TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing or using services covered by these Terms, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the applicable service.

Additional terms, notices or agreements may apply to particular programs, events, training, applications, roles or services. If additional terms conflict with these Terms, the more specific terms will control for that program or service.

2. About The 500 Project

The 500 Project operates programs and resources intended to connect, inform, train and support people and organizations interested in local leadership and community engagement. Programs, availability, eligibility and services may change over time and may vary by location.

References to “The 500 Project,” “we,” “us” or “our” mean The 500 Project and the legal entity that operates the applicable service.

3. Eligibility and Accounts

You must provide accurate information when creating an account, joining, applying for a role or using a restricted service. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of credentials provided to you and for activity occurring through your account or access credentials.

You may not share restricted passwords, access codes or credentials with unauthorized persons. If you believe a credential has been compromised, notify us promptly.

We may use member identifiers, including a 500 ID, to administer membership and program access. A 500 ID remains associated with the member record to which it is assigned and may not be transferred or misrepresented.

4. Membership and Participation

Membership does not guarantee access to every program, role, training, resource or opportunity. Certain services may require additional onboarding, verification, review, approval or separate terms.

Submitting an application, joining the network, completing training or participating in a program does not guarantee selection for a leadership role, organizational relationship, candidate support, endorsement, funding, campaign services or any other particular benefit or outcome.

5. CORE, Candidate, Organization and Other Restricted Programs

Some areas are available only to approved participants. Access may depend on role, status, location, onboarding, verification or other program requirements.

Participants may receive access to non-public information, tools or resources. You agree not to disclose, copy, distribute or misuse restricted materials or information except as authorized by The 500 Project or required by law.

Access may be changed, suspended or revoked when reasonably necessary to protect the program, participants, organization or systems.

6. User Submissions

You may submit information, documents, photographs, links, comments, reports or other materials (“Submissions”). You remain responsible for your Submissions.

By submitting material, you represent that you have the right to provide it and that doing so does not knowingly violate another person's rights or applicable law.

You grant The 500 Project a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to store, reproduce, review, analyze and use your Submission as reasonably necessary to operate our programs, evaluate the information, respond, maintain records and carry out the purpose for which it was provided. This does not transfer ownership of your Submission to The 500 Project.

Do not submit unlawful material, malicious files, confidential information you are not authorized to disclose, or highly sensitive personal information unless specifically requested through an appropriate secure process.

7. Sensitive or Non-Public Information

Some forms or portals may allow you to identify a Submission as sensitive or non-public. That designation helps us route information for appropriate review, but does not create an attorney-client relationship, legal privilege or absolute guarantee of confidentiality.

We may disclose information when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, security or the integrity of our programs and systems.

8. Acceptable Use

You agree not to:

• use our services for unlawful, fraudulent or malicious purposes;
• impersonate another person or misrepresent your identity, role, authority or affiliation;
• attempt to gain unauthorized access to accounts, portals, data or systems;
• interfere with the operation or security of our websites or services;
• upload malware or malicious code;
• scrape, harvest or systematically collect non-public member or program information without authorization;
• use restricted information or resources outside the program for which access was provided; or
• violate another person's intellectual-property, privacy or other legal rights.

9. No Authority to Speak for The 500 Project

Membership, participation, volunteer status, organizational participation or program access does not authorize you to speak for The 500 Project, make commitments on its behalf, represent that you are its agent, promise support, make endorsements on its behalf or bind The 500 Project unless expressly authorized.

Participating organizations remain independent unless a separate written agreement states otherwise.

10. Intellectual Property and Brand

The 500 Project websites, original content, branding, logos, graphics, designs, program names, materials and other intellectual property are owned by or licensed to The 500 Project and protected by applicable law.

No right to use The 500 Project name, logos, THE I symbol or other brand assets is granted except as expressly authorized. You may not modify, reproduce, distribute, create derivative branding from or imply endorsement through our brand assets without permission. Nothing here limits lawful uses that do not require our permission.

11. Communications

If you choose to receive email or text updates, we may communicate using the contact information you provide, subject to applicable law and the consent language presented when you sign up. You may unsubscribe from promotional emails using the instructions in the message and may opt out of texts using the instructions provided, including replying STOP where supported.

12. Third-Party Services and Links

Our services may link to or integrate with third-party websites, scheduling platforms, communications services, training resources, payment services, social-media platforms or other tools. We do not control those third parties and are not responsible for their content, availability, security, terms or privacy practices. Your use may be governed by separate terms with that provider.

13. Changes, Availability and Program Decisions

We may add, modify, suspend or discontinue features, programs, resources or services and may establish or change reasonable participation, access, security or verification requirements.

We may deny, suspend or terminate access when reasonably necessary to enforce these Terms, protect participants or systems, comply with law, address misuse or administer a program.

14. No Guarantee of Results

Information, training, resources, introductions, data, tools and other materials are offered for informational, educational or program purposes. Results depend on circumstances outside our control.

Unless expressly stated in a separate written agreement, we do not guarantee any particular political, electoral, organizational, fundraising, campaign, professional or other result.

15. Disclaimer of Warranties

To the fullest extent permitted by law, our websites and general online services are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. We do not warrant that every service will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure or suitable for every purpose. Nothing here excludes warranties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

16. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, The 500 Project and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, contractors and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising from use of or inability to use our general online services. These limitations do not apply where prohibited by law or to liability that cannot lawfully be limited.

17. Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, you agree to be responsible for claims, losses or expenses arising from your unlawful misuse of our services, your material violation of these Terms or your infringement of another person's rights. This does not require indemnification for conduct for which it cannot lawfully be required.

18. Privacy

Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms where permitted by law.

19. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by applicable law. Nothing in these Terms limits rights that may apply regardless of a contractual choice of law.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms as our services, programs or legal obligations change. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date and provide additional notice when required by law. Continued use after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.

21. Severability and Entire Agreement

If a provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect to the extent permitted by law. These Terms, our Privacy Policy and applicable program-specific terms constitute the agreement governing the covered services unless a separate written agreement applies.

22. Contact Us

Questions about these Terms may be directed to The 500 Project through the contact method published on this website.

Legal contact: connect@the500project.com

Operator: The 500 Project LLC