Can we enter into a contract, agreement, lease, or other financial obligations on behalf of our project?

Under no condition may the Project Leader, a project staff member, a project advisory board member, or volunteer commit project funds by way of contract, agreement, or other third-party financial obligation. Only authorized officers or designated employees of Community Partners can sign off on a document that would result in any kind of debt, liability, legal exposure, or other financial obligation to a project. Likewise, Community Partners will never sign such documents without the knowledge of the Project Leader.

The financial services team can answer your questions about hiring independent contractors, leasing office space or other properties (including co-working spaces), opening credit accounts, installing telephone lines, or entering into other financial obligations. Before entering into an agreement, the fund and award administration team must review your finances with you to ensure that your project has sufficient funds set aside in your project account to cover all related costs.

Project Leaders must disclose the following three details to prospective third-party vendors:

1. The organization is a project of Community Partners
2. The Project Leader has no authority to obligate funds without the approval of
   an officer or designated employee of Community Partners
3. Community Partners is not responsible for, and does not issue payment for, financial obligations entered into without the prior approval of an officer or designated core employee. Community Partners strictly enforces these requirements for the protection of the organization and all of its projects.

Please note: Violations of this policy may result in immediate separation of the project.