Code of Ethics

Accountability

KnowMe Initiative (KnowMe) is a new organization that will strive for a unique role as a community leader of charity to benefit citizen’s services worldwide and as a major resource to community non-profit organizations and the underserved. Founded in 2020 by Baykal, J., KnowMe is determined to strive to earn public trust through ethical, honest and responsible service. The continued success of KnowMe will depend upon ethical conduct of its employees, volunteers and representatives.

KnowMe places the highest priority on its relationship with communities worldwide. As part of this relationship, KnowMe will respond to, serve and support the community by working to eliminate prejudice and discriminations, including lessening racial tensions in order to foster sustainable diversity tolerance and acceptance among diverse citizens. In an effort to achieve this goal, KnowMe will strive to create a vision and direction that will generate leadership and encourage citizens to see one and other as equal human being.

KnowMe employees must set an example for other nonprofit organizations by their high standards of performance, professionalism, volunteer and charitable activities, and ethical conduct.

This Code of Ethics is the policy of KnowMe Corporation and expresses fundamental values. Accordingly, this Code guides the conduct of all employees, volunteers, and representatives of KnowMe, and is intended to foster an environment that promotes ethical conduct in carrying out their responsibilities.

Accountability

KnowMe Corporation has a responsibility to its customers which include donors, participating agencies, users of services, volunteers and the entire community. These customers have placed or will be placing faith in KnowMe. To uphold this trust, KnowMe employees:

Make full and fair disclosure of all relevant information to customers, who have a right to know how their dollars are spent.
Use customer resources wisely, efficiently and objectively.
Are good stewards of all contributions and grants that are utilized by KnowMe to pay operating expenses, salaries and employee benefits, and refrain from allowing expenditures of KnowMe funds that, by nature or amount, do not directly advance KnowMe’s vision and mission.
Observe and comply with all laws and regulations affecting KnowMe Corporation.

Responsibilities of Volunteers

Review the Code of Ethics of KnowMe and ensure that they adhere to the spirit of the Code when making policy or otherwise managing the affairs of the organization.
Refrain from taking any action or making any statement intended to influence the conduct of KnowMe in such a way as to confer any financial benefit on such volunteers, their immediate family members, or any corporation in which they or their family members have a significant interest as stockholders, directors or officers.
Disclose all known conflicts or potential conflicts of interest in any manner before the Board of Directors (if they are Board members), or any committee upon which they serve. They volunteer should withdraw from discussion, review and voting in connection with the matter.
The disclosure and withdrawal shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting; and annual disclosure of potential conflicts shall be filed with the Board by each member.

Responsibilities to Volunteers

Volunteers who serve KnowMe through its Board of Directors or in other ways are crucial to the success of KnowMe. In order to assist volunteers to serve effectively and to obtain satisfaction from their service, all KnowMe employees must:

Support volunteers so they can perform to the highest level of their contribution and personal satisfaction.
Treat all volunteers with fairness, equity and respect, providing appropriate mechanisms for their views and interests to be expressed.
Involve volunteers at appropriate levels of the decision-making process.
Assist in the development and the understanding of the roles of volunteers and employees, respectively; set clear standards of performance for volunteers; and appropriately recognize their contributions.

Personal Integrity

A personal commitment to integrity in all circumstances benefits each individual as well as the the organization. KnowMe employees:

Respect and seek out the truth to avoid misrepresentation
Ensure fairness and objectivity in all activities
Set an example, as employees of a leading nonprofit organization, for high standards of professionalism
Honor the right of privacy of all people, including co-workers, contributors, and beneficiaries
Exhibit respect and fairness toward all those with who we come into contact

Professional Excellence

As an employer, KnowMe Corporation promotes professional excellence and encourages open and honest communication among all employees to create an atmosphere conducive to personal growth and career development.

KnowMe management:

Encourages employee development, and communicates with personnel to help them achieve their goals.
Evaluates employees on a fair and consistent basis, so that all employees know what is expected of them and how they are progressing toward fulfilling expectations.
Shows respect and empathy for employees, and is considerate while being mindful of managerial responsibilities.
Promotes a working environment where honesty, open communication and minority opinions are valued.

KnowMe employees:

Strive to meet performance standards at the highest level.
Refuse to engage in or tolerate any fraud, misuse, abuse or waste of KnowMe resources.
Encourage growth and self-improvement in themselves and their co-workers.
Exhibit respect for co-workers and all those they come into contact with.
Examine all alternatives with the understanding that the easiest action is not always in the best interest of the organization.

Disclosure

KnowMe employees, volunteers, and representatives are encouraged to disclose any perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics of which they are aware. Disclosure should be made to a supervisor, or to the Board of Directors. Any reported breaches will be investigated and appropriate action, if needed, will be taken. Confidentiality will be maintained, unless the matter raises serious legal implications. KnowMe management will not take any adverse action against employees solely for disclosing perceived breaches of the Code. KnowMe encourages all employees and volunteers to be prompt, open and forthright in reporting perceived breaches of the Code of Ethics.

Personal Loans

It is the policy of KnowMe Corporation to prohibit extending any personal loans to staff or volunteers.

Equal Opportunity

KnowMe Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. KnowMe employees:

Respect all co-workers and all other individuals without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin or ancestry, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, or status as a qualified disabled or handicapped individual.
Support affirmative action and equal employment opportunity programs throughout KnowMe.
Refuse to engage in, or tolerate in others, any form of sexual harassment.

KnowMe is fully committed to the funding of programs that promote diversity, provide equal opportunity and access for all, without regard to race, creed, color, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, age or national origin. In the implementation of this policy, KnowMe will continue to provide funding to programs that specific populations. Programs supported by KnowMe funds must be open to all people within that targeted population and programs may not discriminate within that specific targeted population. The intent of this policy is to provide funding to meet the needs of, and support the diversity of our community.

KnowMe is fully committed to the recruitment of volunteers to fill all volunteers’ positions within the organization without regard to race, creed, color, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, sex, age or national origin. KnowMe will seek volunteers from all over the world who reflect and acknowledge the value of diversity.