Mentor & Volunteer
Agreement & Waiver

Role & Volunteer Status

1.1 Volunteer Relationship. The Mentor acknowledges and agrees that their engagement with TOM Enterprise is entirely voluntary. This Agreement does not create an employment relationship, independent contractor relationship, partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship of any kind. The Mentor is not entitled to wages, salary, benefits, workers' compensation, or any other compensation from TOM Enterprise in connection with their volunteer service.

1.2 Role Description. The Mentor agrees to serve as a volunteer mentor within TOM Enterprise's mentorship program, providing guidance, support, and accountability to one or more assigned mentees — creative entrepreneurs participating in TOM Enterprise's programs and services.

1.3 No Exclusivity. This Agreement does not restrict the Mentor from serving in mentorship, advisory, or professional capacities with other organizations, provided such activities do not create a conflict of interest with TOM Enterprise or involve the use of TOM Enterprise confidential information.

Mentor Responsibilities

The Mentor agrees to fulfill the following responsibilities during their engagement with TOM Enterprise:

• Guidance & Support: Provide honest, constructive, and experience-based guidance to assigned mentees in alignment with their stated business goals and TOM Enterprise's program framework
• Session Attendance: Attend bi-weekly 60-minute mentoring sessions as scheduled. If a session must be rescheduled, the Mentor will provide at least 24 hours' advance notice to the mentee and notify TOM Enterprise
• Communication: Respond to mentee communications (email, phone, or platform message) within 48 hours during normal business days
• Orientation & Training: Complete TOM Enterprise's initial 2-hour mentor orientation before conducting any mentoring sessions. Attend quarterly mentor update sessions as scheduled by TOM Enterprise
• Progress Reporting: Complete and submit monthly progress reports in TOM Enterprise's designated format within 5 business days of each month's end
• Professional Conduct: Maintain a professional, respectful, and supportive demeanor in all interactions with mentees, TOM Enterprise staff, and community members
• Scope Boundaries: Refrain from providing legal, financial, accounting, tax, medical, or investment advice. Direct mentees to appropriate professionals when such needs arise

Time Commitment

3.1 Minimum Term. The Mentor commits to a minimum 6-month engagement from the date of their first mentoring session with an assigned mentee.

3.2 Session Cadence. Sessions are conducted bi-weekly (every two weeks), each approximately 60 minutes in duration. Sessions may be conducted virtually (video or phone) or in-person in the Greater Phoenix Metro area, as mutually agreed between Mentor and mentee.

3.3 Between-Session Support. The Mentor agrees to remain available for brief email or phone check-ins from their mentee between sessions, with a 48-hour response standard.

3.4 Training Time. In addition to mentoring sessions, the Mentor commits to: (a) an initial 2-hour orientation prior to first session; and (b) quarterly mentor update meetings of approximately 60 minutes each in a group format.

3.5 Early Termination. If the Mentor is unable to fulfill the 6-month commitment due to unforeseen circumstances, they agree to provide TOM Enterprise with at least 30 days' written notice and cooperate in a responsible transition for their assigned mentee(s).

Confidentiality

4.1 Mentee Confidentiality. The Mentor acknowledges that their mentoring relationship involves access to sensitive and confidential information shared by their mentee — including but not limited to business plans, financial information, personal circumstances, and strategic intentions. The Mentor agrees to hold all mentee-shared information in strict confidence and not to disclose, share, or discuss it with any third party outside of TOM Enterprise's program staff without the mentee's explicit written consent.

4.2 Organization Confidentiality. The Mentor may be exposed to TOM Enterprise's internal processes, client data, program frameworks, pricing structures, strategic plans, and operational information. The Mentor agrees to treat all such information as confidential and not to disclose it to third parties, use it for personal gain, or retain or reproduce it after the termination of this Agreement.

4.3 Exceptions. Confidentiality obligations do not apply to information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the Mentor; (b) is required to be disclosed by applicable law or court order; or (c) relates to imminent harm to the mentee or others, in which case the Mentor should contact TOM Enterprise immediately.

4.4 Survival. Confidentiality obligations survive the termination of this Agreement indefinitely.

Intellectual Property

5.1 TOM Enterprise Materials. All curriculum, frameworks, toolkits, resource libraries, training materials, and proprietary methodologies provided to the Mentor by TOM Enterprise remain the exclusive intellectual property of TOM Enterprise. The Mentor is granted a limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to use such materials solely for the purpose of fulfilling their mentoring obligations under this Agreement.

5.2 Mentor Contributions. Any training content, frameworks, tools, or materials that the Mentor independently develops and voluntarily contributes to TOM Enterprise for organizational use become the property of TOM Enterprise upon submission, unless a separate written agreement specifying different terms is executed between the parties prior to submission.

5.3 Mentee IP. The Mentor acknowledges that all intellectual property, business plans, brand materials, and creative work belonging to their mentee remains the exclusive property of the mentee. The Mentor claims no ownership interest in any mentee's work product.

Liability, Waiver & Indemnification

6.1 No Professional Advice. The Mentor acknowledges that their guidance is provided as general mentorship and experiential perspective — not as professional legal, financial, accounting, investment, tax, medical, or other licensed professional advice. Mentors are not authorized to provide, and must not represent themselves as providing, professional advice of any kind within the scope of this engagement.

6.2 Assumption of Risk. The Mentor voluntarily assumes all risks associated with their participation as a volunteer mentor, including any risks arising from in-person meetings, travel to program locations, or remote communications conducted in connection with their mentoring engagement.

6.3 Release of Liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Mentor releases, discharges, and holds harmless TOM Enterprise, its officers, directors, employees, contractors, agents, successors, and assigns from any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses arising out of or related to the Mentor's volunteer service — including but not limited to claims arising from the Mentor's guidance, advice, session conduct, or interactions with mentees.

6.4 Mentor Indemnification. The Mentor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless TOM Enterprise from any claims, liabilities, damages, or costs (including attorneys' fees) arising from: (a) the Mentor's breach of this Agreement; (b) the Mentor's gross negligence or willful misconduct; or (c) the Mentor's provision of advice outside the scope defined in Section 6.1.

6.5 TOM Enterprise Indemnification. TOM Enterprise agrees to indemnify the Mentor from claims arising directly from TOM Enterprise's own gross negligence or willful misconduct, to the extent not covered by the Mentor's release in Section 6.3.

Code of Conduct

The Mentor agrees to uphold the following conduct standards throughout their engagement:

• Respect & Dignity: Treat all mentees, TOM Enterprise staff, and community members with respect, regardless of background, identity, or circumstance
• Non-Discrimination: Provide equal quality mentorship regardless of mentee race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, national origin, or socioeconomic status
• Boundaries: Maintain appropriate professional boundaries with mentees at all times; avoid personal, financial, or romantic entanglements with assigned mentees during and for 12 months following the engagement
• No Solicitation: Refrain from soliciting mentees as clients, customers, investors, or employees during the term of this Agreement and for 12 months following its termination
• Conflict Disclosure: Disclose to TOM Enterprise immediately any actual or perceived conflict of interest arising during the engagement, including any professional, financial, or personal relationship with an assigned mentee
• Representation: Not represent TOM Enterprise publicly or make commitments on TOM Enterprise's behalf without express written authorization from the Founder

Termination

8.1 By TOM Enterprise. TOM Enterprise may terminate this Agreement and the Mentor's participation in the program at any time, with or without cause, upon written notice to the Mentor. Grounds for immediate termination include — but are not limited to — breach of this Agreement, violation of the Code of Conduct, conduct that harms or endangers a mentee, or actions that bring reputational harm to TOM Enterprise.

8.2 By Mentor. The Mentor may terminate this Agreement by providing at least 30 days' written notice to TOM Enterprise. Early termination prior to the 6-month minimum term requires the Mentor to cooperate in transitioning their mentee to another mentor or to TOM Enterprise staff support.

8.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination, the Mentor must: (a) return or destroy all TOM Enterprise confidential materials in their possession; (b) cease representing themselves as a TOM Enterprise mentor; and (c) fulfill all outstanding progress reporting obligations through the termination date. Sections 4 (Confidentiality), 5 (Intellectual Property), 6 (Liability), and 7 (Code of Conduct, non-solicitation provisions) survive termination.

Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

9.1 Governing Law. This Agreement is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Arizona, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions.

9.2 Jurisdiction. Any dispute arising under this Agreement shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Maricopa County, Arizona. Both parties consent to personal jurisdiction in such courts.

9.3 Informal Resolution. Before initiating formal legal proceedings, both parties agree to make a good-faith effort to resolve any dispute through direct written communication. TOM Enterprise's Founder retains final authority over all program-related decisions not governed by formal legal obligation.

9.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between TOM Enterprise and the Mentor with respect to the subject matter herein and supersedes all prior oral or written understandings. This Agreement may only be modified by a written document signed by both parties.

9.5 Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.