1. Terms of Use

By accessing and using the Global Smooth Foundation (“GSF,” “we,” “our”) website, you agree to the following terms. If you do not agree, please discontinue use of this site.

Use of This Website

This website and its content are provided for informational, educational, and certification-related purposes. You may view, download, and print materials from this site for personal, non-commercial use only. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works from, or publicly display any content from this website without prior written permission from GSF, except as expressly permitted herein.

Accuracy of Information

GSF makes reasonable efforts to ensure the accuracy of information on this website. However, we do not warrant that all content is complete, current, or error-free. Certification requirements, event schedules, fees, and other details are subject to change. The most current information can be obtained by contacting us directly.

Third-Party Links

This site may contain links to third-party websites. GSF does not control or endorse the content, products, or services offered by third parties and is not responsible for their privacy practices or terms of use.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, GSF shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of this website or reliance on any information provided herein.

Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California. Any disputes arising from the use of this website shall be resolved in the courts of San Diego County, California.

Changes to These Terms

GSF reserves the right to update these terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the website following any changes constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Privacy Policy

The Global Smooth Foundation is committed to protecting the privacy of all individuals who interact with our organization, including website visitors, certification candidates, event participants, and donors.

Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information when you interact with our website, register for events, apply for certification, or make a donation:

• Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Payment and billing information (processed through secure third-party payment providers)
• Certification exam submissions, including video recordings
• Event registration and attendance details
• Website usage data collected through cookies and analytics tools

How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to process certification applications and exam results, manage event registrations and communications, process donations and provide tax receipts, improve our website and services, send organizational updates (with your consent), and comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

Information Sharing

GSF does not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We may share information with trusted service providers who assist in our operations (e.g., payment processors, email platforms) under strict confidentiality agreements, and when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of the Foundation and the public.

Cookies

This website uses cookies to improve functionality and analyze site traffic. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect certain features of the website.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational safeguards to protect your personal information, including encryption of sensitive data, secure access controls, and regular security reviews of our digital platforms.

Your Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data; opt out of marketing communications; withdraw consent for data processing; and request information about how your data is used. To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 11. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.

California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and the right to request deletion. GSF does not sell personal information.

International Users

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, your data is protected under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). We process your data based on consent or legitimate interest. You may request access, correction, or deletion at any time. In the event of a data breach, we will notify affected individuals within 72 hours as required by GDPR.

Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have inadvertently collected such information, we will delete it promptly.

3. Donor Privacy

The Global Smooth Foundation values the trust of our donors and is committed to respecting donor privacy.

• We will not sell, trade, or share donor personal information—including names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers, or giving history—with any third party without the donor’s explicit written consent, except as required by law.
• Donor information is stored securely and accessed only by authorized personnel.
• We honor all donor requests to remain anonymous. Anonymous donors will not be publicly identified without express written permission.
• Donors may opt out of communications at any time by contacting us.
• All gifts of $250 or more will receive written acknowledgment in compliance with IRS requirements.

This policy applies to all donor information collected online, by mail, by phone, or in person.

4. Non-Discrimination Statement

This commitment applies to all Foundation activities, including employment, volunteer selection, vendor relationships, certification programs, competitive events, judging, and access to educational programs and resources.

The Foundation is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Accommodation requests may be directed to the Executive Director.

The Foundation maintains a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind.

5. Accessibility Statement

The Global Smooth Foundation is committed to ensuring that our website is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. We strive to conform to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, and to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable provisions of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our ongoing efforts include providing text alternatives for images and media, maintaining sufficient color contrast, ensuring full keyboard navigability, using proper heading structure and descriptive link text, providing captions or transcripts for multimedia content, and using responsive design for compatibility across devices.

If you encounter any accessibility barriers on our website, or if you need content in an alternative format, please contact us. We welcome your feedback and will make reasonable efforts to address any concerns promptly.

6. Intellectual Property & Copyright

All content on this website—including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, certification materials, syllabi, scoring systems, and software—is the property of the Global Smooth Foundation or its content providers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and intellectual property laws.

The GSF name, logo, and all related marks are trademarks of the Global Smooth Foundation. Use of these marks without prior written authorization is strictly prohibited.

Certification program curricula, examination materials, training content, and proprietary assessment tools are confidential and may not be reproduced, distributed, or disclosed in any form without express written permission.

If you believe that content on this website infringes your intellectual property rights, please contact us with a detailed description of the alleged infringement.

© 2026 Global Smooth Foundation. All rights reserved.

7. Conflict of Interest

The Global Smooth Foundation maintains a written Conflict of Interest Policy that applies to all directors, officers, and key personnel. This policy requires annual disclosure of any interests that could give rise to conflicts, establishes procedures for recusal from discussions and votes where a conflict exists, and is monitored and enforced by the Board of Directors in accordance with IRS guidelines for 501(c)(3) organizations.

The full Conflict of Interest Policy is available upon request.

8. Whistleblower Protection

In compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Global Smooth Foundation has adopted a Whistleblower Protection Policy. The Foundation encourages any person who has a reasonable basis for believing that illegal, fraudulent, or unethical conduct has occurred to report the matter without fear of retaliation.

The Foundation strictly prohibits retaliation of any kind against individuals who report concerns in good faith. Reports may be submitted confidentially or anonymously to the Board of Directors. All reports are investigated promptly and with appropriate discretion.

To submit a report, please use the contact information in Section 11.

9. Political Activity Policy

As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, the Global Smooth Foundation is prohibited by federal law from participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office. This includes financial contributions, endorsements, and the use of Foundation resources for partisan political purposes.

The Foundation does not endorse or oppose any political candidates, parties, or ballot measures.

10. Certification Policies

Examination Integrity

All GSF certification examinations—across Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Open levels—are administered under standardized conditions to ensure fairness and consistency. Candidates are expected to demonstrate their own skills and knowledge. Cheating, impersonation, or any form of academic dishonesty may result in disqualification, revocation of certification, and exclusion from future examinations.

Scoring & Results

Examinations are scored using documented rubrics with defined thresholds. Candidates are informed in advance of scoring criteria and pass/fail standards. Results are communicated promptly with performance feedback where applicable.

Appeals

Candidates who wish to appeal examination results may do so in writing within 30 days of receiving their results. Appeals are reviewed by a panel of qualified examiners who were not involved in the original evaluation.

Accommodations

Candidates requiring accommodations due to disability should submit a request at least 30 days prior to the examination date. Requests are evaluated individually and reasonable accommodations will be provided where they do not fundamentally alter the nature of the assessment.

Confidentiality

Examination content, candidate submissions, and individual results are treated as confidential. Video submissions and scoresheets are retained securely in accordance with the Foundation’s document retention policies.

11. Contact Information

For questions about these policies, to exercise your data privacy rights, or to submit a whistleblower report, please contact:

For accessibility concerns, donor privacy requests, or certification accommodations, please use the same contact information above and indicate the nature of your inquiry.