diff --git a/app/controllers/admin/settings_controller.rb b/app/controllers/admin/settings_controller.rb
index b12a5d7c61..2689e4f5eb 100644
--- a/app/controllers/admin/settings_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/admin/settings_controller.rb
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ def setting_params
       params.require(:setting).permit(:organization_id, :info_email, :reply_to_email, :invoice_prefix,
                                       :return_address_id, :remittance_address_id, :contact_attention,
                                       :ce_administrator_id, :ce_administrator_title, :import_user_id,
+                                      :participant_credit_person_id,
                                       :ce_provider_number, :ce_accreditation_abbreviation,
                                       :ce_accreditation_body, :ce_accreditation_url,
                                       :programs_email, :no_reply_email,
diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 89b2757e4b..44fd16bed1 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ def hidden_filter_fields(params_hash)
   end
 
   # Byline for an AuthorCreditable record. Links each credited author to their person
-  # profile when the viewer can open it; anyone else renders as plain text. The
+  # profile when the viewer can open it; anyone else, and the participant stand-in
+  # (Setting.participant_credit_person_id), renders as plain text. The
   # names and the separator come from the record (`credited_name_for_person`,
   # `CREDIT_SEPARATOR`), so this matches the plain-text credit everywhere else. Falls
   # back to the plain author_credit label when the credit resolves to nobody linkable
@@ -30,7 +31,8 @@ def credited_author_link(record, **link_options)
 
     safe_join(people.map { |person|
       name = record.credited_name_for_person(person)
-      allowed_to?(:show?, person) ? link_to(name, person_path(person), **link_options) : name
+      linkable = allowed_to?(:show?, person) && !person.participant_credit?
+      linkable ? link_to(name, person_path(person), **link_options) : name
     }, AuthorCreditable::CREDIT_SEPARATOR)
   end
 
@@ -43,7 +45,7 @@ def credited_author_link(record, **link_options)
   # now also passes.
   def credited_author_edit_button(record)
     person = record.author_credit_person
-    return credited_author_link(record) unless person && allowed_to?(:manage?, person)
+    return credited_author_link(record) unless person && allowed_to?(:manage?, person) && !person.participant_credit?
 
     person_edit_button(person,
                        display_name: record.author_credit,
diff --git a/app/models/person.rb b/app/models/person.rb
index 4ce051c13a..ad42831a58 100644
--- a/app/models/person.rb
+++ b/app/models/person.rb
@@ -628,6 +628,10 @@ def placeholder_email?
     PlaceholderEmail.match?(email)
   end
 
+  def participant_credit?
+    persisted? && id == Setting.participant_credit_person_id
+  end
+
   # The lowest numbered placeholder nobody with this name is using yet.
   def next_free_placeholder_email
     scope = Person.where("LOWER(first_name) = ? AND LOWER(last_name) = ?", first_name.downcase, last_name.downcase)
diff --git a/app/models/setting.rb b/app/models/setting.rb
index 09e0fe3079..9112414642 100644
--- a/app/models/setting.rb
+++ b/app/models/setting.rb
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ class Setting < ApplicationRecord
   belongs_to :return_address, class_name: "Address", optional: true
   belongs_to :remittance_address, class_name: "Address", optional: true
   belongs_to :ce_administrator, class_name: "Person", optional: true
+  belongs_to :participant_credit_person, class_name: "Person", optional: true
   belongs_to :import_user, class_name: "User", optional: true
 
   # singleton is a constant true behind a unique index: MySQL has no CHECK-based
@@ -165,6 +166,12 @@ def self.import_user
     stored_association(:import_user)
   end
 
+  # The stand-in person credited on content by an unnamed participant. Their byline
+  # reads as a generic label, so it never links to a profile.
+  def self.participant_credit_person_id
+    stored(:participant_credit_person_id)
+  end
+
   # The signatory's title, printed beside their name on the certificate.
   def self.ce_administrator_title
     stored(:ce_administrator_title) || DEFAULT_CE_ADMINISTRATOR_TITLE
diff --git a/app/views/admin/settings/edit.html.erb b/app/views/admin/settings/edit.html.erb
index 961e9610f7..baa3a66edf 100644
--- a/app/views/admin/settings/edit.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/admin/settings/edit.html.erb
@@ -132,6 +132,22 @@
                   input_html: { data: { controller: "remote-select", remote_select_model_value: SearchController::USER_ANY_STATUS_MODEL } } %>
     </section>
 
+    <section class="rounded-xl border border-gray-200 bg-white p-6">
+      <h2 class="mb-1 text-lg font-semibold text-gray-800">Author credits</h2>
+      <p class="mb-4 text-sm text-gray-600">
+        A generic person credited on content by an unnamed participant. Like
+        "<%= AuthorCreditable::FACILITATOR_AUTHOR_LABEL %>", their name shows as plain text, not a profile link.
+      </p>
+      <% participant_credit_person = Setting.current.participant_credit_person %>
+      <%= f.input :participant_credit_person_id,
+                  collection: participant_credit_person.present? ? [ [ participant_credit_person.remote_search_label[:label], participant_credit_person.id ] ] : [],
+                  selected: participant_credit_person&.id,
+                  prompt: "Search people",
+                  label: "Participant stand-in",
+                  hint: "e.g. an \"AWBW Participant\" person record",
+                  input_html: { data: { controller: "remote-select", remote_select_model_value: "person" } } %>
+    </section>
+
     <section class="rounded-xl border border-gray-200 bg-white p-6">
       <h2 class="mb-4 text-lg font-semibold text-gray-800">Mailboxes</h2>
       <%= f.input :info_email,
diff --git a/db/migrate/20261103122719_add_participant_credit_person_to_settings.rb b/db/migrate/20261103122719_add_participant_credit_person_to_settings.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ddc5afb8b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/migrate/20261103122719_add_participant_credit_person_to_settings.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+class AddParticipantCreditPersonToSettings < ActiveRecord::Migration[8.1]
+  def up
+    add_reference :settings, :participant_credit_person unless column_exists?(:settings, :participant_credit_person_id)
+    unless foreign_key_exists?(:settings, column: :participant_credit_person_id)
+      add_foreign_key :settings, :people, column: :participant_credit_person_id, on_delete: :nullify
+    end
+  end
+
+  def down
+    remove_foreign_key :settings, column: :participant_credit_person_id if foreign_key_exists?(:settings, column: :participant_credit_person_id)
+    remove_reference :settings, :participant_credit_person if column_exists?(:settings, :participant_credit_person_id)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/db/schema.rb b/db/schema.rb
index 423f4ce48b..d5b44845bb 100644
--- a/db/schema.rb
+++ b/db/schema.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #
 # It's strongly recommended that you check this file into your version control system.
 
-ActiveRecord::Schema[8.1].define(version: 2026_10_31_142321) do
+ActiveRecord::Schema[8.1].define(version: 2026_11_03_122719) do
   create_table "action_text_mentions", charset: "utf8mb4", collation: "utf8mb4_unicode_ci", force: :cascade do |t|
     t.bigint "action_text_rich_text_id", null: false
     t.datetime "created_at", null: false
@@ -2114,10 +2114,12 @@
     t.string "ce_accreditation_abbreviation"
     t.integer "import_user_id"
     t.integer "home_featured_stories_limit"
+    t.bigint "participant_credit_person_id"
     t.index ["ce_administrator_id"], name: "index_settings_on_ce_administrator_id"
     t.index ["created_by_id"], name: "index_settings_on_created_by_id"
     t.index ["import_user_id"], name: "index_settings_on_import_user_id"
     t.index ["organization_id"], name: "index_settings_on_organization_id"
+    t.index ["participant_credit_person_id"], name: "index_settings_on_participant_credit_person_id"
     t.index ["remittance_address_id"], name: "index_settings_on_remittance_address_id"
     t.index ["return_address_id"], name: "index_settings_on_return_address_id"
     t.index ["singleton"], name: "index_settings_on_singleton", unique: true
@@ -2951,6 +2953,7 @@
   add_foreign_key "settings", "addresses", column: "return_address_id", on_delete: :nullify
   add_foreign_key "settings", "organizations"
   add_foreign_key "settings", "people", column: "ce_administrator_id", on_delete: :nullify
+  add_foreign_key "settings", "people", column: "participant_credit_person_id", on_delete: :nullify
   add_foreign_key "settings", "users", column: "import_user_id", on_delete: :nullify
   add_foreign_key "staff_aliases", "users"
   add_foreign_key "staff_taggings", "staff_tags"
diff --git a/db/seeds/features/2026-11-03-participant-stand-in-byline-not-linked.yml b/db/seeds/features/2026-11-03-participant-stand-in-byline-not-linked.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c7f7aeb990
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/seeds/features/2026-11-03-participant-stand-in-byline-not-linked.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+name: "Participant stand-in bylines no longer link to a profile"
+area: stories
+display_status: admin_facing
+released_on: 2026-11-03
+action_path: "/admin/settings"
+summary: >-
+  App settings has a new Author credits section where you pick the generic "AWBW Participant"
+  person. Content credited to them shows the name as plain text, like "AWBW Facilitator".
diff --git a/spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb b/spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb
index f0a071f9c4..f32a9e19b3 100644
--- a/spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/helpers/application_helper_spec.rb
@@ -117,6 +117,15 @@ def strip_for(marker)
       ).at_css("a")
       expect(link["data-turbo-frame"]).to eq("_top")
     end
+
+    it "renders the participant stand-in as plain text, even to a viewer who can open it" do
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: person)
+      allow(helper).to receive(:allowed_to?).with(:show?, person).and_return(true)
+      workshop = create(:workshop, author_credit_preference: "full_name")
+      allow(workshop).to receive(:author).and_return(person)
+
+      expect(helper.credited_author_link(workshop)).to eq("Ada Lovelace")
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#credited_author_edit_button" do
@@ -149,6 +158,14 @@ def strip_for(marker)
 
       expect(helper.credited_author_edit_button(anonymous)).to eq("AWBW Staff")
     end
+
+    it "stays plain text for the participant stand-in, even to an admin" do
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: person)
+      allow(helper).to receive(:allowed_to?).with(:manage?, person).and_return(true)
+      allow(helper).to receive(:allowed_to?).with(:show?, person).and_return(true)
+
+      expect(helper.credited_author_edit_button(workshop)).to eq("Ada Lovelace")
+    end
   end
 
   describe "#timezone_visibility_hint" do
diff --git a/spec/models/person_spec.rb b/spec/models/person_spec.rb
index 418d23b127..d6a432a47a 100644
--- a/spec/models/person_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/person_spec.rb
@@ -383,6 +383,26 @@
     end
   end
 
+  describe "#participant_credit?" do
+    let(:person) { create(:person) }
+
+    it "is true for the participant stand-in chosen in settings" do
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: person)
+
+      expect(person.participant_credit?).to be(true)
+    end
+
+    it "is false for everyone else" do
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: create(:person))
+
+      expect(person.participant_credit?).to be(false)
+    end
+
+    it "is false when no stand-in is chosen" do
+      expect(person.participant_credit?).to be(false)
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "#effective_author_credit_preference" do
     let(:person) { build(:person, display_name_preference: "first_name_only") }
 
diff --git a/spec/models/setting_spec.rb b/spec/models/setting_spec.rb
index a8b159ff7a..2dd91d78b8 100644
--- a/spec/models/setting_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/setting_spec.rb
@@ -253,6 +253,19 @@ def stub_env(values)
     end
   end
 
+  describe ".participant_credit_person_id" do
+    it "is the id of the person the row points at" do
+      person = create(:person)
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: person)
+
+      expect(described_class.participant_credit_person_id).to eq(person.id)
+    end
+
+    it "is blank until an admin picks someone" do
+      expect(described_class.participant_credit_person_id).to be_nil
+    end
+  end
+
   describe ".import_user" do
     it "is the user the row points at" do
       user = create(:user)
diff --git a/spec/requests/admin/settings_spec.rb b/spec/requests/admin/settings_spec.rb
index 584cf2e80d..2801b64c66 100644
--- a/spec/requests/admin/settings_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/admin/settings_spec.rb
@@ -89,6 +89,16 @@
       expect(options.find { |option| option["selected"] }.text).to include("imports@example.com")
     end
 
+    it "offers the chosen participant stand-in as the picker's current choice" do
+      Setting.create!(participant_credit_person: create(:person, first_name: "AWBW", last_name: "Participant"))
+      sign_in admin
+
+      get admin_settings_path
+
+      options = Nokogiri::HTML(response.body).at_css("select[name='setting[participant_credit_person_id]']").css("option")
+      expect(options.find { |option| option["selected"] }.text).to include("AWBW Participant")
+    end
+
     it "links the deployed build to what's merged on GitHub since" do
       allow(ENV).to receive(:[]).and_call_original
       allow(ENV).to receive(:[]).with("GIT_SHA").and_return("a1b2c3d4e5f6")
@@ -182,6 +192,15 @@
       expect(Setting.import_user).to eq(user)
     end
 
+    it "names the participant stand-in whose bylines never link" do
+      person = create(:person)
+
+      patch admin_settings_path, params: { setting: { participant_credit_person_id: person.id } }
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:see_other)
+      expect(Setting.participant_credit_person_id).to eq(person.id)
+    end
+
     it "saves the attention line shown on the contact page" do
       patch admin_settings_path, params: { setting: { contact_attention: "Front Desk, Operations" } }