Guiding Principles

The server rules below are provided in case they aren't obvious and may be changed at any time. They are explicit examples that flow from the three guiding principles for this instance:

1. Take care of yourself: know your limits, take time for yourself, and make your place in the Fediverse comfortable for you.
2. Take care of each other: see everyone for who they are and treat them with the same respect you want to be treated.
3. Understand the universe: use science to see it as it is and know its limits.

Purpose

This instance is for charitable nonprofits (e.g., 501(c)3 organizations in the United States) and anyone working with or supporting those organizations. You are welcome to join, provided you abide by the rules. Being on this server is a responsibility, not a right. If this server isn't for you, there are many other servers to choose from. The Fediverse has a place for everyone, even if it's not the same place as someone else.

Signup Process

Signups are moderated to prevent spam and bot accounts. We try to review and approve them quickly, often within a few hours during the business day. Requests made outside the business day or on the weekends may take a day or two for review.

When reviewing a request, we consider the email address you used to sign up, the username you are requesting, and information about the organization you represent. Nothing is, in itself, a deal-breaker. Our primary concern is to ensure accounts represent real nonprofits and real people.

When requesting an organizational account, use a username that clearly reflects the organization's name (e.g., ACME Shelter could be acmeshelter or acme_shelter). You can add a geographic designation to distinguish your organization from another with a similar name. When prompted to provide a reason for joining, include your organization's name, website, and EIN (if the organization has one and it's not readily available on the organization's website) in the account request. Also, use an email address associated with the organization, if possible, even if it's your email address at the organization.

When requesting an individual account, use a username that won't be confused with an organization. When prompted to provide a reason for joining, speak to your interests and include information about which organizations you focus your time on, whether volunteering or as an employee. Also, use an email address associated with a nonprofit organization, if possible.

Reporting and Moderation Policy

This is not a free speech zone. It is a civil discourse and respectful speech zone. Any uncivil or disrespectful speech will be subject to moderation.

We want you to enjoy your time on this instance, but moderators do not read and approve posts before publication. If you see a rule violation, please report it so we can address it. If you see something you don't like, but it doesn't break the rules, feel free to block or mute the poster.

If a site posts hate speech, spam, or harassment, regardless of the extent of the expression, we will suspend the site. We do not tolerate intolerance. We may limit sites that otherwise violate our rules so they don't appear in any feeds except for those individuals you might follow.

If a site harasses anyone on this site or abuses its federation with this site, we will suspend the site and block all interaction between that site and this one.

If you are new to the Fediverse, there is an unofficial guide at fedi.tips that may be helpful.

For reporting regarding copyright and DMCA violation, please see our DMCA Policy.

Mastodon Server Covenant

We are committed to following the Mastodon Server Covenant. In particular:

1. We moderate against racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. While we may not be able to review every post in real time, we will act on all posts brought to our attention, whether through our review of the public timeline or your reports.
2. We are committed to giving users at least 3 months of warning before shutting down the server.

This Mastodon server is hosted in France.

Support and Funding

This server is owned and operated by Empathy Forward, a Maryland not-for-profit corporation with 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

You can donate directly to the server costs using the following link. Donations made through this link will support programs for nonprofit organizations.

Donate

1. Only charitable organizations and natural persons may have accounts (no for-profit corporate or bot accounts).
2. Respect people's identities, pronouns, and boundaries. Targeted misgendering, deadnaming, or promotion of so-called "conversion therapy" is prohibited.
3. No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, able-ism, casteism, etc.
4. No incitement of violence or promotion of violent ideologies.
5. No harassment, dog-piling, or doxxing of other users.
6. No ad hominem attacks.
7. No un-described images or videos on the Public privacy setting.
8. Sexually explicit or violent media must be hidden behind a content warning when posting.
9. No content that is illegal in the United States.
10. Do not share intentionally false or misleading information.
11. No shortened links.
12. Participate in the community.