

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Communicate achievements and challenges honestly

Institutional commitments
Public framework

Trust is part of the work

Non-discrimination

We seek to provide inclusive access without discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, or other status protected by applicable law.

Safeguarding and respect

We promote safe, respectful program environments and responsible conduct when working with children, families, and vulnerable participants.

Financial stewardship

Resources are directed toward mission-aligned activities through responsible budgeting, documentation, oversight, and reporting.

Privacy and accessibility

We respect personal information and work to make communications and services usable by people with different abilities and access needs.

Financial stewardship
Public framework

Resources directed to the mission

Resources are directed toward mission-aligned activities through responsible budgeting, documentation, oversight, and reporting.

Financial management, procurement, grant and contract management, partner oversight, gift acceptance and expense reimbursement follow Policies 09 to 14 below.

This describes the stewardship framework. Financial statements, audits and tax documentation are controlled documents available to authorized parties upon request.

Policies & procedures
Public framework

Twenty policies in four families

Every policy is listed below. Open any policy to read its policy statement and procedure.

A. Governance and Ethics

Accountable leadership and responsible decisions · Policies 01–04

Policy

The Board provides mission, strategy, fiduciary, legal, and executive oversight in accordance with governing documents.

Procedure

The Secretary maintains notices, agendas, minutes, resolutions, attendance, committee reports, and governing records. Conflicts and quorum are confirmed before action; material decisions are documented.

Policy

Directors, officers, staff, and decision-makers must place the organization’s interests above personal or related-party benefit.

Procedure

Disclose actual or potential conflicts promptly and annually; the disinterested body determines the response; the conflicted person does not vote; the disclosure, recusal, and decision are recorded.

Policy

Representatives must act lawfully, honestly, respectfully, and consistently with the mission.

Procedure

Expectations are communicated at onboarding and through agreements. Concerns are reviewed fairly; corrective action may include coaching, restricted duties, discipline, termination, or referral to authorities.

Policy

Good-faith concerns about fraud, misuse, safety, discrimination, or legal violations may be reported without retaliation.

Procedure

Reports may go to the President, Secretary, or designated independent reviewer. The recipient protects confidentiality where possible, documents the matter, avoids conflicts, investigates, and reports corrective action.

B. People and Programs

Safe, inclusive and respectful participation · Policies 05–08

Policy

Programs and organizational decisions are administered without unlawful discrimination.

Procedure

Eligibility criteria are mission-related and documented; reasonable access needs are considered; complaints are routed to leadership, investigated promptly, documented, and addressed without retaliation.

Policy

Attitude to Thrive works to make information and services usable by people with disabilities and people who need language support.

Procedure

Planning includes accessible formats, facilities, technology, communication, and reasonable accommodations. Participants may request support through the program contact.

Policy

Abuse, exploitation, harassment, neglect, and unsafe conduct are prohibited.

Procedure

Programs assess risk; define supervision and boundaries; screen personnel when appropriate; obtain required consent; limit one-to-one access; document incidents; report as required; and coordinate an immediate safety response.

Policy

Staff, contractors, and volunteers are selected and managed according to role, competence, safety, and funding requirements.

Procedure

Use written roles and agreements; verify credentials as relevant; complete orientation; document time and deliverables; protect confidential information; evaluate performance; and end access when service concludes.

C. Finance, Grants and Procurement

Stewardship from approval to closeout · Policies 09–14

Policy

Funds are budgeted, received, safeguarded, spent, reconciled, and reported for authorized purposes with appropriate separation of duties.

Procedure

Use approved budgets and accounts; require documented authorization; retain source records; reconcile bank and ledger activity; monitor restricted funds; report variances; and provide periodic financial information to leadership and the Board.

Policy

Purchases must be necessary, reasonable, adequately documented, and free from real or apparent conflicts.

Procedure

Confirm allowability and budget; define specifications; obtain competition or quotes appropriate to value and award terms; document selection and price reasonableness; screen exclusions when required; approve before commitment; retain the complete file.

Policy

Applications and agreements must be authorized, accurate, deliverable, compliant, and aligned with mission.

Procedure

Qualify the opportunity; assign an owner; approve scope and budget; verify certifications; submit through the required channel; retain confirmation; launch an award file; monitor performance, spending, changes, reports, and closeout.

Policy

Partners receiving funds or carrying material responsibilities are selected and monitored according to risk and agreement requirements.

Procedure

Complete due diligence; define scope, budget, reporting, rights, and remedies in writing; assess risk; review invoices and performance; require corrective action; document monitoring; and close the relationship formally.

Policy

Gifts must support mission, be lawful, and not create disproportionate risk, cost, private benefit, or loss of organizational independence.

Procedure

Review restrictions and noncash assets before acceptance; escalate complex gifts to qualified counsel and the Board; document terms; issue appropriate acknowledgment; track restricted use; decline gifts that cannot be responsibly administered.

Policy

Business expenses must be necessary, reasonable, approved, and supported.

Procedure

Obtain advance approval where required; use economical arrangements; submit itemized records and business purpose on time; identify award or program; separate unallowable or personal costs; review before reimbursement.

D. Information and Accountability

Protecting records, people and public trust · Policies 15–20

Policy

Personal and confidential information is collected only for legitimate purposes and protected according to sensitivity, consent, law, and contract.

Procedure

Minimize collection; disclose use; limit access; use secure systems; apply retention and deletion rules; obtain appropriate releases; manage vendors; respond to incidents; notify affected parties and authorities when required.

Policy

Records are retained for legal, tax, governance, operational, and award requirements, then destroyed securely.

Procedure

Classify records; assign retention periods using applicable law and agreement terms; suspend destruction for audit, claim, investigation, or litigation hold; document authorized disposal; preserve permanent governance records.

Policy

Programs define intended results and use responsible evidence to learn, report, and improve.

Procedure

Establish outputs and outcomes; use appropriate collection tools and consent; check data quality; analyze progress; protect participant information; report accurately; document limitations; implement corrective or improvement actions.

Policy

Fraud, theft, kickbacks, bribery, falsification, diversion, and misuse of assets are prohibited.

Procedure

Maintain preventive controls; disclose suspicious conduct; preserve evidence; restrict conflicted access; investigate independently; notify insurers, funders, regulators, or law enforcement when required; recover funds and correct controls.

Policy

Cross-border activities must comply with applicable U.S., host-country, donor, anti-terrorism, sanctions, export, anti-trafficking, and anti-bribery requirements.

Procedure

Verify geography and legal authority; complete partner due diligence and screening; document banking and currency controls; assess safeguarding and security; define data and reporting duties; monitor changing restrictions.

Policy

Policies are reviewed periodically and after material changes in law, funding, risk, or operations. Exceptions must never violate law or award terms.

Procedure

The policy owner proposes updates; qualified reviewers assess them; the authorized body approves controlled changes; staff are notified and trained; exceptions are written, time-limited, justified, and approved at the required level.

Document control
Controlled

Request controlled policies

The Board of Directors maintains authority over organizational policy. Controlled versions, approval dates, review schedules, and any funder-specific procedures are maintained in the organization’s official records and are available to authorized parties upon request.

Applicable law and award terms control if they differ from this summary. This public framework does not replace legal, tax, accounting, or grant compliance advice.

Requests are sent to info@attitudetothrive.org.

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