Volunteer information · Effective August 28, 2026

Volunteering is always voluntary.

You may decline a proposed task or stop volunteering at any time without penalty. Submitting an interest form does not require you or BGP to accept an assignment and does not create employment, wages, benefits, or a promise of future work.

Before an assignment

BGP will identify the expected role, supervisor, location, schedule, and relevant training. Do not undertake work requiring a license, special training, background check, vehicle authorization, access to confidential information, or contact with vulnerable people unless BGP has expressly approved the assignment and requirements have been satisfied.

Safety and conduct

• Follow training, safety instructions, laws, and the approved scope of the role.
• Decline or stop work that appears unsafe and promptly notify the BGP contact.
• Respect privacy, boundaries, accessibility, and the dignity of every participant.
• Do not discriminate, harass, threaten, exploit, or make unauthorized promises on behalf of BGP.
• Report injuries, hazards, safeguarding concerns, data loss, and other incidents promptly.

Risks and separate agreements

Some assignments may involve travel, events, food handling, equipment, physical activity, technology access, or interaction with members of the public. BGP should explain material risks and reasonable safeguards before participation. A role may require a separate signed agreement, emergency contact, confidentiality agreement, background check, driver documentation, or activity-specific acknowledgment. This webpage is informational and is not a blanket liability waiver.

Confidential information and work product

Use personal and organizational information only for authorized BGP work, keep it secure, and return or delete it when instructed. Do not copy protected volunteer, donor, partner, participant, credential, or internal project information into personal tools or unapproved services. Ownership or licensing of code, designs, writing, photographs, recordings, research, and other volunteer-created work should be confirmed in writing before publication or reuse.

Conflicts, solicitation, and organizational boundaries

• Disclose actual or potential conflicts of interest that could affect a BGP assignment.
• Do not use BGP access, contact lists, meetings, or volunteer relationships to sell services, recruit for unrelated organizations, fundraise without authorization, or solicit personal business.
• Do not present yourself as authorized to sign contracts, spend funds, speak publicly, make commitments, or access systems on behalf of BGP unless written authorization covers that activity.
• Use third-party names, logos, software, and content only as authorized and never imply endorsement or partnership without confirmation.

Technology and systems security

• Use only the individual account and least-privilege access explicitly approved for your assignment; never share credentials or bypass multi-factor authentication.
• Do not install software, change administrator settings, export data, connect third-party services, or grant another person access without written authorization.
• Protect devices with current security updates and a screen lock, report suspected phishing or account compromise promptly, and stop using affected access until BGP confirms it is safe.
• Return, delete, or transfer BGP files and credentials when an assignment ends or access is revoked.

Acknowledgment and version

Approved volunteers must acknowledge these guidelines in the protected volunteer portal before active volunteering. The record includes the date presented, date accepted, rules, confidentiality and code-of-conduct acknowledgments, and agreement version 2026-08-30-v2. BGP should provide notice and obtain a new acknowledgment when a material change affects an assignment.

Photos, video, and stories

Permission to use your image, voice, name, story, or testimonial for promotion is optional and separate from permission to volunteer. Declining promotional use will not disqualify you. A parent or legal guardian must approve media use involving a minor.

Questions or concerns

Email seattlebgp@gmail.com. In an emergency, contact the appropriate emergency service first.

Legal review required: These operational guidelines are not legal advice. BGP should obtain qualified legal review and an attorney-approved agreement before in-person, higher-risk, child-facing, data-access, driving, food-handling, intellectual-property-sensitive, or other sensitive assignments. Maintain appropriate insurance and incident procedures.