Ãå±±ÊÓƵ

This Policy on Corporate Relationships sets out the standards by which Ãå±±ÊÓƵ evaluates and approves Corporate Relationships at the local, affiliate and national levels. Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s mission is building healthier lives, free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Ãå±±ÊÓƵ works with many different organizations that share Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s goal of improving cardiovascular and brain health for every American, including other not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, corporate foundations and government-related entities. While these relationships are essential to Ãå±±ÊÓƵ reaching its goals for public health, Ãå±±ÊÓƵ must exercise care not to endorse or appear to endorse a commercial product, process, service or enterprise.

A Corporate Relationship is a relationship between Ãå±±ÊÓƵ and one or more organizations in which Ãå±±ÊÓƵ – through use of its name, trademark or other intellectual property – is associated with a third-party product, brand, process, service or enterprise.

There are various types of Corporate Relationships including (but not limited to) sponsorships, promotions, strategic relationships, consumer product purchases, licensing, and certification, and these are further defined in the Procedures for Corporate Relationships.

All Corporate Relationships are intended to advance Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s mission by providing meaningful benefits to the public, and to be conducted in a manner that enhances Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s reputation and the integrity and credibility of the Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s name and logos. To that end, Ãå±±ÊÓƵ will evaluate Corporate Relationships in the context of whether it aligns with Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s Guiding Values; Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s public policy, science positions and public health goals; and other Ãå±±ÊÓƵ criteria. Ãå±±ÊÓƵ will exercise independent judgment in all decision-making related to any Corporate Relationship.

1. Guiding Values: Ãå±±ÊÓƵ Guiding Values provide the lens through which Ãå±±ÊÓƵ evaluates its programs and activities, including its relationships with other organizations.
    
2. Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s Public Policy, Science Positions and Public Health Goals: Ãå±±ÊÓƵ will evaluate for alignment with Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s Public Policy and Science positions, guidelines, and Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s public health goals any Corporate Relationship that: 1) involves health-related companies, brands, products, services and processes; or 2) has a health impact; or 3) claims a health benefit. All proposed health-related Corporate Relationships at the local, affiliate or national level will:
   1. be produced, positioned and marketed consistent with Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s Public Policies, Science Statements or Guidelines or other Ãå±±ÊÓƵ health criteria; or
   2. for organizations wanting to improve the health of its products, include contractual commitments to incremental product improvement, developing new healthy products; and/or marketing and advertising healthier Products and behaviors; and
   3. be approved in accordance with the Procedures, and by the Ãå±±ÊÓƵ Legal Department
3. Tobacco: Ãå±±ÊÓƵ will not have relationships with tobacco companies or their corporate subsidiaries, parents or foundations. (“Subsidiary” and “parent” are defined as an entity in which there exists a direct or indirect 5% or greater ownership or control by or of a tobacco company);
    
4. Health-Related Corporate Relationship: Corporate Relationships that involve health-related companies, brands, products, services and processes, or have health impact or claim health benefits, include but are not limited to:
   1. Liquor, beer and wine;
   2. Candy (including chocolate);
   3. Sugar-sweetened beverages;
   4. Food companies and food brands and products;
   5. Restaurants and restaurant meals;
   6. Pharmaceutical drugs, over the counter drugs, and other non-prescription substances (supplements, vitamins, marijuana, etc.);
   7. Medical devices;
   8. Health-related technology products or services; and
   9. Health plans, hospitals and healthcare providers.
5. Ãå±±ÊÓƵ Criteria: Corporate Relationships must not materially detract from Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s reputation for objectivity, independence, integrity, credibility, social responsibility and accountability or otherwise be inconsistent with the mission and values of Ãå±±ÊÓƵ. All Corporate Relationships will comply with applicable law, and Ãå±±ÊÓƵ policies and procedures. All Corporate Relationships and any use of the Ãå±±ÊÓƵ name or service marks or other Ãå±±ÊÓƵ intellectual property will be documented in a contract approved by the Ãå±±ÊÓƵ Legal Department.
    
6. Disclosure: The Ãå±±ÊÓƵ shall not enter into any agreement or take any action that may imply support or endorsement of a specific commercial product, process, service or organization. Caution shall at all times be exercised in developing relations with or accepting monies from business interests under circumstances that might imply endorsement of commercial products or services.

   The Ãå±±ÊÓƵ Board of Directors, however, upon recommendation of an appropriate committee or Council may make an exception to permit a qualified Ãå±±ÊÓƵ certification program for products, services, individuals, and/or organizations; and, in exceptional circumstances, authorize an Ãå±±ÊÓƵ brand commercial product when determined by the Board that such action is in the interest of the public and compatible with the mission of the Ãå±±ÊÓƵ.

7. Procedures for Corporate Relationships: The Chief Executive Officer shall oversee development of Procedures for Corporate Relationships to set forth the requirements for internal review of proposed Corporate Relationships, and specify those types of local, national and international level Corporate Relationships that require review. In addition to any other Corporate Relationships listed in the Procedures, all health-related Corporate Relationships require review as specified in the Procedures.
   
   The Procedures for Corporate Relationships shall set out the following: 
   1. the types of Corporate Relationships;
   2. the review process, including due diligence review, risk/benefit analysis and compliance with policy;
   3. the approval process, including a definition of companies, brands and/or Corporate Relationships that are pre-approved and those that require CEO, senior management or national volunteer committee review; and
   4. specific requirements for third party use of Ãå±±ÊÓƵ’s names and logos.