GitLab Foundation requires that all team members demonstrate the Foundation’s commitment to treating all people and organizations with whom we come into contact or conduct business impartially. The Foundation also understands how gifts may influence behavior, and we work to actively be mindful and avoid potential conflicts of interests through transparency.

Team members shall not directly or indirectly solicit gifts, loans or discounts of any sort from consultants, vendors, grantees, partners and others seeking to conduct or currently conducting business with the Foundation. Team members are able to accept gifts of reasonable monetary value (up to $75), but must follow reporting requirements below.

No gifts of any kind that are offered by a current or potential grantee—no matter the value—will be accepted by any team member.

Exemptions

1. Gifts such as t-shirts, pens, trade show bags and all other items that team members obtain, as members of the public, at events such as conferences, training events, seminars, and webinars that are offered to all members of the public attending the event.
   1. This includes attendance (travel costs, registration, etc.), food and beverages at events funded by conference or event sponsors and offered to other attendees.
2. Food, beverages, and moderately priced meals in the interest of building positive working relationships and in furtherance of the Foundation’s mission. This exemption does not apply to current or potential grantees.

Reporting

Any gift, compensation or other item above $25 in value received by a team member from any person or company (consultant or vendor) that is seeking to conduct or is currently conducting business with the foundation must be reported by:

1. Informing your manager
2. Documenting the gift on gift log for transparency

The Director of Operations will review the list on a monthly basis.

Stipends and Honorariums

Team members may be offered stipends or honoraria for participating in a meeting or other events.

• Stipend: One-time payment to an individual or organization that represents an allowance for cost of time while the individual performs research, training or another activity as part of their role with an entity over a period of time that cannot be measured in terms of tasks or work.
• Honorarium: One-time payment provided as a token of appreciation to an individual or organization for participation in an activity or event for which no fee is legally required, and not as a contractual obligation to pay for services rendered. An honorarium differs from a stipend, which is a fixed sum of money paid for services. Recurring events that have individuals expecting payment for services or participation would receive a stipend, not an honorarium.

All stipends and honorariums offered to team members for speaking or participation in training, meetings, groups, etc. must be paid to the GitLab Foundation. Those funds will be used to build up the organization’s unrestricted funds and funding reserves.

Process for Receiving a Stipend or Honorarium

1. Discuss the offer of a stipend of honorarium with your manager on a 1:1 call to discuss prior to accepting or committing to any activity.
2. If approved, Inform the Director of Operations and your supervisor that you will be receiving a stipend or honorarium.
3. Forward contact email with any documents associated with payment of an honorarium or stipend to the Director of Operations.
4. The Director of Operations will fill out paperwork and communicate with the organization’s contact.