The American Youth Foundation (AYF) inspires people to discover and develop their personal best, to seek balance in mental, physical, social and spiritual living and to make a positive difference in their communities and in the wider world. Our board of directors, staff and volunteers are united in a shared commitment to the core values of best self, balanced living, safety, respect, responsibility and stewardship.  We believe that our relationships as AYF directors, staff and volunteers must reflect the same high ideals we espouse with our participants. AYF's Code of Ethics expresses the standards we strive to achieve in our interactions with each other.

Integrity with our fellow AYF family members and the outside world is a corner-stone value for our organization; it can neither be compromised nor negotiated. We strive for openness and honesty in our interactions. We seek to be direct and kind with each other about our ideas, issues and concerns. We are committed to listening to and understanding diverse perspectives, values and ideas. Honest intellectual engagement makes for better decisions, and broad participation builds ownership in the outcomes. As we seek to develop our selves and our skills and to help others do the same, we believe in our right and obligation to both give and receive constructive feedback. Individually, we seek to create a healthy balance between our personal and professional lives. Organizationally, we strive to respect and encourage each person's balance in four-fold living. We consider it essential for all AYF family members to be dependable and accountable. We deliver what we promise and do not promise things we cannot deliver.