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Policies

Our policies ensure transparency, fairness, and trust in everything that we do.

Our Commitment to Transparency

YPFP is committed to maintaining the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Our policies outline how we collect, use, protect, and manage information, and how we engage with our community. 

  • Last Revised: May 2026

    Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (“YPFP,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our global community. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, apply for membership, register for events, use our forms, or purchase items from our merchandise store.

    By using our website or maintaining a YPFP membership, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

    1. Information We Collect

    We collect several types of information from and about users of our website, including:

    • Personal Identification Information: Name, email address, mailing/billing address, phone number, professional/academic affiliation, and career level, which you provide when joining as a member, applying to programs (like the Rising Experts Program), or volunteering.

    • Payment and Billing Data: When you pay for memberships, donate, or buy merchandise, financial transactions are securely processed through our third-party payment processors (such as Stripe). YPFP does not store your raw credit card data.

    • User-Submitted Content: Information you provide when filling out forms on our site, including the Sponsor/Partner inquiry forms, event registration pages, or our website bug report forms.

    • Technical and Usage Data: IP addresses, browser types, device information, operating systems, and details about how you interact with our website (pages viewed, time spent, and referral paths) collected automatically via cookies and tracking technologies through Wix.

    2. How We Use Your Information

    We use the information we collect to operate our global network and deliver meaningful experiences to our members. Specifically, we use your data to:

    • Process your membership applications, renewals, and donations.

    • Manage your participation in national and international forums, including delegations like the Y7 and Y20 Summits.

    • Fulfill merchandise orders placed through our online store.

    • Send newsletters, organizational updates, and alerts about upcoming events (you can opt out of marketing communications at any time).

    • Improve our website functionality, layout, and user experience based on technical feedback and bug reports.

    • Comply with legal obligations or protect the rights, property, and safety of YPFP, our members, and the public.

    3. How We Share Your Information

    YPFP does not sell your personal data. We only share your information with trusted third-party service providers to help us run our operations, such as:

    • Platform and Hosting Providers: Wix Studio, which hosts our website infrastructure and database.

    • Payment Processors: Secure financial services to safely handle dues, donations, and store orders.

    • Internal Global Hubs: Relevant staff across our local branches (e.g., D.C., Brussels, Tokyo, London) to manage regional event attendance and local programming.

    • Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, or government regulatory bodies to protect our community and comply with statutory obligations.

    4. International Data Transfers (GDPR & UK Notice)

    YPFP is a global organization. If you are accessing our website from the European Economic Area (EEA), the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, please note that the data we collect will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our server infrastructures reside.

    We take all necessary steps to ensure your data receives an adequate level of protection in alignment with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and regional frameworks.

    5. Your Privacy Rights

    Depending on your jurisdiction, you have specific rights regarding your personal information, which may include:

    • The Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

    • The Right to Rectification: Request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.

    • The Right to Erasure: Request that we delete your personal data under certain conditions ("the right to be forgotten").

    • The Right to Object/Restrict: Object to or limit how we process your data, including direct marketing.

    6. Third-Party Links

    Our website contains links to other platforms (such as social media networks, external registration engines, or policy publications). YPFP is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to read the privacy statements of any external site you visit.

    To exercise any of these rights, or if you have questions about our data handling, please contact us at info@ypfp.org.

    ​

    YPFP reserves the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Revised" date. Your continued use of the website following changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

  • Last Revised: May 2026

    Thank you for engaging with Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (“YPFP,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). This Refund Policy outlines our terms regarding payments, cancellations, and refunds across our memberships, events, and merchandise store.

    1. Membership Dues

    • Non-Refundable: All YPFP membership dues (including recurring monthly or annual options) are strictly non-refundable once processed.

    • Cancellations: You may cancel your subscription at any time through your account profile dashboard in the Membership Portal. Upon cancellation, your membership privileges remain active until the end of your current billing cycle, and no further charges will be applied. We do not offer prorated refunds for partial unused billing periods.

    2. Event Tickets

    • General Events: Tickets purchased for local branch panels, networking happy hours, and standard regional events are non-refundable.

    • Exceptions: Refunds will only be considered if the event is substantially changed or canceled by the host, or due to documented extenuating circumstances from the individual ticket holder.

    3. Merchandise Store Purchases

    • Print-to-Order Fulfillment: Our official store items are custom-made through a print-to-order system. Because items are custom-manufactured specifically for you, we cannot accept returns or exchanges once our printing partner has fulfilled the order. Please carefully review product descriptions and sizing charts before completing your purchase, as orders cannot be modified or refunded once they enter the production pipeline.

    • Damaged or Misprinted Items: If your gear arrives damaged, physically defective, or misprinted by our production partner, please report it to our team within 14 days of delivery. We will gladly arrange for a replacement or store credit at no additional charge to you.

    4. Donations and Sponsorships

    • Finality: All charitable contributions, donations, and corporate sponsorship packages made to YPFP are completely voluntary and considered final and non-refundable.

    5. How to Request an Exception

    To request a refund review for an event under extenuating circumstances, or to report a misprinted merchandise order, please reach out to our team:

    • Email: info@ypfp.org

    • Subject Line Format: Refund Request - [Your Name] - [Order/Event Name]

    Our team is entirely volunteer led and run so please allow 7-14 business days for our team to review your request and process any approved eligible adjustments back to your original payment card.

  • Last Revised: May 2026

    1. Our Commitment

    Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (“YPFP”) is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, welcoming, and harassment-free environment for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or socio-economic status.

    We enforce a zero-tolerance policy for harassment, discrimination, and bullying in any form. This policy applies to all global members, volunteer staff, board members, guest speakers, partners, and event attendees across all in-person branch environments, virtual forums, and digital communication channels.

    2. Prohibited Conduct and Definitions

    Harassment diminishes the integrity of our community and will not be tolerated. Prohibited behaviors include, but are not limited to:

    • Sexual Harassment: Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate physical contact, or suggestive verbal or written comments of a sexual nature.

    • Harassment and Bullying: Intimidating, stalking, offensive verbal or written gestures, or targeting individuals with malicious personal attacks.

    • Discriminatory Language: Derogatory remarks, slurs, or jokes related to race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or ability, as well as sustained disruptions of panels or webinars.

    • Digital Misconduct: Posting or sharing explicit, offensive, or non-consensual media within YPFP chat spaces, forums, or official social media channels.

    • Misrepresentation: Falsely claiming to speak officially on behalf of YPFP, its executive leadership, or its specialized tracks (such as the Rising Experts Program, Y7, or Y20 delegations) without explicit, prior authorization.

    3. Expected Professional Behavior

    To uphold the reputation of our global network, all participants are expected to:

    • Exercise Respect: Treat fellow members, operational staff, volunteers, and guest diplomats with professional courtesy.

    • Embrace Constructive Disagreement: Foreign policy thrives on diverse ideas. Approach intellectual, structural, or political disagreements with evidence-based, respectful dialogue rather than personal hostility.

    • Represent Responsibly: Maintain professional decorum when participating in external summits, writing for Charged Affairs, or anchoring strategic organizational partnerships.

    4. Reporting Procedures

    If you experience or witness harassment, discrimination, or any behavior that violates this policy, please report it immediately through our established reporting pathways. YPFP provides two tiers for reporting to ensure neutrality:

    • Primary Global Intake: Email your branch representatives directly.

    • Alternative Executive Escalation: If the incident involves a member of your local branch leadership team or if a conflict of interest exists, reports can be escalated directly to senior global leadership at info@ypfp.org to ensure a completely neutral, independent evaluation.

    What to Include in Your Report:

    1. A clear description of the incident(s).

    2. Dates, times, and specific locations (in-person venue or digital platform).

    3. Names and roles of the individuals involved.

    4. Any supporting evidence, such as screenshots, emails, link tracks, or names of witnesses.

    5. Investigation Protocols & Protection Against Retaliation

    • Confidentiality: All reports will be handled with the highest degree of discretion and confidentiality permissible under a fair review process. The identity of the reporter will be protected.

    • Prohibition of Retaliation: YPFP strictly prohibits retaliation against any individual who reports harassment in good faith or participates in an investigation. Retaliatory actions will be treated as an independent, severe violation of this policy.

    6. Enforcement and Disciplinary Actions

    Upon conclusion of a fair and objective investigation by YPFP global leadership, anyone found to have engaged in prohibited conduct will face immediate disciplinary action. Consequences are scaled based on severity and may include:

    • A formal, documented written warning.

    • Immediate removal from a specific event or digital space.

    • Revocation of volunteer status, staff titles, or leadership roles within local branches.

    • Temporary suspension or permanent termination of YPFP membership without a refund.

    • A permanent ban from participating in future global summits, programs, or networking events.

  • Last Revise: May 2026
    1. Acceptance and Eligibility
    By using our Services, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years of age (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction) and possess the legal authority to enter into these Terms. YPFP is a global organization with operations spanning multiple international hubs, including Washington, D.C., Brussels, London, Tokyo, Toronto, New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. You are solely responsible for ensuring that your use of our website complies with all local laws and regulations applicable to you.
    2. Membership Accounts and Security
    To access restricted areas of our platform, including the online Membership Portal, you may be required to register for an account.

    • You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.

    • You are entirely responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for any activity that occurs under your account.

    • You must notify YPFP immediately at info@ypfp.org if you suspect any unauthorized access to or breach of your account security.

    3. Intellectual Property Rights
    Unless otherwise stated, all content, features, and functionality on this website, including but not limited to text, graphics, organizational logos, images, digital downloads, software, and editorial articles (such as those published in Charged Affairs), are the exclusive property of YPFP or its licensors and are protected by international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

    • You may view, download, and print materials for personal, non-commercial, and educational use only.

    4. User-Generated Content and Contributions
    If you submit photos, articles, bug reports, forms, partnership inquiries, comments, and other written or visual materials, you grant YPFP a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, publish, distribute, and reproduce that content across our organizational and marketing channels.

    • You represent that you own or control all rights to any content you submit and that your contribution does not violate the intellectual property, privacy, or personal rights of any third party.

    • YPFP reserves the right to screen, edit, or remove any content at our sole discretion without notice.

    5. Prohibited Activities
    When using our website and Services, you explicitly agree not to:

    • Use the platform for any unlawful purpose or to solicit others to perform unlawful acts.

    • Interfere with, degrade, or circumvent the technical security features of the website, including attempting to introduce viruses, malware, or malicious code.

    • Use automated systems (such as bots, spiders, scrapers, or crawlers) to harvest data or index content from our site without prior written consent.

    • Falsely state, imply, or misrepresent an official affiliation, endorsement, or leadership role with YPFP, its executive staff, or its regional branches.

    6. Limitation of Liability
    YPFP provides this website and its Services on an "as-is" and "as-available" basis. While we strive to maintain accurate information and a seamless, secure user experience, we make no warranties or representations regarding the completeness, security, uptime, or reliability of the site. To the maximum extent permitted by law, YPFP, its directors, and its volunteer staff shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages resulting from your use of, or inability to use, our platform.
    7. Termination
    We reserve the right, without notice and at our sole discretion, to terminate or suspend your account, your membership privileges, or your access to our website for conduct that we believe violates these Terms, our Code of Conduct, or any applicable law, or is harmful to the interests of the YPFP community.
    8. Governing Law
    These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be filed exclusively in the courts located in Washington, D.C.

  • Last Revised: May 2026

    1. Purpose and Scope

    Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (“YPFP,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates as a global network across multiple international jurisdictions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union. This Data Protection Policy outlines our institutional commitment to safeguarding the personal data of our members, staff, volunteers, donors, and partners.

    This policy ensures that YPFP complies with applicable global data protection regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the UK Data Protection Act, and relevant U.S. state and federal privacy frameworks.

    2. Core Data Protection Principles

    We ensure that all personal data handled by YPFP is processed under strict adherence to the following foundational tenets:

    • Lawfulness, Fairness, and Transparency: Data is processed legally and with clear, upfront communication regarding how it will be used.

    • Purpose Limitation: We collect data only for specified, explicit, and legitimate organizational purposes (e.g., membership management, event registration, membership networking profiles, and program applications) and do not process it further in a manner incompatible with those goals.

    • Data Minimization: We only collect and retain the data submitted by members upon account creation and profile maintenance. 

    • Accuracy: The user is required to ensure that personal data is kept accurate, complete, and up to date.

    • Integrity and Confidentiality: We implement appropriate technical and organizational security controls to protect personal data against unauthorized or unlawful processing, accidental loss, destruction, or damage.

    3. Data Collection and Legal Bases for Processing

    YPFP collects personal data through various interaction points on our platform. In compliance with international frameworks, we rely on the following legal bases to process your information:

    • Consent: When you explicitly opt-in to receive our email newsletters, promotional content, or market research surveys.

    • Performance of a Contract: When processing is necessary to execute our obligations, such as managing your paid membership status, distributing member portal credentials, or fulfilling customized merchandise orders.

    • Legitimate Interests: To effectively coordinate our volunteer staff, analyze website traffic trends, optimize our digital interface, and protect our platform's security.

    • Legal Obligation: When compliance is required to satisfy tax requirements, statutory reporting, corporate governance audits, or valid law enforcement mandates.

    4. Technical and Organizational Security Measures

    YPFP utilizes robust security mechanisms to protect our community's data from unauthorized access or alteration:

    • Secure Web Infrastructure: Our platform is hosted on Wix Studio, utilizing secure hosting arrays, firewall protection, and continuous technical vulnerability monitoring.

    • Encryption Standards: All data transmissions on our website, including financial transactions and data entered into contact or bug reporting forms, are encrypted using secure Socket Layer (SSL/TLS) technology.

    • Access Control: Internal access to personal data databases is restricted on a strict "need-to-know" basis, limited exclusively to designated global administrators, authorized branch leaders, and the technical infrastructure team.

    • Third-Party Processor Integrity: YPFP carefully vets all third-party vendors (such as payment gateways and email engines) to verify they are contractually obligated to maintain data protection protocols that align with this policy.

    5. Cross-Border Data Transfers

    As an international organization with regional hubs stretching from Washington, D.C. and London to Brussels and Tokyo, data collected within the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

    To maintain compliance, YPFP utilizes Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) and relies on robust data processing agreements with our primary infrastructure hosts to guarantee that your personal data receives an equivalent, adequate level of legal protection regardless of geographic boundaries.

    6. Data Subject Rights

    YPFP respects your statutory rights regarding your personal information. Irrespective of where you reside, you may contact our oversight team to exercise the following rights:

    • Right of Access & Portability: Request a comprehensive breakdown or electronic copy of the personal data we hold about you.

    • Right to Rectification: Request immediate correction of inaccurate or outdated information in our active databases.

    • Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request the permanent deletion of your personal records, subject to overriding legal retention requirements.

    • Right to Restrict or Object: Halt the processing of your data for direct marketing, automated profiling, or specific promotional distributions.

    To file a formal data request, please contact our technical data administration office at info@ypfp.org.

    7. Data Breach Notification Protocols

    In the unlikely event of a security incident resulting in the accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration, unauthorized disclosure of, or access to personal data, YPFP will:

    1. Immediately mobilize our technical infrastructure team to contain the breach and assess potential risks.

    2. Notify relevant data protection supervisory authorities within 72 hours of discovery if the breach presents a high risk to individual rights and freedoms.

    3. Communicate the nature of the breach directly to affected individuals without undue delay if a significant risk to personal privacy or security is identified.

    8. Enforcement and Continuous Review

    This policy is reviewed annually to ensure ongoing compliance with evolving global data privacy laws. YPFP volunteer staff and branch leaders receive mandatory guidance on data management and confidentiality expectations. Failure to abide by these guidelines may result in disciplinary action up to and including termination of volunteer leadership status.

  • Last Revise: May 2026

    YPFP utilizes cookies across several categories to manage our global network operations, protect data integrity, and run our online features. We classify our cookies into the following groups:

    A. Strictly Necessary Cookies

    These cookies are fundamental to the technical operation of our website. Without them, core functions cannot be provided. We use these to:

    • Verify your identity and keep you securely logged into the Membership Portal.

    • Maintain your shopping cart preferences while browsing our print-to-order Merch Store.

    • Securely process monetary dues, ticket sales, and charitable contributions through our payment gateways.

    B. Performance and Analytics Cookies

    These cookies gather anonymous, aggregated information about how visitors navigate and interact with our platform. They do not identify individual users. We use these to:

    • Identify which web pages, articles (such as those in Charged Affairs), or branch portals receive the most traffic.

    • Monitor site performance, tracking page load speeds and errors reported via our website bug forms to patch technical issues.

    C. Functionality Cookies

    These cookies enable our website to remember choices you make to provide a more personalized experience. We use these to:

    • Remember your regional preferences or proximity to specific local branches (e.g., Washington D.C., Brussels, London, Tokyo).

    • Retain custom display settings you select while interacting with our event boards and registration calendars.

    3. Third-Party Cookies

    In addition to our first-party cookies, certain trusted third-party services may place cookies on your device through our site to fulfill integrated operational services. These include:

    • Web Infrastructure & Hosting Providers: Wix Studio uses native tracking cookies to protect system resources, balance server loads, and stabilize site performance.

    • Secure Financial Gateways: Services like Stripe place cookies during checkout to detect fraudulent transactions, authenticate cards, and protect your billing data.

    4. Controlling and Managing Your Cookie Choices

    You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject non-essential cookies. You can adjust your preferences at any time through the following methods:

    • Browser Settings: Most web browsers are configured to accept cookies by default. However, you can change your browser settings to alert you when a cookie is being sent, block all third-party cookies, or clear your cookie history entirely. Consult your browser’s "Help" or "Settings" menu to manage these configurations.

    • Impact of Disabling Cookies: Please note that if you choose to block or disable strictly necessary cookies, some interactive features, secure logins, and storefront elements of the YPFP website will not function properly.

    5. Policy Updates

    YPFP may periodically modify this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our digital architecture, service integrations, or evolving global data compliance standards. Any revisions will be published directly on this page with an updated "Last Revised" date at the top.

  • Last Revised: May 2026

    Young Professionals in Foreign Policy (“YPFP”) is a nonpartisan organization that generates ideas, builds professional capacities, and fosters constructive debate on global affairs. Our staff, volunteers, fellows, contributing authors, and global members represent a diverse community united by a common belief in YPFP’s mission: developing the next generation of foreign policy leaders and building a cross-sector global network capable of advancing innovative solutions to pressing international challenges.

    1. Nonpartisan Framework and Independence

    YPFP does not adopt, advocate, or lobby for specific institutional positions on any domestic or international policy matter.

    • All publications, research papers, and editorial pieces—including those produced by our Rising Experts or featured in Charged Affairs—represent solely the views of the individual author(s) and do not reflect an official endorsement or stance by YPFP.

    • Our platform acts strictly as a neutral forum for intellectual exploration, evidence-based dialogue, and professional skill-building.

    2. Guidelines for Staff, Volunteers, and Members

    We actively encourage our global network of emerging leaders to write, speak publicly, and offer their personal insights on current policy issues. However, to preserve our institutional neutrality, all participants must adhere to the following rules:

    • No Implied Endorsement: When publishing commentary, testifying, or engaging in external public forums as a YPFP expert, fellow, branch leader, volunteer, or member, individuals must clarify that they are speaking in their personal capacity and that their views do not imply an endorsement by YPFP.

    • Political Activities: Staff, volunteers, and members retain their personal rights to engage in political campaigns, advocacy groups, or government service. However, they are strictly prohibited from using YPFP branding, official communication channels, or institutional resources to advance specific political campaigns, candidates, or partisan legislation.

    3. Donor Contributions and Financial Integrity

    YPFP accepts financial contributions, grants, and corporate sponsorships from a broad range of sources, provided they align with our mission of empowering early and mid-career professionals. To protect our research and program integrity, we enforce the following fundraising rules:

    • Intellectual Control: Acceptance of any contribution is at the sole discretion of YPFP leadership. YPFP retains absolute intellectual independence and total editorial control over all programs, tracks (such as the Rising Experts Program), and content funded in whole or in part by external donor contributions. Donors do not have the right to direct, influence, or veto the outcomes of our programming or publications without explicit agreement.

    • Transparency: As a general policy, YPFP does not accept anonymous contributions unless explicitly requested. We retain authority to publicly acknowledge our strategic partners and donors who contribute $1,000 or more on our digital platforms or within relevant program reporting at our discretion, unless explicitly requested otherwise. 

    • Data Privacy: YPFP does not sell, trade, rent, or lease its member or donor lists to any third party. All contact and giving history is handled in strict compliance with our global Data Protection Policy.

    4. Institutional Representation

    No volunteer staff member or branch leader may enter into strategic partnerships, release public statements, or sign manifestos that violate this Intellectual Independence Policy on behalf of the global organization without the prior written authorization of the HQ executive board.

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