1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Darfur Emergency Committee website ("Website"), you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and all applicable laws and regulations. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not use our Website or services.

2. About Our Organization

The Darfur Emergency Committee is a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing emergency relief to those affected by the Sudan crisis. We work in partnership with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and other international humanitarian organizations.

2.1 Our Mission

Our mission is to provide urgent humanitarian assistance including:

• Emergency shelter and supplies
• Food and clean water
• Medical care and health services
• Protection services for vulnerable populations
• Education support for displaced children

3. Use of Website

3.1 Permitted Use

You may use our Website for the following purposes:

• Learning about the Sudan humanitarian crisis
• Making donations to support our relief efforts
• Subscribing to our newsletter
• Contacting us with questions or inquiries
• Sharing our content on social media

3.2 Prohibited Use

You agree NOT to use our Website for any of the following purposes:

• Any unlawful purpose or in violation of any laws
• Transmitting harmful code, viruses, or malware
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to our systems
• Interfering with or disrupting the Website's operation
• Harvesting or collecting user information
• Impersonating another person or organization
• Submitting false or misleading information
• Using automated systems to access the Website without permission

4. Donations

4.1 Making Donations

When you make a donation through our Website, you agree that:

• Your donation is voluntary and made without expectation of goods or services in return
• All donations are final and non-refundable unless required by law
• You are authorized to use the payment method provided
• All information you provide is accurate and complete
• You are at least 18 years of age or have parental consent

4.2 One-Time Donations

One-time donations are processed immediately through our secure payment processor. You will receive a confirmation email and tax receipt upon successful completion.

4.3 Recurring Donations

If you choose to make a recurring (monthly) donation:

• Your payment method will be charged automatically on the same day each month
• You can cancel or modify your recurring donation at any time by contacting us
• We will notify you if there are issues processing your payment
• You are responsible for ensuring your payment method remains valid
• Cancellations take effect for the next billing cycle (not retroactive)

4.4 Payment Processing

Payments are processed securely through third-party payment processors (Stripe, PayPal, or similar). We do not store your complete credit card information on our servers. Please review the payment processor's terms and privacy policy.

4.5 Donation Refunds

All donations are generally non-refundable. However, if you believe an error has occurred:

• Contact us within 30 days of the donation
• Provide details of the transaction (date, amount, transaction ID)
• We will review your request and respond within 14 business days
• Refunds, if approved, will be processed to the original payment method within 7-10 business days

5. Use of Funds

5.1 Fund Allocation

Donations support our humanitarian relief efforts in Sudan and neighboring countries. Funds are allocated to:

• Direct aid delivery (emergency supplies, food, water, medical care)
• Program operations and logistics
• Administrative costs necessary to run our organization
• Fundraising and awareness campaigns

5.2 Designated Donations

Unless you specify otherwise, your donation will be used where it is most needed. If you designate your donation for a specific purpose and we cannot fulfill that purpose, we reserve the right to use your donation for similar charitable purposes.

5.3 Transparency

We are committed to financial transparency. We will provide regular updates on how donations are being used and the impact they are making.

6. Tax Deductibility

Donations to the Darfur Emergency Committee may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult with your tax advisor regarding the deductibility of your donation. We will provide you with a receipt for tax purposes. See our Tax Information page for more details.

7. Intellectual Property

7.1 Our Content

All content on this Website, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, and software, is the property of the Darfur Emergency Committee or its content suppliers and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

7.2 Limited License

We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to:

• Access and use the Website for personal, non-commercial purposes
• Share our content on social media to raise awareness
• Print content for personal reference

7.3 Restrictions

You may NOT:

• Reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without permission
• Use our logo, name, or branding without authorization
• Remove copyright or proprietary notices
• Use our content for commercial purposes

8. User-Generated Content

8.1 Submissions

If you submit content to us (comments, testimonials, photos, stories):

• You retain ownership of your content
• You grant us a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display your content for our charitable purposes
• You represent that you have all necessary rights to grant this license
• You agree not to submit inappropriate, offensive, or unlawful content

8.2 Content Standards

We reserve the right to review, edit, or remove any user-generated content that:

• Violates these Terms or our policies
• Is offensive, defamatory, or inappropriate
• Infringes on intellectual property rights
• Contains harmful code or spam

9. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites (such as GoFundMe, social media platforms, and partner organizations). These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for:

• The content of third-party websites
• The privacy practices of third-party services
• Any products or services offered by third parties

Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to their terms and conditions.

10. Disclaimers

10.1 Website "As Is"

Our Website is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis. We make no warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to:

• Warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose
• That the Website will be uninterrupted, secure, or error-free
• That information on the Website is accurate or complete
• That defects will be corrected

10.2 Information Accuracy

While we strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information about the Sudan crisis and our relief efforts:

• Information is provided for general awareness purposes
• Statistics and figures are approximate and may change
• We are not responsible for errors or omissions
• Information should not be relied upon for critical decisions without verification

11. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Darfur Emergency Committee and its directors, officers, employees, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including but not limited to:

• Loss of profits, data, or use
• Cost of substitute services
• Damages arising from your use of or inability to use the Website
• Damages arising from unauthorized access to your data

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of the Website shall not exceed the amount you donated to us in the 12 months preceding the claim.

12. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Darfur Emergency Committee and its directors, officers, employees, and partners from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your use of the Website
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
• Any content you submit to us

13. Privacy

Your use of our Website is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

14. Email Communications

14.1 Newsletter and Updates

By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to receive periodic emails about:

• Updates on the Sudan crisis
• Our relief efforts and impact
• Fundraising campaigns
• Ways to get involved

14.2 Transactional Emails

If you make a donation, you will receive transactional emails including:

• Donation confirmations
• Tax receipts
• Recurring donation notifications
• Important account updates

You cannot opt out of transactional emails, but you can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

15. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

15.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of [Your Jurisdiction], without regard to its conflict of law principles.

15.2 Dispute Resolution

If you have a dispute with us, we encourage you to first contact us to seek an informal resolution. If we cannot resolve the dispute informally, any legal action must be brought in the courts of [Your Jurisdiction], and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of such courts.

15.3 Class Action Waiver

To the extent permitted by law, you agree that any dispute will be resolved on an individual basis and not as part of a class action or collective proceeding.

16. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Website with an updated "Last Updated" date. Material changes will be communicated via:

• A notice on our Website homepage
• Email notification to registered users

Your continued use of the Website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Website.

17. Termination

17.1 Termination by You

You may stop using our Website at any time. To cancel a recurring donation, contact us at info@darfuremergencycommittee.org.

17.2 Termination by Us

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Website if:

• You violate these Terms
• You engage in fraudulent or abusive behavior
• We are required to do so by law
• We discontinue the Website or services

18. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

19. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and the Darfur Emergency Committee regarding your use of the Website and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

20. Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that right or provision. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative.

21. Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, or internet service provider failures.