Our Policies.

1. Code of Ethics

Go Heroes exists to serve heroes. That mission only works if the people running the organization hold themselves to a higher standard than the minimum the law requires.

• We act with honesty and integrity in everything we do.
• Donated funds are used for the mission — keeping hero programs free to veterans and first responders — and never for personal benefit.
• We comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• We treat veterans, first responders, partners, volunteers, and donors with respect and professionalism.
• We protect confidential information about our donors, volunteers, and the people we serve.
• We disclose conflicts of interest and step aside where required (see Policy 2).
• We keep accurate records and report honestly on what donations fund.

2. Conflict of Interest Policy

A conflict of interest arises when a director, officer, or key employee — or a member of their family, or a business they control — stands to benefit personally from a decision Go Heroes makes. Conflicts are not assumed to be wrongdoing; undisclosed conflicts are the problem.

• Directors, officers, and key employees complete a written conflict-of-interest disclosure each year, and update it whenever their circumstances change.
• Anyone with a potential conflict must disclose it before the matter is discussed.
• The interested person leaves the room during discussion and does not vote. The remaining board members decide whether a conflict exists and whether the transaction is fair and in the organization's best interest.
• The disclosure and the board's decision are recorded in the meeting minutes.
• No loans are made to directors or officers. No interested person votes on their own compensation.
• Failure to disclose a conflict is addressed by the Board and may result in removal.

3. Whistleblower Protection Policy

Anyone connected to Go Heroes — board member, volunteer, partner, donor, or member of the public — may report suspected violations of law, fraud, misuse of funds, or serious ethical breaches, in good faith, without fear of retaliation.

• Reports go to the Chief Executive Officer, or to the Board of Directors if the concern involves the CEO, by email to contact@goheroes.org or in writing to the Board at our Canton, Texas address.
• Go Heroes will not retaliate against anyone who reports in good faith or cooperates with an investigation. Retaliation is itself a violation of this policy.
• Reports are handled confidentially to the extent possible while still allowing a fair investigation.
• The Board, or a committee it designates, investigates promptly and reports its findings. Reports made in bad faith may result in discipline.

4. Document Retention and Destruction Policy

We keep the records the law and good governance require, for as long as they are needed — and destroy them securely when they are not.

• Paper records are destroyed by shredding; electronic records are deleted securely.
• Destruction stops immediately when litigation, an audit, or a government investigation is pending or reasonably anticipated, until the matter is resolved.
• Electronic records follow the same retention schedule as paper records.

5. Financial Controls and Accountability Policy

Donors trust us with their money. These controls make sure that trust is earned, every month, not just at audit time.

• The Board approves an annual budget, and the Chief Executive Officer operates within it.
• Disbursements over $500 require two authorized signatures. Unbudgeted spending over $1,000 requires Board approval.
• No single person controls a transaction from start to finish: the person who approves a payment does not also reconcile the bank account.
• Cash donations are counted by two people and deposited promptly. Organization funds are never held in a personal account.
• Bank statements are reconciled monthly, and the Board reviews financial statements at least quarterly.
• The Board reviews the Form 990 before it is filed.

6. Gift Acceptance Policy

We accept gifts that further our mission, and we turn down gifts that would compromise it.

• We accept cash, checks, publicly traded securities, and in-kind gifts that further our mission.
• Restricted gifts are honored as the donor directs. If a restriction cannot be honored, we contact the donor before accepting the gift.
• Non-cash gifts other than publicly traded securities — including real estate, vehicles, and business interests — require Board review before acceptance.
• We do not accept gifts that would create undue liability, conflict with our mission, or require us to act against our values.
• Every gift is acknowledged in writing. Gifts of $250 or more receive a written receipt as required by the IRS.
• Donors may give anonymously, and we honor anonymity in all public listings.

7. Donor Privacy and Donor Bill of Rights

Donors give because they believe in the mission, not because they want their name on a list. We treat donor information accordingly.

• We do not sell, rent, trade, or share our donor list with any other organization.
• Donor information is used only to process gifts, send tax receipts, and communicate about our work. Donors may opt out of mailings at any time by emailing contact@goheroes.org; requests are honored within 30 days.
• Payment card data is processed by PCI-compliant platforms — Zeffy for donations and Bluevine for one-time gifts. Go Heroes never sees or stores card numbers.

We endorse the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), and the Giving Institute. All donors have these rights:

1. To be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
2. To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgment in its stewardship responsibilities.
3. To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.
4. To be assured their gifts will be used for the purposes for which they were given.
5. To receive appropriate acknowledgment and recognition.
6. To be assured that information about their donation is handled with respect and with confidentiality to the extent provided by law.
7. To expect that all relationships with individuals representing organizations of interest to the donor will be professional in nature.
8. To be informed whether those seeking donations are volunteers, employees of the organization, or hired solicitors.
9. To have the opportunity for their names to be deleted from mailing lists that an organization may intend to share.
10. To feel free to ask questions when making a donation and to receive prompt, truthful, and forthright answers.

8. Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Go Heroes does not discriminate in employment, volunteering, or the provision of services on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Program eligibility is based on the published hero criteria — service as a veteran, first responder, healthcare hero, or disaster volunteer — applied without regard to any protected characteristic.

Harassment of any kind is not tolerated. Concerns may be reported under the Whistleblower Protection Policy (Policy 3).

9. Executive Compensation Policy

Pay for the Chief Executive Officer and any key employees is set by the Board of Directors — never by the person being paid.

• The Board reviews comparability data from similar organizations before setting compensation.
• No interested person participates in the discussion or vote on their own compensation.
• Decisions are documented in Board minutes, including the comparability data relied on.
• Compensation is reviewed at least annually.

10. Website Privacy Policy

This policy covers information collected through goheroes.org.

• What we collect: name and email when you use a form on this site — booking, volunteer application, quiz, or signup — and information you provide when you contact us. Donation details go directly to Zeffy or Bluevine; we receive only the donor's name, amount, and contact details needed for receipts and stewardship.
• How we use it: to respond to you, process your request, send receipts, and share news about our work. We do not sell or rent personal information.
• Cookies and analytics: we may use basic website analytics to understand how visitors use the site. We do not use advertising tracking.
• Third-party links: links to Zeffy, Bluevine, Eventbrite, and other sites are governed by those sites' privacy policies.
• Children: we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
• Your choices: opt out of emails, or ask us to correct or delete your information, by emailing contact@goheroes.org.
• Changes: changes to this policy are posted on this page with the updated date.