Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to UniteGive. These Terms of Service (the “Terms”) form a binding agreement between you and UniteGive (“UniteGive,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and govern your access to and use of our website, applications, APIs, and related services (collectively, the “Services”). By creating an account, starting a fundraiser, donating, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and any additional policies referenced here.

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Services. If you are using the Services on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Eligibility

To use the Services you must:

• Be at least 18 years of age, or the age of majority in your jurisdiction;
• Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract;
• Not be barred from receiving services under applicable law or sanctions programs;
• Provide accurate, current, and complete information when registering and keep it updated.

3. Accounts

You are responsible for safeguarding your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized access. We may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or pose risk to donors, beneficiaries, or the platform.

4. The Services

UniteGive is a technology platform that allows organizers to create fundraising campaigns and donors to contribute money to those campaigns. UniteGive is not a broker, agent, financial institution, creditor, charity, or fiduciary. We do not control whether organizers will use donations as described, and we do not guarantee any campaign outcome.

5. Fees and Tips

UniteGive charges a 0% platform fee. The Services are funded by optional donor tips. Standard payment processing fees are charged by our PCI-compliant payments partner and are deducted from donations. Tips are voluntary and are retained by UniteGive to operate the platform.

6. Donations

• All donations are made in U.S. Dollars unless otherwise indicated.
• Donations are generally non-refundable except as described in Section 7 or required by law.
• Donations to most campaigns are not tax-deductible unless the campaign explicitly benefits a registered tax-exempt organization and provides appropriate documentation.
• You authorize UniteGive and its payment processors to charge your selected payment method for the donation amount plus any tip you choose.

7. Refunds and Chargebacks

Donors who believe a campaign was fraudulent or that funds were misused may request a refund. UniteGive will investigate eligible claims and may, at its sole discretion, issue a refund from available funds, request return of funds from the organizer, or refer the matter to law enforcement. Excessive chargebacks may result in account suspension.

8. Organizer Responsibilities

• Provide truthful, accurate, and complete information about yourself, the beneficiary, and the use of funds.
• Deliver funds to the stated beneficiary and use funds only for the stated purpose.
• Comply with all applicable laws, including tax, consumer protection, charitable solicitation, and anti-money-laundering laws.
• Respond promptly to requests from UniteGive for verification or documentation.
• Provide timely updates to donors about the use of funds and material developments.

9. Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the Services to:

• Violate any law, regulation, or third-party right;
• Engage in fraud, deception, or misrepresentation;
• Launder money or evade taxes or sanctions;
• Harass, threaten, defame, or harm any person or group;
• Promote hate, violence, terrorism, or discrimination based on protected characteristics;
• Distribute malware, scrape the Services, or interfere with our infrastructure;
• Circumvent fees, identity verification, or other platform controls.

10. Prohibited Campaign Categories

The following campaigns are not permitted on UniteGive:

• Weapons, ammunition, explosives, and related accessories;
• Illegal drugs, controlled substances, and drug paraphernalia;
• Tobacco, vaping products, and adult sexual content or services;
• Gambling, lotteries, sweepstakes, raffles, and games of chance;
• Pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing, and get-rich-quick schemes;
• Hate speech, terrorism, extremism, or organizations designated by sanctions authorities;
• Animal cruelty or the sale of endangered species;
• Counterfeit goods or intellectual-property infringement;
• Speculative financial investments, cryptocurrency offerings, or unregistered securities;
• Activities that endanger public health or safety.

11. Criminal Activity, Legal Defense, and Wrongful Conviction Fundraising Policy

This Section 11 is part of these Terms and applies to every fundraiser involving alleged or actual criminal conduct, legal defense, or claims of wrongful conviction.

11.1 General Prohibition on Criminal Activity Fundraising

To protect donors, beneficiaries, and the integrity of the platform, UniteGive does not permit fundraising that directly or indirectly supports, promotes, encourages, finances, or rewards criminal conduct. Prohibited fundraisers include, but are not limited to:

• Fundraising intended to finance criminal activity;
• Fundraising that promotes violence or threats of violence;
• Fundraising for weapons, illegal substances, or illegal enterprises;
• Fundraising that financially rewards criminal conduct;
• Fundraising intended to help individuals avoid lawful consequences of criminal actions;
• Fundraising that glorifies, celebrates, or encourages unlawful behavior;
• Fundraising that supports terrorist, extremist, hate-based, or violent organizations;
• Fundraising that violates applicable laws or regulations.

In general, UniteGive will not permit funds to be raised for the personal benefit, lifestyle, or financial enrichment of individuals convicted of crimes.

11.2 Exception for Legal Defense and Due Process

UniteGive recognizes that every person is entitled to legal representation, due process, and access to the courts. Accordingly, fundraising for legal defense may be permitted when conducted in accordance with this policy. Approval of a fundraiser does not imply that UniteGive endorses the individual, the allegations, the defense, or any claims of innocence.

11.3 Permitted Legal Defense Fundraisers

The following fundraising activities may be approved:

• Criminal defense legal fees;
• Appeals and post-conviction legal proceedings;
• Wrongful conviction investigations;
• Innocence projects and legal review efforts;
• Expert witness fees;
• Court filing fees;
• Licensed private investigator fees retained by legal counsel;
• DNA testing and forensic review;
• Other reasonable legal expenses directly related to a criminal case or post-conviction proceeding.

11.4 Direct Payment Requirement

To ensure accountability and transparency:

• Funds must be paid directly to a licensed attorney, law firm, court-approved trust account, legal aid organization, innocence project, or approved legal services provider.
• Funds may not be distributed directly to the defendant, inmate, beneficiary, organizer, family member, or any third party not providing approved legal services.
• UniteGive may require proof of legal representation before approving a campaign or releasing funds.

11.5 Prohibited Uses of Legal Defense Funds

Legal defense fundraisers may not be used for:

• Personal living expenses;
• Housing, transportation, food, utilities, or entertainment;
• Restitution payments;
• Criminal fines or penalties;
• Bail payments unless expressly approved by UniteGive;
• Compensation to convicted individuals;
• Any purpose unrelated to legal representation or judicial review.

11.6 Wrongful Conviction and Innocence Claims

UniteGive does not determine guilt or innocence.

Fundraisers asserting innocence, wrongful conviction, prosecutorial misconduct, constitutional violations, or other claims seeking judicial review may be permitted provided that:

• The fundraising purpose is limited to legal defense, appeals, evidence review, or post-conviction relief;
• Campaign descriptions accurately represent the status of the case;
• Campaign organizers do not knowingly publish false information;
• Campaigns do not encourage harassment, intimidation, threats, or violence;
• Campaigns comply with all applicable laws and platform policies.

Approval of a fundraiser does not constitute endorsement of any claim made by the organizer.

11.7 Transparency Requirements

Campaign organizers must:

• Clearly disclose the intended use of funds;
• Identify the attorney, law firm, or legal organization receiving funds when requested;
• Provide supporting documentation reasonably requested by UniteGive;
• Maintain truthful and accurate campaign descriptions;
• Promptly update donors regarding major case developments affecting the fundraiser.

11.8 Platform Review and Discretion

UniteGive reserves the right to review, suspend, deny, remove, or refund any fundraiser that:

• Violates this policy;
• Contains misleading or fraudulent information;
• Creates significant legal, regulatory, safety, or reputational risks;
• Fails to provide requested verification;
• Is inconsistent with the mission and values of the platform.

11.9 Disclaimer

UniteGive is a crowdfunding platform and does not investigate criminal allegations or determine the guilt or innocence of any individual. Approval of a fundraiser does not constitute endorsement of the beneficiary, organizer, legal claims, defense strategy, allegations, or assertions of innocence.

12. Content You Submit

You retain ownership of content you submit (text, images, video). You grant UniteGive a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, store, reproduce, display, adapt, and distribute that content for the purpose of operating, promoting, and improving the Services. You represent that you have the rights necessary to grant this license and that your content does not infringe or violate any third-party rights.

13. Intellectual Property

The Services, including all software, design, text, graphics, and trademarks, are owned by UniteGive or its licensors and are protected by intellectual property laws. Except for the limited rights granted in these Terms, no rights are transferred to you.

14. Privacy

Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information about you. By using the Services you consent to those practices.

15. Identity Verification and Anti-Fraud

We may verify your identity, the identity of beneficiaries, and the legitimacy of any campaign. You authorize us and our partners to obtain reports from third parties (including credit bureaus and identity-verification providers) for these purposes. We may delay or withhold payouts pending review.

16. Payouts

Funds raised are held by our payment processor and disbursed to verified organizers or approved beneficiaries (including law firms under Section 11) according to our payout schedule. We may withhold, reverse, or redirect payouts where we reasonably suspect a violation of these Terms or applicable law.

17. Disclaimers

THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. UNITEGIVE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT CAMPAIGNS ARE LEGITIMATE OR THAT FUNDS WILL BE USED AS DESCRIBED.

18. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, UNITEGIVE AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES. OUR TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT OF TIPS YOU PAID TO UNITEGIVE IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

19. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless UniteGive and its affiliates from any claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to your use of the Services, your content, your campaigns, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any law or third-party right.

20. Dispute Resolution; Arbitration; Class Action Waiver

Except where prohibited by law, you and UniteGive agree to resolve any dispute arising out of or related to these Terms or the Services by binding individual arbitration, administered by a recognized arbitration provider, and to waive any right to bring or participate in a class action. You may opt out of arbitration by emailing us within 30 days of first accepting these Terms.

21. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Texas, USA, without regard to its conflict-of- laws principles, except that mandatory consumer-protection laws of your place of residence may apply.

22. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Services at any time for any reason, including violation of these Terms. You may stop using the Services at any time. Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive.

Without limiting the foregoing, UniteGive reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to deny, suspend, remove, or terminate any campaign, fundraiser, account, or access to the Services, at any time and without prior notice, if we believe there is a valid reason to do so, including, but not limited to, suspected repeat or fundamental violations of these Terms, our policies, or applicable law; suspected fraud, misrepresentation, or misuse of funds; risk to donors, beneficiaries, third parties, or the platform; or any other conduct we determine, in our sole discretion, to be inconsistent with the mission, values, integrity, or safety of UniteGive. Our decision to take or not take action in any particular instance does not waive our right to act with respect to future or similar conduct.

23. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through the Services or by email. Your continued use after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

24. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Contact us at our contact page.