Membership Guidelines
Application and Review Process
Developers who wish to join The Lantern Guild can submit an application through our website. Applications are reviewed by the Membership Board.
Application Requirements
- Tool name and description – which mission area it serves
- Working tool URL or access – must be live and functional
- Platform availability – easily accessible to Mac and/or Android users
- Code of Ethics compliance statement – confirmation of all ten principles
- Disclosure of funding and ecosystem – full disclosure of any funding, partnerships, or ties to paid products or services
- Contact information – primary point of contact
Evaluation Criteria
- Code of Ethics compliance (all ten principles, no exceptions)
- Mission alignment (scam detection, misinformation evaluation, tech literacy, or privacy/security safeguarding)
- Accessibility (Mac and/or Android)
- Quality and safety (reliable, actively maintained, vulnerabilities addressed promptly)
- Brand integrity (the submitted tool is not a sales funnel and does not steer users toward paid products or services)
- Companies that sell other products or services are welcome to apply, as long as the tool they submit is completely free, with no premium tier that withholds safety features. All funding and commercial ties must be disclosed.
Approval and Membership
Upon approval, member:
- Gains right to display The Lantern Guild seal on their website
- Is listed on The Lantern Guild website with link to their tool
- Agrees to ongoing Code of Ethics compliance
- Commits to maintaining the tool responsibly and keeping it free
Member Responsibilities
- Maintain tool and patch vulnerabilities promptly
- Notify The Lantern Guild of any changes in funding, partnerships, or commercial ties
- Respond to user reports and concerns
- Continue complying with Code of Ethics
- Not use The Lantern Guild name or seal in misleading ways
Removal from The Lantern Guild
A member may be removed if they:
- Violate any Code of Ethics principle
- Abandon or allow tool to become unsafe or unmaintained
- Engage in deception about funding, partnerships, or capabilities
- Use affiliation to promote commercial products or services
- Refuse to address reported vulnerabilities or user concerns
Member will be notified and given opportunity to respond before final decision.
🔖 The Lantern Guild Seal
Members in good standing may display the seal on their website. The seal conveys:
- This developer has contributed a free tool to The Lantern Guild
- The tool meets our Code of Ethics and serves the greater good
- The tool is independently maintained and free from hidden commercial purpose
Displaying the Seal
For dark backgrounds
For light backgrounds
Approved members receive both versions and a ready-to-use embed code by email. Display rules:
- Use the version that matches your page background; do not recolor, crop, stretch, rotate, or add effects
- Display at a minimum of 120px wide so the text remains legible
- The seal must link to The Lantern Guild homepage
- Place it only on properties for the approved tool, not on unrelated sites or products
- Do not present the seal as an endorsement of anything other than the approved tool
- Remove the seal within 30 days if membership ends
Ready to apply?
Read the Code of Ethics, then submit your tool through the application form.
Start your application →