Terms of Service

Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using Protestant Project Fund. By creating an account, making a donation, or otherwise using our platform, you agree to be bound by these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the platform.

1. Acceptance of Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Protestant Project Fund ("we," "our," or "us") governing your access to and use of our website and services (collectively, the "Platform"). By clicking "Sign Up," "Create Account," "Donate," or similar buttons, or by continuing to use the Platform, you affirm that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.

If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. About Protestant Project Fund

Protestant Project Fund is a faith-based fundraising platform that enables Protestant organizations worldwide to raise funds for their missions and ministry projects, and enables donors to support those projects. We facilitate connections and payment processing between donors and organizations; we are not a charitable organization ourselves, and donations made through the Platform are not made to us.

We are committed to transparency, integrity, and the promotion of genuine Protestant charitable activity. We verify organizations through a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) process before enabling financial payouts.

3. Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to create an account or make a donation.
• You must be legally capable of entering into a binding contract in your jurisdiction.
• Organizations registering to raise funds must be genuinely affiliated with the Protestant Church, a Protestant religious order, a Protestant educational institution, or a formally recognized Protestant charity or apostolate.
• The Platform is not available to persons or entities subject to applicable trade sanctions or export control lists.

4. Accounts and Registration

Accuracy: You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date.

Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account credentials. You agree to notify us immediately at support@protestantprojectfund.org if you suspect unauthorized access to your account. We will not be liable for losses resulting from unauthorized use of your credentials.

One account per person: You may not create multiple accounts or allow others to use your account. Organizations should use an organizational account rather than a personal account for fundraising.

Email verification: You must verify your email address to unlock full platform functionality.

Two-factor authentication: We strongly encourage you to enable TOTP two-factor authentication for additional account security.

5. Terms for Donors

Voluntary gifts: Donations made through the Platform are voluntary gifts to the organization operating the project. Protestant Project Fund facilitates the transaction but does not guarantee any specific outcome for the funded project.

No refunds by default: Donations are generally non-refundable once processed. If you believe a donation was made in error or through fraudulent means, contact us at support@protestantprojectfund.org within 14 days of the transaction. We will investigate and, at our sole discretion, may facilitate a refund.

Tax deductibility: Whether a donation is tax-deductible depends on your jurisdiction and the tax-exempt status of the receiving organization. Protestant Project Fund makes no representation regarding the tax treatment of any donation. You are responsible for consulting a tax advisor.

Anonymous giving: You may choose to donate anonymously. Your name will appear as "Anonymous" on the project page, but your email address and transaction record will still be retained for fraud prevention and record-keeping purposes.

Donor information to organizations: Organizations may see the names and amounts of donations made to their projects for purposes of stewarding their donors and fulfilling legal reporting obligations.

6. Terms for Organizations

Accuracy of project information: Organizations agree that all project descriptions, funding goals, media, documents, and updates published on the Platform are truthful, accurate, and not misleading. Misrepresentation is grounds for immediate suspension.

Appropriate mission: Projects must be consistent with authentic Protestant faith and values. We reserve the right to remove any project that we determine, in our sole discretion, is inconsistent with Protestant teaching, is misleading, or violates these Terms.

Use of funds: Funds raised must be used for the purpose stated in the project description. Organizations agree to publish timely updates informing donors of project progress and any material changes to the project's plans.

Team members: Organizations may invite team members to assist with project management. The organization account holder is responsible for all actions taken by their team members under the organization's account.

Media and files: Organizations may upload images, videos, and documents in connection with their projects. All uploaded content must be owned by the organization or used with appropriate permission, and must not contain illegal, harmful, or inappropriate material.

7. KYC Verification and Payouts

Before disbursing funds raised, we require organizations to complete a Know-Your-Customer (KYC) verification process. This process involves:

• Providing legal organization name and tax identification number (EIN or equivalent).
• Providing details of an authorized representative (name, title, email, phone).
• Providing banking details for payout via Stripe Connect.
• Uploading supporting documents (e.g., determination letters, registration certificates).

Submission of KYC information is subject to review by our administrators. We reserve the right to approve, reject, or request additional information at our discretion. Approval of KYC does not constitute an endorsement of any specific project or guarantee of funds.

By submitting KYC information, you represent and warrant that all information provided is accurate and that you are authorized to bind the organization to these Terms. Providing false information in connection with KYC is grounds for immediate termination and may be referred to law enforcement.

Payouts are processed via Stripe Connect and are subject to Stripe's Connected Account Agreement.

8. Payments and Fees

Payment processing: Donation payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. By donating, you agree to Stripe's Services Agreement and Privacy Policy. We do not store or have access to your full payment card numbers.

Platform fee: Protestant Project Fund charges a flat 10% fee on each donation received by an organization. This fee is all-inclusive: it covers Stripe's payment processing costs as well as the Protestant Project Fund platform service fee. There are no additional or hidden charges. For example, on a $100 donation, the organization receives $90.00.

Who pays the fee: The platform fee is deducted from the funds disbursed to the organization. Donors are charged only the amount they enter at the time of giving — no surcharges are added to the donor-facing total.

Fee disclosure: The applicable fee is disclosed to organizations during onboarding and within their dashboard. By publishing a fundraising project, organizations acknowledge and agree to this fee structure.

Payout upon reaching the funding goal: When a project's total donations reach its stated funding goal, Protestant Project Fund will initiate a payout of the collected funds (net of the 10% platform fee) to the organization's verified bank account via Stripe Connect. Payout processing times are subject to Stripe's standard transfer schedule, which is typically 2–7 business days after initiation.

Donations received above the funding goal: Donations continue to be accepted after the funding goal is reached. Any amount raised in excess of the stated goal will be held and disbursed to the organization in a single payout 30 days after the date the funding goal was first met. This holding period allows time to verify the additional funds and resolve any disputes or chargebacks before disbursement.

Currency: Donations are processed in the currency specified on the project page (default: USD). Currency conversion, if applicable, is handled by Stripe.

Failed payments and chargebacks: In the event a payment fails or is reversed (e.g., due to a chargeback or fraud dispute), we reserve the right to recover any disbursed funds from the relevant organization, or to offset the amount against future payouts.

9. User Content

You retain ownership of content you submit to the Platform (project descriptions, images, updates, etc.). By submitting content, you grant Protestant Project Fund a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to display, reproduce, and distribute that content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform.

You are solely responsible for your content. You represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to the content you submit.
• Your content does not infringe any third-party intellectual property rights.
• Your content does not violate any applicable law or these Terms.
• Your content is truthful and not misleading.

We reserve the right to remove any content that violates these Terms or that we determine, in our sole discretion, is harmful, misleading, or inconsistent with the mission of the Platform.

10. Prohibited Uses

You agree not to use the Platform to:

• Raise funds for purposes inconsistent with Protestant faith and values.
• Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information in any account, project, or KYC submission.
• Misappropriate donated funds.
• Harass, threaten, or harm any person.
• Circumvent or attempt to circumvent our security measures, rate limiting, or authentication systems.
• Scrape, harvest, or systematically collect data from the Platform without authorization.
• Introduce malware, viruses, or any harmful code.
• Conduct, facilitate, or disguise money laundering or the financing of illegal activity.
• Violate any applicable local, national, or international law or regulation.
• Impersonate any person, organization, or Protestant institution.
• Create multiple accounts to circumvent suspension or other restrictions.

11. Intellectual Property

The Protestant Project Fund name, logo (including the cross symbol ✟ as used in our branding), platform design, source code, and all related materials are the intellectual property of Protestant Project Fund and are protected by applicable copyright, trademark, and other laws. You may not use our name, logo, or branding without our prior written consent.

The Platform may include embeddable widgets that you may use on your own website subject to Section 12 below. All other uses require explicit written permission.

12. Embeddable Widgets

We offer embeddable donation widgets that organizations may display on their own websites or parish pages. By using our embed code, you agree to:

• Use the widget only to display your own active Protestant Project Fund project.
• Not modify or obfuscate the widget code in ways that misrepresent the source of the fundraiser.
• Ensure that your website complies with all applicable laws, including privacy laws requiring disclosure of third-party embeds.

We may modify or discontinue embed functionality at any time with reasonable notice.

13. Disclaimers

The Platform is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement.

We do not guarantee that:

• The Platform will be available at all times or free from errors or security vulnerabilities.
• Any project will reach its funding goal.
• Funds raised will be used as described by the organization (though we take reasonable steps through KYC and moderation to promote accountability).
• Any donation is tax-deductible in your jurisdiction.

14. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, Protestant Project Fund and its officers, directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages — including loss of donations, loss of data, or loss of goodwill — arising out of or in connection with your use of the Platform, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising out of or relating to the Platform shall not exceed the greater of (a) the amount of fees we collected from transactions associated with your account in the twelve months preceding the claim, or (b) USD $100.

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

15. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Protestant Project Fund and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in any way connected with (a) your access to or use of the Platform, (b) your violation of these Terms, (c) your content, or (d) your violation of any third-party rights.

16. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, for conduct that we determine violates these Terms, is harmful to other users or the Platform, or for any other reason at our sole discretion.

You may close your account at any time by contacting us. Upon account closure, your profile information will be removed, subject to retention obligations described in our Privacy Policy. Donation records and financial data will be retained as required by law.

Sections that by their nature should survive termination (including intellectual property, disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and governing law) will survive.

17. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States and the state in which Protestant Project Fund is incorporated, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or the Platform that cannot be resolved informally shall be submitted to binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

Notwithstanding the above, either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in a court of competent jurisdiction to prevent irreparable harm.

18. Changes to These Terms

We may revise these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will notify registered users by email and post a notice on the Platform at least 14 days before the new Terms take effect. If you continue to use the Platform after the effective date, you accept the revised Terms. If you do not agree, you must stop using the Platform and may close your account.

19. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us: