Employee Handbook Development

We are seeking a skilled volunteer to help us design and draft our first Employee Handbook, establishing the core people and culture infrastructure for a growing, early-stage nonprofit. We want to translate our mission, values, and current practices into clear, actionable policies that guide behavior, support performance, and reduce organizational risk.

We need support to:
- Define the overall structure and key policy areas appropriate for a small, scaling nonprofit.
- Identify policy gaps and propose new policies in areas such as conduct, remote work, leave, performance management, and conflict resolution.
- Produce a well-organized, plain-language handbook that is practical for staff, contractors, and key volunteers and can evolve as we grow.

We exist to help transitioning service members and veterans thrive in education, careers, entrepreneurship, and life through structured coaching and programs. To deliver on that mission consistently as we grow, we must build a clear, fair, and transparent internal operating environment for our team.

A well-designed Employee Handbook will:
- Codify expectations, rights, and responsibilities so we can treat staff and key volunteers consistently and equitably.
- Strengthen accountability, reduce ambiguity, and lower operational and compliance risk as we scale.
- Reinforce a values-aligned culture that supports high performance and psychological safety, allowing us to focus more of our energy on serving veterans and their families.

In short, this project will give us the people and culture foundation we need to scale our impact in a disciplined and sustainable way.

We will assign a dedicated project lead, along with a small working group from leadership and operations, to partner closely with the volunteer. At the outset, we will hold a kickoff meeting to align on scope, priorities, and a realistic 4–5 week timeline.

Because we do not yet have a handbook, we will provide:
- Copies of offer letters, role descriptions, and internal communications that reflect our current expectations
- Any existing policies approved by our board (e.g., code of ethics, conflict of interest, confidentiality)
- Access to decision-makers so policy questions can be resolved quickly

We will schedule regular check-ins, respond promptly to questions, and review drafts on an agreed schedule so the volunteer has the clarity and feedback needed to deliver a strong final handbook.