UNICEF Clubs Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct

UNICEF Clubs are youth-led groups that partner with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF (d/b/a UNICEF USA). It is the responsibility of UNICEF Clubs leaders and members to protect the name and reputation of UNICEF and UNICEF USA. By registering as a UNICEF Club on UNICEF USA website, you agree to the following policies, rules and regulations. These will help UNICEF USA maintain its high standards of professionalism and child safeguarding. You also agree to uphold the positive image of UNICEF USA and UNICEF.

UNICEF USA is committed to:

  • Child Rights: all children everywhere have a right to be healthy, educated, protected and respected  
  • Youth Participation: meaningful inclusion of young people in decisions that affect them, recognizing children as agents of change starting from early childhood 
  • Equity: focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized children 
  • Global Citizenship: promote understanding of our global interdependence by taking action to challenge injustice and inequity at home and abroad 

Operating according to these values, we are relentlessly pursuing a more equitable world for every child.    

Privacy and Communications

By registering on this form you also agree to adhere to and understand UNICEF USA's Privacy Statement and terms of use.

UNICEF USA periodically shares UNICEF Club members' (“members”) contact information with volunteer leaders who help manage the UNICEF Clubs program. Club members will be included in email communications from UNICEF USA staff, UNICEF USA National Council members, and UNICEF Youth Representatives regarding national or local programming related to the UNICEF Clubs experience.

These volunteers are trained to keep your information confidential and will use it only for the purpose of the promotion and management of the UNICEF Clubs program.

You have the ability to opt-out of these communications at any time. If you would prefer not to have your information shared, please email volunteer@unicefusa.org.

UNICEF USA also posts the school name, school address, club email, and social media handles of all active clubs for the current academic year on the www.unicefclubs.org website. No personal or identifiable contact information is shared on the website. If you wish to remove your school from our website, please email volunteer@unicefusa.org.

Policies and Procedures

By signing up to be a UNICEF Club, members become part of the UNICEF community and agree to the UNICEF terms and conditions.

All members are required to stay up to date on all UNICEF USA policies and procedures and in contact with UNICEF USA staff through approved channels. You can contact UNICEF Clubs staff or volunteer leaders through: UNICEF Clubs Slack Workspace, volunteer@unicefusa.org, advocacy@unicefusa.org, hello@unicefusa.org, UNICEF Clubs social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok.

  • Register as an active UNICEF Club on a yearly basis through the website form.
  • Submit all raised funds using the appropriate forms online at unicefusa.org/clubremit or by mailing this form to UNICEF Clubs, 125 Maiden Lane, 10th floor New York, NY, 10038. Submit all funds raised by your UNICEF Club within one month of an event and before the end of the academic year.                                  
  • Fill out the End of Year Survey sent in April each school year.
  • Organize 5 total events per year (depending on when the club was approved). Each event must fall into at least one the following categories: Community Building, Fundraising, Advocating and/or Awareness Raising.
  • Maintain high standards of professionalism.
  • Participate in club activities according to the constitution and bylaws of each individual club. To be considered an active member of a UNICEF Club, members have to attend at least half of all club meetings, events and programs during the year.
  • Maintain a non-partisan approach to political and policy issues when representing UNICEF USA. Please check and follow UNICEF and UNICEF USA's position on an issue before crafting any official statement from a club or engaging in advocacy on behalf of UNICEF or UNICEF USA. For more information about which advocacy activities are sanctioned, please visit unicefusa.org/advocate. Members cannot sign any petition or declaration that takes a political stance on any issue in the name of UNICEF USA or UNICEF. If members wish to sign such documents, they must do so as individuals, independent of UNICEF and UNICEF USA.
  • Share social media accounts during the club registration process for review.
  • Share websites through volunteer@unicefusa.org for approval and follow the linking agreement.
  • Do not use UNICEF's logo without approval by UNICEF USA staff based on UNICEF USA's brand and logo guidelines. Send materials, such as t-shirts or posters, that are designed with UNICEF USA’s logo to volunteer@unicefusa.org for approval before use.
  • Make clear to journalists in any of your communications with the press that you are a volunteer and not a UNICEF or UNICEF USA staff member or spokesperson — and you are therefore unable to answer specific questions about UNICEF’s or UNICEF USA’s mission and programs. Members are, of course, encouraged to make comments about their UNICEF USA activities in their club. Please see additional information on our website at unicefusa.org/news. If a reporter wishes to speak to a staff person, or if members have a local media contact, please email volunteer@unicefusa.org and we will contact the Public Relations department.
  • Maintain updated contact information for your leaders and members. Share contact information with UNICEF USA via the club registration form and the club membership form.
  • Behave in accordance with UNICEF USA’s child safeguarding code of conduct as shown below. Please note that club advisors may need to submit to a background check during the registration process.
  • Uphold UNICEF USA’s policy that there will be no discrimination or harassment in programs, activities or employment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or any other basis prohibited by law.
  • Seek approval for all events and fundraisers through the Fundraiser and Event Application form. Certificates of Insurance and nonprofit status confirmation can be requested through the event application process. UNICEF USA’s federal tax ID number is 13-1760110. The IRS letter confirming our 501(c)(3) status is available for download at unicefusa.org/faq.
  • Cover and control the cost of activities in support of UNICEF USA. Have a very clear understanding of the realistic revenue and expenses of your club and keep accurate tracking of all funds. It is critical that UNICEF Clubs are cost-effective and are viewed as appropriate to the community.
  • Do not take any action that would result in club members’ financial or political benefit.

 

Child Safeguarding Code of Conduct 

Members are required to read and abide by the code of conduct on all activities affiliated or in support of UNICEF USA. Members agree to fulfil their duty of care to safeguard children from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse to the best of their ability; and agree to abide by the principles and behaviors as outlined below. The below is not an exhaustive list and should be interpreted in a spirit of common sense. Everyone should avoid actions or behavior which may constitute poor practice or potentially abusive behavior towards children and should ensure that a culture of openness exists empowering children. As a representative of UNICEF USA, members will:

Always
  • Work in a way that respects children’s rights and places their best interests above all other considerations.
  • Treat all children with equal respect, without discrimination, regardless of their gender, culture, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, or ability.
  • Respect cultural and religious differences when engaging with children and their families and be sensitive to these in interactions with them.
  • Maintain appropriate boundaries at all times whenever in direct or indirect contact with children, and not engage in any conduct that breaches appropriate boundaries; this includes online and digital contact.
  • Avoid working alone and spending excessive time with a child and be aware of situations which may present risks. You should plan your work so that, at least, two adults are present at any time and avoid taking children to your home or go to their home, especially, where they may be alone with you. If working alone is unavoidable, you should move to an area where you and the child can both be seen by other colleagues or other adults.
  • Act on safeguarding concerns swiftly, to reduce the risk of further harm to a child, including calling the appropriate authorities.
  • Avoid inappropriate physical contact with a child. If a child is hurt or distressed, comfort or reassure him/her without compromising his/her dignity or doing anything to discredit your own behavior.
  • Behave appropriately, ensure that language is moderated in their presence and refrain from adult jokes or comments which are clearly unsuitable.
  • Pay attention to what the children are saying and respond/report appropriately.
  • Plan activities in advance to ensure they take into account the age range, gender and needs and ability of all participants.
Never
  • Spend time alone with children where actions cannot be observed by other adults
  • Engage in any sexual activity (contact or non-contact) with a child, or any activity that could be perceived as intimate.
  • Have a child with whom you are working to stay overnight at your home unsupervised.
  • Endorse the participation of a child in abusive activities (e.g. bullying).
  • Abuse physically or emotionally a child by acting in a way that shames or degrades them or puts them at risk of abuse.
  • Allow allegations made by a child or concerns about their welfare go unrecorded or not acted upon.

UNICEF USA is not liable or subject to prosecution for acts that contravene the above terms and conditions and/or the code of conduct by an individual affiliated with UNICEF USA. Breaches to the above should be reported by members to UNICEF USA at volunteer@unicefusa.org. If the issue in question is confidential request for a meeting with the appropriate staff to discuss a confidential breach of the terms and conditions and/or code of conduct. UNICEF USA will take appropriate actions in accordance to the policies and procedures in place and in consultation with appropriate parties.