Ethics Policy

The purpose of this Ethics Policy is to support a culture of openness, trust, and integrity in all American Heart Association management and business practices. A well understood Ethics Policy requires the participation and support of every Association volunteer and employee.

At the American Heart Association, we are dedicated to working with our volunteers, donors, employees, partners, vendors and customers to support the mission of the Association. We are committed to conducting all of the Association’s affairs and activities with the highest standards of ethical conduct. The Association’s policies provide guidance for decisions and actions during our daily work.

Code of Ethics

  • Proactively promote ethical behavior among peers in the work environment.
  • Perform duties and actions on behalf of the Association properly, diligently, courteously and with respect for others.
  • Provide constituents with information that is accurate and objective.
  • Comply with applicable government laws, rules and regulations.
  • Maintain the confidentiality of information entrusted to them by the Association or its donors, volunteers, business associates, and customers, except when authorized or otherwise legally obligated to disclose.
  • Accept responsibility for preventing, detecting, and reporting all manner of fraud or other illegal activity.
  • Be honest and ethical in their conduct, including the handling of actual or apparent conflicts of interest between personal and professional relationships and in the conduct of all research activities.
  • Protect and ensure the proper use of company assets.
  • Know and adhere to the Association’s policies governing behavior, such as anti-harassment, non-discrimination, and gift acceptance policies.

The Association’s Code of Ethics is built on the Association’s Guiding Values. As such, we acknowledge our individual responsibility to ensure our collective success by practicing and promoting the following values which reflect a shared view of how we want to operate and be seen by others.

Guiding Values

  • Improving and Extending People’s Lives
  • Bringing Science to Life
  • Speaking with a Trustworthy Voice
  • Building Powerful Partnerships
  • Inspiring Passionate Commitment
  • Meeting People Where They Are
  • Making an Extraordinary Impact
  • Ensuring Equitable Health for All

Failure to comply with this Ethics Policy may result in adverse consequences, including employee termination or removal of a volunteer from their position.

If you have any questions or concerns about this Ethics Policy or are unsure about what is the “right thing” to do, we strongly encourage you to first talk with an Association leader. If for any reason you are uncomfortable talking to an Association leader, you may contact the Association’s ethics hotline at 866-293-2427 or www.ethicspoint.com to report your concerns.