Membership Terms

By submitting an application, nomination, supporter response, payment, renewal, appeal, or related membership form, the participant agrees to the version of the membership terms and referenced policies presented at the time of submission.

If a participant does not agree with the applicable terms, the participant should not proceed with the submission, payment, or use of Foundation membership credentials.

Applicants represent that submitted information is accurate, current, and not materially misleading, and that they have the right to provide the materials, references, and work descriptions included in the application.

The Foundation may request clarification, correction, identity verification, or supporting records where information appears inconsistent, incomplete, or improbable in relation to the grade sought.

Approval obtained through material misrepresentation, concealment, or fraud may be revoked even after activation.

Application materials may include forms, uploaded files, statements, narratives, supporter details, and interview outputs. The Foundation may review these materials internally for completeness, integrity, and grade evaluation purposes.

The Foundation may contact supporters, request updated records, or ask for reasonable evidence necessary to determine whether the published grade criteria are satisfied.

Submission of an application does not guarantee review to completion if the file remains materially incomplete after follow-up or contains abusive, fraudulent, or unusable content.

Membership dues are collected only when a grade requires payment and the participant reaches the applicable approval or renewal stage. The Foundation may use third-party payment processors to collect dues and manage payment confirmation.

Quoted dues may be reduced by approved discounts or waivers. Discounts are governed by published policy and may be limited to one category per membership term unless the Foundation expressly states otherwise.

Failure to complete payment, reversed payment, or unresolved chargeback activity may delay activation, suspend privileges, or render a member not in good standing.

An approved member becomes active when required payment is completed or when dues are formally waived. Active status may be evidenced through internal records, a member ID, and the authorized use of the relevant post-nominal.

Membership is time-bound and must be renewed in accordance with the published renewal cycle unless the grade is waived or otherwise exempt by policy.

If renewal is not completed by the applicable deadline, membership may lapse and associated privileges may be suspended until reactivation or other remediation occurs.

Post-nominals, certificates, badges, and textual references to WorkOnward Foundation membership may be used only in a manner consistent with the member's approved grade and active standing.

Members may not imply that membership constitutes licensure, statutory authority, legal certification, employer endorsement, or any guarantee of competence beyond the scope of the Foundation's recognition framework.

The Foundation may require cessation or correction of misleading credential use and may treat persistent misuse as a conduct matter.

Applications and memberships may be declined, deferred, suspended, lapsed, resigned, or terminated in accordance with the By-Laws, Code of Conduct, and Discipline & Appeals procedures.

Where membership becomes inactive or is revoked, the Foundation may require the individual to stop claiming the grade, remove post-nominals from active use, and stop representing themselves as an active member.

Termination or lapse does not limit the Foundation's ability to preserve records or enforce post-termination obligations relating to confidentiality, payment disputes, or misconduct.

Membership does not guarantee employment, funding, fellowship selection, board appointment, professional advancement, visa eligibility, academic admission, or market recognition.

The Foundation provides a recognition framework and community programming, but individual outcomes depend on factors outside the Foundation's control.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Foundation's liability relating to membership is limited to the amounts paid by the affected participant for the relevant membership term, except where a greater remedy is required by non-waivable law.

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of New York, subject to applicable nonprofit, consumer-protection, and data-protection requirements.

If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.