Last Modified December 2025
These Terms & Conditions ("Terms" or "Agreement") govern the relationship between HelpLink ("Sponsor"), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and any individual or entity ("Sponsored Program" or "Program") that applies for and participates in a fiscal sponsorship arrangement with HelpLink.
By submitting an application through the HelpLink platform, the Sponsored Program agrees to these Terms. Acceptance of these Terms forms a binding agreement between the Sponsor and the Program.
HelpLink provides fiscal sponsorship to programs that align with its charitable mission. Through this arrangement, HelpLink receives and manages charitable contributions on behalf of the Program and may disburse funds for approved charitable activities.
HelpLink operates under a pre-approved grant relationship model of fiscal sponsorship. Under this model, HelpLink retains full legal and fiduciary control of all contributed funds and disburses them to the Sponsored Program exclusively through approved grants or reimbursements for charitable purposes aligned with HelpLink's mission. Sponsored Programs are not legal projects or affiliates of HelpLink and remain separately operated entities.
This Agreement also governs any fundraising or promotional activities conducted by the Sponsored Program or its business partners in which proceeds or sales percentages are represented as benefiting HelpLink or the Sponsored Program's Fund.
Programs must:
(a) Operate exclusively for charitable purposes aligned with HelpLink's mission.
(b) Submit a complete application through HelpLink's online platform.
(c) Agree to these Terms at the time of application.
All donations received on behalf of a Sponsored Program are contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors will receive receipts from HelpLink. HelpLink retains legal and fiscal control over all contributed funds.
HelpLink offers three types of Program Funds under its Fiscal Sponsorship model: Reserve Funds, Distribution Funds, and Matching Funds.
Reserve Funds are held primarily for meeting needs outside of the HelpLink Platform. They are designed to provide flexibility for reimbursements and payments to vendors for approved charitable purposes verified by HelpLink. The options below describe permissible use cases, all of which are subject to HelpLink's sole discretion and approval. Options (c) and (d) are available only as exceptions and are not the intended or recommended use of Reserve Funds.
(a) Reimbursements. Sponsored Programs may submit reimbursement requests through HelpLink's software platform for expenses already incurred. Requests must include appropriate documentation (e.g., receipts, proof of payment) demonstrating that the expenses were made for charitable purposes and are aligned with the approved project scope and HelpLink's charitable mission.
(b) Payment for Services Rendered. If a Sponsored Program delivers goods or services as part of its approved charitable activities, it may submit an invoice to HelpLink for payment. HelpLink may disburse payment directly to the Program's designated business account, provided the services align with the approved program scope and mission and appropriate documentation is submitted.
(c) Direct Payment of Bills (Discouraged Use). Sponsored Programs may request that HelpLink pay vendors or service providers directly from their Reserve Fund; however, this method is not recommended and should be used only when reimbursements are impractical. Requests must include sufficient documentation showing that the payment is for goods or services consistent with the Program's charitable purpose. HelpLink's standard Fulfillment Fee applies when Reserve Funds are used in this manner.
(d) Payment to Posted Needs (Discouraged Use). Sponsored Programs may request a disbursement that applies Reserve Fund balances toward one or more posted needs on the HelpLink Platform. Because Reserve Funds are not designed for on-platform fulfillment, this option is discouraged and may result in the application of the standard Fulfillment Fee to ensure consistent treatment with other posted need transactions. HelpLink recommends using Distribution or Matching Funds for any ongoing or plan-based need fulfillment activity.
In all cases, HelpLink retains sole discretion to approve or deny disbursement requests and may require additional documentation to ensure proper stewardship of funds in compliance with IRS guidelines and applicable laws.
Distribution Funds are designed to support posted needs on the HelpLink platform through automatic, plan-based giving.
(a) Use of Funds. Funds may only be used to meet posted HelpLink needs. No disbursement or reimbursement requests may be submitted for other purposes.
(b) Disbursement. Funds are subject to an automated plan schedule set by the Sponsored Program. HelpLink will periodically disburse a percentage of the fund's available balance or flat amount to eligible needs in accordance with this plan. Funds may also be manually applied to posted HelpLink needs by the Sponsored Program at any time, subject to review and approval by HelpLink.
(c) Fund Management. HelpLink retains full control and discretion over the timing and application of all distributions in accordance with its charitable mission.
(d) Plan Updates and Fund Flexibility. Sponsored Programs may modify their Distribution Plan or preferences at any time to better align with evolving charitable needs. Donors are informed through HelpLink's Donor Agreement that HelpLink retains discretion over all distributions and may apply contributions to comparable or broader charitable purposes if the original plan preferences cannot be met or have been modified. Programs agree that all plan updates must remain consistent with the Program's approved charitable purpose and HelpLink's overall mission, and that HelpLink retains full variance power and fiduciary control over the ultimate use of all funds.
Organizations may establish sponsored Matching Funds under their fiscal sponsorship with HelpLink to encourage charitable giving on the HelpLink platform. Sponsored Matching Funds allow HelpLink to apply matching contributions from a designated matching fund pool, in response to eligible donations made on the platform, subject to the organization's stated preferences and HelpLink's charitable mission.
Contributions to a sponsored Matching Fund may be made by the organization, its employees, or other invited contributors. All such contributions are irrevocable charitable gifts to HelpLink and do not confer ownership, control, or donor-advised rights in the Matching Fund.
(a) Fund Management and Discretion. All Matching Funds are held and administered exclusively by HelpLink. While the organization may propose matching preferences or criteria (such as eligible programs, categories, locations, or match ratios), HelpLink retains full discretion and variance power over whether, when, and how matching funds are applied. HelpLink may publicly display the organization's name and matching commitment as part of platform fundraising efforts.
All donations made through the platform, including those eligible for matching, are charitable contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
(b) Matching Plan Updates. Organizations may request updates to matching preferences from time to time. HelpLink may honor such requests at its discretion, provided they remain consistent with the organization's approved charitable purpose and HelpLink's fiduciary obligations. If matching preferences are modified, suspended, or cannot be applied as originally stated, HelpLink may apply matching funds to comparable or broader charitable purposes in furtherance of its mission.
Sponsored Programs may conduct fundraising activities that benefit their Fund without prior written approval, provided that all promotional materials (including flyers, digital media, event pages, and social posts) prominently include the following disclosure, or substantially similar language approved by HelpLink:
"Donations to support [Program Name] are made to HelpLink (helplink.org), a 501(c)(3) public charity that serves as the fiscal sponsor for this program. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law."
All fundraising communications must:
(a) Clearly indicate that contributions are made to HelpLink for the benefit of the Sponsored Program;
(b) Avoid any implication that the Sponsored Program itself is an independent 501(c)(3) organization; and
(c) Comply with all applicable federal and state charitable-solicitation disclosure laws.
HelpLink reserves the right to require edits, suspend, or prohibit any use of its name, logo, or charitable status in connection with a campaign that is inaccurate, misleading, or inconsistent with HelpLink's policies.
If a business, vendor, or other commercial entity promotes a sale or event stating that a portion of proceeds or sales will be donated to HelpLink (e.g., "10% of sales will benefit the [Program Name] Fund sponsored by HelpLink"), such entity is deemed a "commercial co-venturer" under charitable solicitation laws. The business must:
(a) Notify HelpLink before the campaign begins and obtain confirmation that the required disclosure language is used correctly;
(b) Accurately track and document proceeds generated during the campaign; and
(c) Remit the pledged proceeds to HelpLink within thirty (30) days of the event's conclusion, accompanied by a brief accounting summary of gross sales and the calculation of proceeds.
HelpLink may require the business or the Sponsored Program to sign an additional short-form commercial co-venturer acknowledgment or submit an online event approval form before the promotion begins, in compliance with applicable state charitable solicitation laws.
Funds raised through approved events are considered contributions to HelpLink and are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors and customers will receive receipts only after funds have been remitted to HelpLink. HelpLink retains full discretion and control over all funds received through such events.
If a Sponsored Program or associated business fails to remit proceeds within the required timeframe, omits the required disclosure language, or conducts an event inconsistent with these terms, HelpLink may issue a compliance notice, suspend or terminate the sponsorship relationship, and, if required by law, report the activity to appropriate authorities. Funds shall not be considered charitable contributions to HelpLink unless and until they are received in full.
Programs must:
(a) Maintain accurate financial records;
(b) Submit reports through HelpLink's platform when requested; and
(c) Cooperate with all compliance requests from HelpLink or regulatory authorities.
Contributions to Reserve Funds are subject to a Fund Stewardship Fee, retained by HelpLink at the time of contribution as follows:
(a) For registered and verified nonprofit organizations: 3%
(b) For all other organizations: 6%
This fee supports HelpLink's ongoing administrative and compliance obligations associated with maintaining the Reserve Fund, including receipt and documentation review, financial reporting, accounting segregation, payment processing, and platform maintenance. The Fund Stewardship Fee is recognized as earned income when contributions are received and is non-refundable.
Reserve Funds are primarily intended for reimbursements or services payments directly to the organization's bank account for charitable purposes verified by HelpLink. If Reserve Fund balances are later applied to fulfill posted needs through the HelpLink Platform, such disbursements will also be subject to the standard Fulfillment Fee applicable to all need transactions. This ensures consistent treatment of all fulfilled needs and supports the sustainability of HelpLink's operations.
See our Terms of Use and Donor Agreement for more information about our Fulfillment Fee and how it is applied to posted needs on the HelpLink Platform.
No separate fee is charged on contributions to Distribution, Collective, or Matching Funds. These funds are disbursed solely through the HelpLink Platform to fulfill posted needs in accordance with the program plan defined by the Sponsored Program. Each fulfilled need already includes the standard Fulfillment Fee, which covers verification, processing, and delivery costs associated with meeting posted needs.
Program funds may be held in a centralized pooled bank account managed by HelpLink for administrative efficiency. HelpLink uses internal accounting systems to track the balance and activity of each Sponsored Program individually. Any interest or earnings accrued from holding program funds will be retained by HelpLink to support its general operations, unless otherwise specified in writing. Sponsored Programs acknowledge that they are not entitled to any earned interest.
This Agreement may be terminated by either party upon thirty (30) days written notice. Upon termination, all remaining funds will be distributed to another 501(c)(3) organization aligned with the charitable purpose of the program, or retained by HelpLink to be used in furtherance of its tax-exempt mission, at HelpLink's sole discretion and in accordance with applicable law.
The Sponsored Program represents and warrants that neither it nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or affiliates is a person or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by persons or entities that are:
(a) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by OFAC or any other relevant sanctions authority; or
(b) located, organized, or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive sanctions.
The Sponsored Program agrees to comply with all applicable sanctions laws and regulations and shall not engage in any transactions that would cause HelpLink to be in violation of such laws and regulations.
Nothing in these Terms shall be interpreted to create an employer-employee, partnership, or agency relationship between HelpLink and the Sponsored Program.
HelpLink reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. Continued participation after notice of changes constitutes agreement to the updated Terms.
These Terms shall be governed by the laws of the State of Michigan.
For questions or concerns about this Agreement, please contact us at [email protected]
