Purpose:

Prison Professors Charitable Corporation (“PPCC”) values the contributions of volunteers in advancing our mission to support formerly incarcerated individuals and their successful reentry into society. This policy ensures that volunteer participation is consistent, transparent, and compliant with federal and California nonprofit regulations.

Volunteer Status:

• All volunteers serve on an unpaid basis.
• Volunteers are not employees, contractors, or compensated staff of PPCC. They do not receive wages, salaries, stipends, benefits, or future promises of compensation.
• Volunteering is separate from any Charitable Grant Award a recipient may receive. Receiving a grant does not create any obligation to volunteer, and volunteering does not create eligibility for grants.

Volunteer Expectations:

Volunteers agree to:

• Support the mission, values, and charitable purposes of PPCC.
• Act with integrity, respect, and professionalism when representing the organization.
• Follow all PPCC policies, safety practices, and confidentiality requirements.
• Understand that volunteer service is at the discretion of PPCC, and assignments may end at any time.

Email & Communications Use Policy:

To support effective nonprofit operations, PPCC may provide volunteers with a PPCC email address and access to internal communication tools.

• Purpose: The email account is for nonprofit-related communications only.
• No Employment Relationship: Assignment of a PPCC email address does not create or imply an employee or contractor relationship.
• Professional Use: All communications sent from a PPCC email must reflect professionalism and align with PPCC’s mission and values.
• Confidentiality: Volunteers may not share sensitive donor, client, or organizational information outside of PPCC.
• Ownership: All email accounts remain the property of PPCC. Accounts may be monitored, suspended, or deactivated at any time. Upon conclusion of volunteer service, PPCC will disable the account and retain necessary records.

Liability & Acknowledgment:

• Volunteers serve freely and without expectation of compensation.
• Volunteers acknowledge that they are not covered by workers’ compensation and that PPCC’s liability for volunteer service is limited as permitted by law.
• Volunteers who are assigned PPCC email accounts or other resources agree to comply with this policy and any additional confidentiality agreements.

Non-Discrimination:

PPCC welcomes volunteers regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or justice-involved history, consistent with our mission to support reentry and reduce barriers.

Oversight:

This policy is approved by the Board of Directors of PPCC and may be amended as needed to remain compliant with federal and California nonprofit regulations.



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Frequently Asked Questions

(Volunteer Program)

Do volunteers get paid?

No. All volunteer service with PPCC is unpaid. Volunteers do not receive wages, salaries, stipends, or benefits. This keeps our nonprofit in compliance with California and IRS rules and ensures all support is directed toward our charitable mission.

What if I receive a Charitable Grant Award — can I still volunteer?

Yes. Grant recipients may also choose to volunteer, but the two are completely separate.

• Receiving a grant does not create an obligation to volunteer.
• Volunteering does not create eligibility for a grant.
• Grants are based on need, while volunteering is a free choice.

Will I get a tax form (W-2 or 1099) for my volunteer work?

No. Volunteer service is uncompensated, so no tax reporting is required. Similarly, Charitable Grant Awards are considered charitable aid, not taxable income, so recipients will not receive a W-2 or 1099 either.

Why might PPCC give me a PPCC email address?

To keep nonprofit communications professional and secure, PPCC may assign certain volunteers a PPCC email address. This email is for nonprofit-related use only, remains the property of PPCC, and does not create an employment relationship.

Are volunteer opportunities always available?

Not always. PPCC’s volunteer opportunities depend on our current programs, capacity, and needs. We encourage people who are interested to let us know their skills, availability, and interest areas. Even if opportunities aren’t available right away, we keep volunteer interest on file for future consideration.

What happens if I stop volunteering?

Volunteers may discontinue service at any time, and PPCC may also end volunteer service if needed. If you have a PPCC email account, it will be deactivated, and necessary records will be retained.

Does volunteering affect my legal rights?

Volunteers are not covered by workers’ compensation and provide services at their own discretion. PPCC carries limited liability protections as permitted by law.

Who can volunteer with PPCC?

PPCC welcomes volunteers regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or justice-involved history — consistent with our mission to support reentry and reduce barriers.


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