VENDOR ENGAGEMENT POLICIES

Our Approach to Vendor Engagement

At the IA FORUM, we are deeply committed to fostering a highly valuable peer-to-peer community, along with programs and content that are always end-user-centric and designed to help our members and their organization achieve IA, AI, and digital transformation excellence. To uphold this commitment, we maintain a vendor-free zone and enforce strict content neutrality and integrity protocols that all members and the IA FORUM must adhere to.

However, we also recognize its essential for our members to be informed about the vendor landscape in their particular focus areas. By doing so, this ensures they can stay aware of the tools available in the marketplace, select the best solutions for their initiatives, and collaborate with their peers to troubleshoot any roadblocks they may encounter with their current solution providers and vendors.

That said, the IA FORUM and its members must adhere to the below policies.

• Content Neutrality & Integrity: We maintain rigorous protocols to ensure our community and programs remain free from commercial influence. Vendors are excluded from community discussions, and members are expected to uphold Charter House Rules and these values, by contributing without bias or promotional intent.

• Confidentiality & Data Security: The IA FORUM has strict standards to protect our members' contact information and data. Under no uncertain terms do we share our members' information with solution providers or vendors that may participate or engage with the IA FORUM in some way.Or in other words, they are NEVER given access to our members' names, emails, phone #s, or a list of our members that attended their event, clicked on their content, ad spots, or directory listing.  

• Vendor-Free Community: Our community is a vendor-free zone where sales pitches, endorsements, and self-promotion are strictly prohibited. Violations may result in immediate membership termination. However, select vendors who exemplify thought leadership, high ethical standards, and practitioner-centric values may be invited to contribute without promotional bias, adhering to the IA FORUM’s strict no sales pitches/endorsement and self-promotion policies.

• VERY STRICT & HIGHLY REGULATED VENDOR Exceptions/Expanded Policy: From time-to-time we allow solution providers and vendors to speak on IA FORUM events, and/or....feature their organization via the IA FORUM Magazine, IA FORUM YouTube Channel, or Vendor Directory on the website - as content placement or ad spots. For a very select few, we allow them to be members, yet with the understanding they must adhere to our very strict policy of NO VENDOR SALES PITCHES/ENDORSEMENT OR SELF-PROMOTION are permitted at any time, not in any way, shape, or form. In these cases, the same member confidentiality policies apply and are highly regulated by the IA FORUM.