‼️ Stay up to date with the July 2025 Chapters Brief!
We have 5 core principles for our Culture First Community. These are the principles we ask everyone to embody at our gatherings. You can think of this as our culture within the community. It's how we do things.
We ask that these be shared at every gathering you host. These are one of the fundamental elements connecting every Culture First community member anywhere on the globe. In addition to who we are, this is the glue that keeps us all together.
Below are explanations for each of the principles.
Foster belonging and acceptance
We create environments where diverse opinions, orientations, and perspectives are embraced and valued. We cultivate people’s wholeness and humanity. When faced with something we don’t understand, we are willing to engage with curiosity and let go of judgment.
Be willing to reflect and grow
We are willing to take an honest look at the things that can be improved in our workplaces and in our own leadership. We find ways to be mirrors for one another, and to challenge and support one another to develop ourselves and our organizations.
Have the courage to be vulnerable
We know that growth comes from sharing our authentic selves and experiences. Being vulnerable supports this by opening spaces for genuine connection. We create safe environments for people to explore deeper levels of vulnerability.
Put learning into action
Our goal is to create change in the world. For this to happen, we need to act on what we’re learning together about how to build better workplaces and cultures. We commit to bringing the knowledge, connections, and support we receive from our community back to our workplaces in order to transform the way the world works.
Connection inside, business outside
We realize and expect, that connections and business opportunities will come from this community. However, the goal of our community events is to foster connection, learning, and action – not transactional business opportunities. Let’s let this happen outside of our organized interactions.
To watch videos explaining these more in depth, click here.
We ask that chapter leads host at minimum 4 events a year, ideally one per quarter. In order to host those gatherings, each chapter gets $600 USD per quarter.
Chapters gets $300/quarter AND one workshop/quarter ($300 value). They can forgo the workshop and have $600 total, but chapter leads must ask Jessie in advance.
The money does NOT roll over. You either use it that quarter or you lose it.
Examples for how chapters have used their money:
happy hour
gift cards
book clubs
coffee
meeting supplies (pens, markers, whiteboards, etc.)
Chapter leads will pay for the expenses and then get reimbursed by filling out the reimbursement form here.
The Culture First community is a global network of individuals from diverse backgrounds, each bringing unique cultures, values, and perspectives. Our commitment to creating an inclusive space rests on the principle of “fostering belonging and acceptance.” We expect all members to treat one another with respect and openness, regardless of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age.
Chapter Leads are responsible for ensuring that no community member is treated differently or denied access to an event based on any protected characteristic or the perception of one. Culture First is dedicated to creating spaces where everyone feels valued and accepted.
Data and Privacy Policies
Culture First uses Bevy, an event management platform, to facilitate our community’s gatherings. When members RSVP for an event, they are required to create an account with Bevy using their name and email address. However, merely registering for an event does not automatically add them to a chapter’s community; members must opt-in by clicking “I agree to join [Chapter Name] and receive their email communications” on the RSVP page.
Chapter Leads can send emails to their chapter members through the Bevy platform without having access to individual email addresses, ensuring the privacy of our members’ Personally Identifiable Information (PII). In addition, Chapter Leads have the option to collect LinkedIn URLs at registration for connection purposes, allowing them to engage with members in a professional capacity while protecting their privacy.
For additional information collection, custom forms on Bevy allow for relevant questions at the time of registration. However, we do not share our community member lists or any personal information with third-party organizations. We uphold strict privacy standards to respect and protect the data of our community members
To learn more about Forms on Bevy, click here.
In Culture First gatherings, impact is measured by the quality of engagement, not by the number of attendees. Remember, these gatherings don’t need to be large to be successful. What matters most is building relationships, fostering learning, and inspiring action within the community. Even if it’s just you and one other community member in meaningful conversation, that connection has value and purpose.
Our program’s success is reflected in engagement and the number of returning participants, rather than the overall size of gatherings. Each event, no matter the size, is an opportunity to create a welcoming and impactful experience aligned with Culture First’s principles of connection and inclusion. If attendance is smaller than anticipated, embrace the opportunity for more personal and in-depth discussions with each participant.
Free Event Policy
All Culture First chapter events are offered free of charge. Chapter Leads are not permitted to charge an entry fee or event fee for Culture First gatherings. However, attendees may be expected to cover their own expenses for food, beverages, or ticketed experiences related to the event. For example, if the event takes place at a local venue, attendees may purchase their own meals or drinks, or buy admission to certain attractions. This policy ensures that our events are accessible to all members while accommodating various event formats. If an attendee is to purchase their own expenses, please make sure to communicate that on your event registration page.
Media Consent Policy
Each Culture First event page includes the following disclaimer: “By participating in our community events, you consent to the possibility of being photographed or recorded for promotional purposes.” This covers both virtual and in-person gatherings, allowing photos and videos to be shared on Culture Amp’s platforms for promotional use.
We encourage Chapter Leads to verbally remind attendees about photography and recording at the beginning of each event. This additional prompt helps foster a safe and comfortable environment where members feel informed and respected regarding media consent.
Guidelines for Partnered Events
Culture First events are intended to maintain a neutral, inclusive environment. As such, they should not be used to promote specific spiritual or religious beliefs, commercial products, or political agendas. Chapter leadership is also not available to individuals affiliated with controversial or extremist organizations. Furthermore, the Culture First brand cannot be associated with other conferences, nonprofits, NGOs, corporations, or commercial endeavors.
There are lots of communities in the HR space. We may have a different how or what, but we oftentimes share a similar why. We all need each other to continue to do this work and therefore there are sometimes it's appropriate to co-host events with them. These aren't to be intentned to collaborate indefinitely, but on occassion. These communities may include Transform, Disrupt HR, ATD, Conscious Capitalism, SHRM, TroopHR, etc.
When co-hosting an event with a third-party organization or 'competing' community, there are few things guidelines to keep in mind:
For it to be a Culture First event, the registrations process must to go through Bevy. All guests must register on the Bevy platform to receive event details and access, even if the event is promoted on additional platforms like LinkedIn or Meetup. If you are partnering, you cannot have the other organization also have an event registration page. It needs to be one of the other. You'll need to decide who is the official host of the event.
You can promote the partner's events via email to your members, but not as a Bevy event. Meaning, if they are the official host, you can send out an email to your members inviting them to attend and you will not also create another registration page. Remember, there is only one official host.
You must share 'who we are' and our principles at our gatherings. This is one of the core minimum asks to running a Culture First chapter and how we create consistency across our global events.
We must honor our principle of ‘connection inside, business outside.’ Meaning, there is to be NO pitching or selling at the gathering from any party. If attendees want to opt in to learn from them directly, they may do so following the event.
We will NOT share our community members’ information (i.e. names and emails) with the co-hosted organizations. Again, they can share their information with the cohosted organizations following the event if they choose to do so.
Chapter Leads and co-hosts are required to be present throughout the duration of the event. To ensure a consistent and supportive experience for attendees, you must be present to share who we are and our principles and for any segments involving an external facilitator or speaker.
Lastly, if you want to partner with a Culture Amp competitors community (i.e. Lattice) you must discuss with Jessie beforehand.
Chapter Leads are responsible for understanding and adhering to all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and other requirements relevant to their event location. This includes ensuring compliance with local ordinances, health and safety protocols, and any other legal restrictions. Hosts are expected to plan their gatherings with consideration of local laws to maintain a safe and lawful environment for all attendees.
To foster a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment, the Culture First community maintains high standards for content and behavior at all gatherings. Inappropriate content or discriminatory actions are strictly prohibited. All discussions, materials, and interactions must align with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, ensuring that every participant feels valued and respected.
Chapter Leads are responsible for maintaining this standard by ensuring that event content and discussions avoid topics or language that could be perceived as discriminatory, offensive, or exclusionary based on race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age. Events must remain respectful, professional, and reflective of our community’s core values of acceptance and belonging.