HelpLink Donor Agreement
Last Modified October 2026
1. Purpose of this Agreement
This Donor Agreement ("Agreement") outlines the terms under which donors contribute to HelpLink ("HelpLink") by all means, including through our software platform. By making a donation, you agree to the terms and conditions outlined below.
2. Designation of Donations and Use of Funds
HelpLink accepts both unrestricted and restricted donations through its platform.
Unrestricted Donations
Donations made without a specific designation, including those supporting HelpLink's general operations or individual needs listed on the platform, pay-it-forward contributions, and round-up contributions, are considered unrestricted. Donors may express a preference for how they would like their donation to be used (e.g., specific needs, reasons, categories, demographics), but such preferences are non-binding and do not create a restricted gift or legal obligation on the part of HelpLink. HelpLink retains full discretion to allocate unrestricted funds where they are most needed to advance its charitable mission.
Each need listed on the platform has been reviewed and approved by HelpLink before publication. A donation toward a posted need is a contribution to HelpLink's charitable program and not a gift to the individual whose need is posted.
Restricted Program Donations
When a donor designates a contribution to a specific Program sponsored by HelpLink (as listed on the HelpLink platform), that donation is treated as restricted and will be used solely to support the approved charitable purposes of that Program. HelpLink, as fiscal sponsor, retains legal and fiduciary control over all donations and uses Program-restricted donations only for the approved charitable purposes of that Program.
A contribution to a Program Fund supports everyone the Fund's approved purpose describes. It is not a gift to, or for, any particular person, even if you learned about the Fund because of a particular person's circumstances, and expressing a preference for a specific recipient does not create a designation. HelpLink alone determines whose needs a Fund meets. HelpLink may decline a contribution it understands to be intended for a specific individual, or accept it as a general contribution to the Fund.
Programs operating Support Funds or Matching Funds may update their Giving Rules or matching preferences over time. Donors acknowledge and agree that, in such cases, HelpLink may apply contributions to comparable or broader charitable purposes within the same Fund if the original Giving Rules or preferences cannot be met, have been modified, or if matching conditions are adjusted. This ensures that all donations are used effectively to meet urgent needs consistent with HelpLink's mission, while maintaining HelpLink's discretion and fiduciary control over the ultimate use of all funds.
If a designated Program is no longer active or cannot fulfill its charitable purpose, HelpLink reserves the right to reallocate any remaining funds to other mission-aligned activities, in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. A Program's fund that becomes dormant is handled as described in Section 8.
3. Use of Donations
Donations will be used to support HelpLink's charitable activities, including the fulfillment of posted needs and other mission-aligned programs, as determined by HelpLink's leadership and Board of Directors. Each posted need's total amount includes built-in fulfillment costs necessary to administer, verify, process, and deliver assistance securely through the HelpLink Platform.
If a specific need or program to which a donor has expressed a preference is no longer needed, funded, or active, or cannot be fulfilled as initially described, HelpLink may apply the donation to comparable or broader charitable purposes within the same area of need or the same Program, consistent with the Fund's approved charitable purpose and applicable law. This ensures donations continue to advance HelpLink's mission while preserving HelpLink's discretion and fiduciary control over the ultimate use of all funds.
4. Refund Policy
Donations are non-refundable unless an error occurs in processing.
If a donor believes a transaction was made in error, they must contact the Organization at [email protected] within seven (7) days of the donation.
If a posted need is canceled or fulfilled for less than the posted amount, any remaining funds associated with that need may be reallocated by HelpLink to comparable or broader charitable purposes within the same area of need or returned to an applicable Program fund balance to be used consistent with the Fund's approved charitable purpose and this Agreement. Donations are irrevocable charitable gifts and are not refundable; however, HelpLink will ensure that any reallocations are used for mission-aligned purposes and accounted for in accordance with applicable law and HelpLink's policies.
HelpLink may, at its sole discretion, decline or return a contribution it is unable to accept consistent with this Agreement, including a contribution it understands to be intended for a specific individual. This does not create a right to a refund.
5. Recurring Donations
If a donor selects a recurring donation, they authorize the Organization (and its payment processor) to charge their selected payment method at the chosen frequency.
Donors can cancel recurring donations at any time by signing into their account.
6. Matching Funds (Individual Donors)
Donors may create private Matching Funds funded solely by the donor, which HelpLink may use to apply matching contributions in response to eligible donations made by others on the HelpLink platform. Matching Funds are internal platform features and are not separate charitable entities or donor-advised funds. All contributions, including matched amounts, are irrevocable gifts to HelpLink and are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
The donor may not solicit, invite, or accept contributions from others into an individual Matching Fund. HelpLink retains sole and absolute discretion over whether, when, and how matching funds are applied, and no matching arrangement creates an obligation on HelpLink to apply funds in any particular manner.
7. Collective Funds
Donors may establish or contribute to Collective Funds on the HelpLink platform. Collective Funds are pooled charitable funds administered entirely by HelpLink for mission-aligned purposes, typically using automated rules to meet posted needs according to preset criteria.
The individual or organization that initiates a Collective Fund ("Originator") establishes its preferences and parameters at the time of creation. Once created, a Collective Fund becomes a permanent charitable fund of HelpLink and cannot be modified, managed, or accessed by the Originator or any donor. No manual disbursement requests or fund management actions may be made by any contributor.
All contributions to a Collective Fund, whether from the Originator or other donors, are irrevocable charitable gifts to HelpLink, subject to this Agreement. HelpLink retains full discretion and control over the timing, method, and recipients of all disbursements consistent with the fund's established criteria and HelpLink's charitable mission.
If the fund's original preferences can no longer be fulfilled, HelpLink may apply remaining funds to comparable or broader charitable purposes within the same area of need, ensuring all donations continue to be used effectively to advance HelpLink's mission and comply with applicable laws.
8. Dormant Funds
Any fund on the HelpLink platform, whether a Support Fund, a Matching Fund, or a Collective Fund, is dormant when it holds a balance and has made no disbursement for twelve (12) consecutive months, counted from the later of the fund's creation and its last disbursement. A disbursement whose funds are later returned to the fund does not count as a disbursement, and neither do new contributions or matching conditions that find nothing to match.
HelpLink will notify the fund's creator (the organization or donor that opened it, or the Originator of a Collective Fund) at least thirty (30) days before acting on a dormant fund. If the fund makes a disbursement before then, it is no longer dormant. Otherwise, HelpLink may apply the fund's balance, however small, to posted needs that meet the fund's preferences or, where none are available, to the posted needs HelpLink determines most closely match the fund's charitable purpose, and may close the fund once its balance has been applied.
9. Tax Deductibility & Receipts
The Organization is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations may be tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Donors will receive an electronic receipt for their contribution, which can be used for tax purposes. Please consult a tax professional regarding deductibility.
10. Privacy & Data Protection
The Organization will not sell, rent, or share donor information with third parties except as required by law or with service providers necessary to process donations.
Donors can review our full Privacy Policy at https://helplink.org/privacy.
11. Corporate Giving
Corporations and businesses may make unrestricted donations to support the Organization's work or open Program Funds under HelpLink's Fiscal Sponsorship Agreement. Donations facilitated through payroll deduction are made by employees, not the company, and are treated as individual charitable contributions for all legal and tax purposes.
While the Organization does not provide formal sponsorship packages, it may acknowledge corporate donors in public-facing materials, including but not limited to vendor directories, program emails, social media posts, and other communications.
Corporate donations do not entitle the donor to control, direct, or receive any material benefit from the Organization's activities, including the selection of any individual recipient of assistance.
Any public acknowledgment of corporate donors will be at the sole discretion of the Organization and must align with its values and mission.
12. Payroll Deduction Donations
HelpLink partners with employers to enable their employees to make charitable contributions via payroll deduction.
Employee Donations: Donations facilitated through payroll deduction are initiated by individual employees. HelpLink treats these donations as voluntary contributions made by employees, not the employer. Tax receipts will be issued to the employees, not to the employer.
Employer Role as Facilitator: By submitting payroll deduction data and funding on behalf of employees, the employer affirms that:
(a) Each participating employee has authorized the donation amount;
(b) The stated donation amounts were actually deducted from employees' pay in accordance with applicable laws; and
(c) The employer has the right to share necessary employee information with HelpLink solely for processing and receipting purposes.
Donor Attribution and Indemnification: HelpLink relies on the employer's representation to properly attribute donations. The employer agrees to indemnify and hold HelpLink harmless from any claims arising from unauthorized deductions, misattributed donations, or any noncompliance with labor or tax laws.
Privacy: Employers may provide HelpLink with limited employee data necessary to process payroll deductions and generate tax receipts. This information will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
13. Changes to this Agreement
The Organization reserves the right to update or modify this Agreement at any time. The latest version will be available at https://helplink.org/donor-agreement.
Continued donations after updates to this Agreement constitute acceptance of the revised terms.
14. Contact Information
For questions or concerns about this Agreement, please contact us at [email protected]