Everyone is welcome here, and everyone is treated the same way.
United Services and Equity Foundation, known as USEF, does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin or ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.
This policy applies to every part of the organization and to every person who deals with it. It governs:
No decision in any of the areas above is made on the basis of any of the following:
USEF was founded by and for the Muslim community of Central California, and that is who most of our work reaches. It is not who we are limited to. Anyone who needs our help may ask for it, whatever their background, faith or circumstances, and they will be considered on the same terms as anyone else. No applicant for assistance is required to hold any particular belief, to belong to any community, or to take part in any religious activity in order to be helped.
A small number of charitable funds USEF administers carry conditions set by the donors of those funds, and zakat is the main example. Where a fund is restricted in that way, USEF states the restriction openly, and anyone who does not qualify for a restricted fund is considered for every other form of help the organization can offer. Nobody is turned away without being looked at.
Harassment of any person on the basis of a characteristic listed above is prohibited, whether by staff, volunteers, board members, contractors or program participants. USEF also prohibits retaliation against anyone who raises a concern under this policy in good faith, who takes part in an inquiry, or who reports conduct they reasonably believe to be unlawful. Raising a concern never affects the help a person or their family receives.
USEF provides reasonable accommodation to people with disabilities in its programs, services and employment. Our assistance application is offered in English, Arabic, Urdu, Spanish, Farsi and Pashto, and interpretation can be arranged on request. If something about how we work makes it hard for you to take part, tell us and we will try to change it.
If you believe you have been treated unfairly by USEF for any of the reasons in this policy, write to us. You do not need to use any particular form of words, and you may ask someone else to write on your behalf. Tell us what happened, when, and who was involved.
A concern is acknowledged within five business days and looked into by someone who was not involved in the decision being questioned. You will be told the outcome in writing. If a concern involves a member of staff or the board, it goes to the board officers.
This policy is reviewed at least once a year and whenever the law changes. It is published here so that anyone we serve, anyone who works with us, and anyone considering funding us can read it without having to ask.