Crowdfunder Terms of Use

1. Introduction

Welcome to Crowdfunder.

By using Crowdfunder, you agree to these Terms and are entering into an agreement with Crowdfunder Limited. If you're using the site on behalf of an organisation (like a charity), these Terms apply to both you and the organisation. If you don't agree to the Terms, please don't use the site.

Please also check our Guidelines for important information especially for project owners. You can also find lots of really useful information in our help centre covering everything you need to know about running or supporting a project.

2. Definitions

To make these Terms quicker to read, we use some key definitions:

“Charity Profile”:A charity’s landing page on Crowdfunder where Supporters can make Pledges, and Users can set up Projects to raise funds for the charity.

“Community Share”:A withdrawable, non-transferrable equity investment into a cooperative or community benefit society.

“Crowdfunder”: The website www.crowdfunder.co.uk and all related Crowdfunder websites and services owned and operated by Crowdfunder Limited (“we”, “us” or “our” as appropriate)

“Extra Funding”:Additional funding for Projects from our partners

“Funding Target”:The minimum amount of money a Project Owner wants to raise for their Project.

“Fundraising Period”:The initial period for which Pledges can be made to a Project.

“Project”:A fundraising effort created on Crowdfunder by a Project Owner.

“Project Administrator”:An individual chosen by the Project Owner to help manage the Project.

“Project Goal”:What the Project aims to achieve.

“Project Owner”:An individual or organisation registered with Crowdfunderseeking to raise funds via donations and sometimes offering Rewards or prize draw entries for doing so.

“Reward”:A non-monetary "thank you" or incentive offered to Supporters who contribute money to a Project, such as a special item, service, or experience.

“Supporter”:A User who supports a Project by:

• making a “Pledge” which means either financial donation or a contribution in exchange for Rewards, Community Shares or prize draw entries; or
• volunteering their time and skills (“Volunteering”).

“User”:Anyone who uses Crowdfunder including Project Owners and Supporters.

3. Our Services

We provide a platform through which Users can raise funds for their Projects in a few different ways:

• Collecting donations
• Offering Rewards
• Running prize draws with free entry routes
• Offering investment in Community Shares

as well as offering Volunteering. We do not allow Projects to be set up for any other purposes.

We do not offer regulated investments.Therefore we are not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As with all donations and rewards-based crowdfunding and Community Shares, there is no recourse to either the Financial Ombudsman Service or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

We do not participate in any agreements between Users.We are not responsible for the nature, quality, performance, or delivery of Projects, Community Shares, or Rewards, nor do we promise that any User will do as they promise. Any arrangements you make with other Users or any contracts you enter into, including Projects, Pledges, Community Shares, prize draw entries and Rewards, are solely between you and those Users.

While we require Users to provide information about themselves and their Projects, we are not responsible for verifying this information. Therefore, we make no recommendations or endorsements regarding any User or Project.

We do not provide financial or tax advice.You should not rely on information in these Terms or that otherwise appears on Crowdfunder to determine the financial, tax or accounting treatment of any Pledges you make or receive.

4. Accessing Crowdfunder

To access certain services such as to create a Project requires you to create an account. This is only available to those aged 18 or older (or the legal age of adulthood in your jurisdiction) and who are legally permitted to interact with other Users. Project Owners need a UK bank account to receive funds.

Supporters must also be of legal age of adulthood in their jurisdiction and have a payment method accepted by us to make a Pledge.

If you've been banned from Crowdfunder before, you need our permission to use the platform again.

Account registration:When you register on Crowdfunder, you must provide accurate information and keep it updated if anything changes.

Account security:You're responsible for keeping your account secure and not sharing your login details with anyone. Any activity that happens on your account is your responsibility. If you suspect someone else is using your account, change your password immediately andlet us know.

Inactive accounts:We may also delete inactive accounts and you can learn more about data deletion in ourprivacy policy.

Your privacy:We take your privacy very seriously. Please read ourPrivacy Policyto see how we use your personal information.

Verification:We may verify your identity whether you are a Supporter or a Project Owner. If you're a Project Owner or Administrator we may also verify your connection to the Project and Organisation if relevant and the Project details. This helps us prevent fraud, illegal activity, and protect everyone involved. If we ask for information, you must provide it promptly. We may cancel any Pledge, remove any Project or suspend or terminate any User account without notice if we can't fully verify the information related to it. This is done for security and fraud prevention purposes, and we won't be held liable for any such actions.

5. Prohibited Projects and User Content

Crowdfunder will not host Projects or allow user content including messages  or comments which, as determined by us at our sole discretion, involve any of the following, including as Rewards or prizes:

• Promote, offer or involve a breach of UK law or relevant sanctions rules;
• Contain illegal content;
• Are misleading, inaccurate, out of date or undeliverable;
• Support, promote, incite, encourage or reflect hatred, defamation, abuse, violence, threats, harassment or discrimination against any individual or group;
• Threaten the anonymity of victims, vulnerable adults or children;
• Infringe the intellectual property or other rights of any third party;
• Contain personal data about children or ’special category’ or criminal conviction data;
• Promote, offer or involve any of the following (including as Rewards or prizes):

• Investments (other than in Community Shares set up via the Community Share product only), equity, returns, profit shares, loans or loan repayments, or any financial instruments or virtual currency.
• Pornographic, sexually explicit or obscene material.
• E-cigarettes, vapes, tobacco including nicotine products, pharmaceuticals, drugs or drug paraphernalia.
• Firearms, weapons, knives, weapon accessories or replicas of weapons.
• Manufactured products that don’t meet UK safety guidelines.
• Any item, service or reward that is illegal to sell, offer, distribute or use in the UK.
• Gambling (but this does not prohibit a prize draw with a free entry route set up in accordance with these Terms);

• Breach our payment processor Stripe’srestricted business rulesor relates to a country they do not support; or
• Are otherwise unacceptable as determined by us. This will include behaviour or content that impacts other Users’ use of Crowdfunder or which in our judgement exposes us or any User to any liability or detriment.

6. Payment Handling and Fees

Use of Regulated Payment Processors

We do not process payments, hold funds or have access to Users’ full payment information. We use FCA regulated payment processors to do this and to handle the payout of funds to Project Owners.

Project Owners:

• Must agree to Stripe’sConnect Account Agreementwhich includes theStripe Service Agreement; and
• Must provide to Stripe details of a valid UK bank account as well as other information.  You confirm that you have all the relevant authorisations to use the nominated bank account and that all information you provide to Stripe is true and accurate.
• Agree we are not liable for the actions of Stripe.

By setting up a Project or making a Pledge, you agree to Stripe processing your data. Any personal information you provide to Stripe as a Project Owner or a Supporter will be processed in accordance with itsprivacy policies. Please see ourPrivacy Policyfor further details regarding your personal information and the third party service providers that we use.

Fees

Creating a Project on Crowdfunder is free. However, we do charge Project Owners platform and transaction fees on the Pledges a Project receives. You can find details of these fees on ourFeespage, which is part of our Terms. These fees are deducted before we payout the funds.

Chargebacks:We reserve the right to pass on the cost of chargebacks charged by our payment processor (where a Supporter disputes a Pledge) to the Project Owner.

7. Running a Project

Setting Up Your Project

Raising Funds Elsewhere:You are welcome to raise funds for your Project through channels outside of Crowdfunder. However, you may not use your Crowdfunder Project to:

• Redirect Users to other platforms for payments.
• Promote alternative payment methods, such as providing your bank account details.

Funding Methods:We may offer you one or more of the following funding methods:

• ‘All Or Nothing’: We will pay out funds if you reach your Fundraising Target. If you do not reach your Fundraising Target by the end of the Fundraising Period all Pledges will be refunded.
• ‘Keep What You Raise’:We will pay out any funds regardless of whether your Project reaches its Fundraising Target.
• ‘Always On’:Where you can fundraise on a continuous basis.

Funding Period:There may be a minimum and maximum Fundraising Period specified when you set up your Project. You may have the option to keep your Project open and receive Pledges after the initial Fundraising Period. This is called "Always On". If you don't select “Always On”, or it's not available for your Project, it will automatically close at the end of the Fundraising Period.

Charitable Projects:If your Project is raising funds for charitable, benevolent or philanthropic purposes you must comply with the relevant sections of the Fundraising Regulator’sCode of Fundraising Practice.

Extra Funding:You might be able to get Extra Funding for your Project from our partners, but not all Projects qualify. Even if you are eligible, approval isn't guaranteed as the partner makes the final decision. The partner also sets the rules and amounts for the Extra Funding. We are not responsible if there are delays in payment of Extra Funding or if the Extra Funding is terminated. Extra Funding has its own fee structure, which is different from the fees on regular Pledges. You'll find details in the relevant partner’s Extra Funding terms. Prize draws are not eligible for Extra Funding.

Prize Draws

You cannot run a lottery or raffle or other gambling activity on Crowdfunder. However, you can run a prize draw with a free entry route provided you follow these specific rules:

• Use the Right Project Type:Prize draws must be set up using the dedicated prize draw Project option and include a valid free entry method.
• Follow the Guidelines:You must adhere to ourPrize Draw Guidelines.
• Legal Prizes:All prizes must be legal to offer in the UK and not breach these Terms.

The Project Owner is the promoter of the prize draw under the UK Code of Non-broadcast Advertising and Direct & Promotional Marketing (CAP code). Whilst we provide guidance for Project Owners, we are not responsible for the terms of any prize draw or its administration.

Offering Rewards

You may be offered the option of adding Rewards to your Project when you create it. Any Rewards you offer must comply with our Terms particularly the rules under the heading “Prohibited Projects and User Generated Content”. You must have all the permissions, consents and licences necessary to offer and deliver the Rewards.

Rewards cannot be offered on Always On Projects.

Once Your Project is Running

Project Administration:If you nominate any Project Administrators, you as Project Owner are fully responsible for any actions taken by those Project Administrators.

Making Change to Your Projects:Once your Project is live you can change the Fundraising Period and the Rewards for your Project provided that you have not received any Pledges for those Rewards.You cannot change other aspects such as the funding type, Funding Target, Project Goal or bank account details.

Sharing Supporter Data:We may share Supporter details with you, but you're responsible for how you use that data. Under data protection laws, you become a separate "data controller". This means you must comply with all data protection laws, especially around marketing. In particular, don't send marketing emails to Supporters without their permission.

Messaging Supporters Feature:We provide tools that allow you to message your Supporters. When you use this feature, we act as a "data processor" under data protection law, and ourData Processing Addendumapplies. You must also make sure your messages comply with our rules in Section 12 especially around User conduct.

Receiving Your Money

We will always try to make funds raised available quickly. Below is some guidance

Clearing periods:All Pledges go through a clearing period (usually 7 days) before they can be included in a payout.

Managing Payouts:We will aim to provide you with options to manage payouts of cleared funds in your Project dashboard such as triggering payouts of cleared funds before the end of your Fundraising Period and setting payout schedules. However, these options are not guaranteed. Check your Project dashboard to see what payout management options are available.

Paused Payouts:Payouts can’t be paused indefinitely and we'll automatically send you the money about 30 days after your fundraising ends (unless we've agreed otherwise). If we can't send the money for some reason, we'll refund your Supporters.

Extra Funding:If your Project has extra funding, you've met the requirements and your extra funding wallet is verified, you'll get your money within about 14 days after the Fundraising Period.

Other Project Owner’ Obligations

As a Project Owner, you're also responsible for:

• Using funds raisedsolely for achieving your Project Goals.
• Meeting your Project commitmentsincluding delivering all Rewards to Supporters and running your prize draw in accordance with your prize draw terms and conditions.
• Keeping supporters informed:You should postProject updatesto keep Supporters informed about the Project and how the funds are being spent. We may require you to post a Project update if at our discretion we determine it is required for transparency or there has been a significant change of circumstances in relation to your Project.
• Communicating clearlyand responding promptly and thoroughly and to our satisfaction to any questions or requests from us or your Supporters.
• Resolving Supporter issues andworking with Supporters to find a fair resolution for any problems, including dealing with requests for refunds;
• Following the lawand regulations related to your Project, use of funds, and Rewards.
• Managing taxes:Pay all fees, collect and remit all applicable taxes associated with your Project, Pledges and Rewards. In particular, you are responsible for determining the tax treatment of any Rewards, Prize Draw Entries and Community Shares which may differ from the treatment of donations.
• Not relying on fundingor making any business decisions in reliance on your Project on Crowdfunder until the funds are in your bank account.
• Cooperating with usand providing assistance and information requested by us, especially for regulatory matters, audits or enquiries. This includes completing impact assessments or similar relating to Extra Funding you receive. Failure to do so will make your organisation ineligible for future Extra Funding and may result in the recouping of Extra Funding paid to you.

8. Supporting a Project

There are two ways to support Projects on Crowdfunder:

• Financial Pledges:You can make a financial contribution as a donation (minimum £1) or in exchange for a Reward or prize draw entry using a debit or credit card or other payment method offered. We use Stripe to process payments;
• Volunteering:You can offer your time and skills to a Project by responding to a volunteering opportunity or contacting the Project Owner directly through our messaging system. Any arrangements you make with the Project Owner are solely your responsibility.

Contributing to a Project does not give you any rights, ownership or control over it.

Make sure any funds you use to support Projects come from legitimate sources and comply with all applicable laws.

Regular donations:If you choose to make a regular donation, you authorise us to charge your chosen payment method regularly at the frequency you select. This will continue until you cancel the regular donation or the Project closes, whichever comes first. You can cancel your regular donation any time.

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  9. Other Important Terms relating to Projects and Pledges

Gift Aid

• For Project Owners:We facilitate eligible organisations to claim Gift Aid when setting up a Project by collecting the necessary information from Supporters. Project Owners are responsible for ensuring their organisation and each Pledge meet HMRC's Gift Aid criteria. Offering a Reward may affect a Pledge's eligibility for Gift Aid, so it's crucial to check the HMRC guidelines.
• For Project Owners:We facilitate eligible organisations to claim Gift Aid when setting up a Project by collecting the necessary information from Supporters. Project Owners are responsible for ensuring their organisation and each Pledge meet HMRC's Gift Aid criteria. Offering a Reward may affect a Pledge's eligibility for Gift Aid, so it's crucial to check the HMRC guidelines.
• For Supporters:If you make a Pledge to an organisation claiming Gift Aid, you will be asked to confirm if you are a UK taxpayer in accordance with the requirements of the Gift Aid scheme. Please see ourprivacy policyfor details of how we share your personal information for the purposes of processing Gift Aid. False or otherwise incorrect Gift Aid declarations may affect your personal tax liability. You are responsible for ensuring your income tax and/or capital gains tax liability for each tax year covers the amount the charity will reclaim on your Gift Aid donations. Please consult an appropriately qualified professional if you are unsure.

Cancelling Pledges and Refunds

• Cancelling by Crowdfunder:We can cancel Pledges without notice.
• Cancelling by Project Owners or Supporters:You may cancel a Pledge via your Crowdfunder account before those funds are transferred to the Project. Usually this means refunds are only possible within 7 days of the date of the Pledge. After this period, the Project Owner is responsible for issuing and responding to requests for any refunds of Pledges. We shall not be liable for any Project Owner’s failure to refund Pledges.
• Refunding tips:If you would like to remove a tip you made to Crowdfunder, contact ourCustomer Experience team. If an individual Pledge is cancelled, any tip to us will also be refunded without deduction.  If all Pledges to a Project are returned, tips will not be refunded.

Where Pledges are cancelled they will be refunded to the Supporter.

The points above do not affect your statutory or legal rights. Advice about these rights is available from your localCitizens' Advice BureauorTrading Standards office.

Legal Relationship Between a Project Owner and Supporter

It is important to understand the different legal relationships formed when you run a Project or make a Pledge. Below is some guidance. If you're unsure about the legal implications, please seek professional legal advice.

• Donations:Donations to Projects are voluntary gifts freely given. The Supporter does not receive anything in return. There is no obligation on the Project Owner to refund or pay back its Supporters.
• Rewards, prize draws, Community Shares:Where a Supporter Pledges on a Reward or a Prize Draw Entry or invests in Community Shares this will, upon payout of funds by Crowdfunder, create a legal agreement between the Project Owner and Supporter. If the Project Owner doesn't deliver the promised Reward, run the prize draw correctly, or deliver the Community Shares as applicable, they may be in breach of contract.
• Extra funding:Where a Project Owner is approved for Extra Funding, a contract is also created between the Project Owner and the partner following the Project Owner agreeing to the terms of the specific Extra Funding.

Publicly Visible Information About You

For Project Owners:Your profile name and biography and anything you post on your Project page on Crowdfunder will be publicly visible.

For Supporters:When you make a Pledge we will publish your username on the Project page on Crowdfunder unless you have selected “Do not display my name”. Even if you have selected this option, please note:

• We will still share your details with the Project Owner.
• If you leave a comment when you make a Pledge, your Username will be displayed publicly on Crowdfunder as we do not allow anonymous comments.

Please see ourPrivacy Policyfor further details.

10. Community Shares Projects - Additional Terms

This section sets out the terms that apply to the Projects for Community Shares. These apply in addition to those set out above relating to Projects generally including in respect of fees. If there is a conflict between the provisions of the Terms, this Section will prevail.

Crowdfunder’s role

We provide an online platform that connects people who want to invest in community-minded Projects with Co-operative Societies and Community Benefit Societies seeking funding. We facilitate the agreement between these parties for investments in Community Shares, subject to our platform rules designed to protect all Users.

We do not participate in the management of the Society, the allocation of shares, the use of investment funds, the payment of any returns, or the process of withdrawing shares. Beyond providing the platform and facilitating agreements, We are not involved in any arrangements between Users. We are not responsible for the Society's performance, financial returns, the value of Community Shares, or any other investment opportunity on Crowdfunder.

Setting up a Community Share Project

Eligibility

• Entity type:Only UK-registered Co-operative Societies or Community Benefit Societies including Charitable Community Benefit Societies ("Society") can create Projects to raise investment through Community Shares.
• Authorised individuals:Only individuals authorised by the Society can create a Project on Crowdfunder. Projects set up by unauthorised individuals (or those suspected to be unauthorised) will be rejected.

Investment Terms and Requirements:Project Owners must follow the requirements and guidance in theCommunity Shares Handbookgoverning the investment terms and conditions that can be offered to Supporters for Community Share Projects.

Before offering Community Shares on Crowdfunder,, a group must be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority as a Society or else have evidenced to our satisfaction that the registration is pending, and make it clear to prospective investors on its Project that the investment will not be drawn down until this registration is secured Any additional permissions, consents, and licences required for activities related to the invested funds must also be either obtained before the Project is launched, or clearly indicated in the project documentation as to the process the society will follow to secure these after investment has been secured.

Investing in a Community Share Project

Supporters considering investing in a Community Share Offer can access all relevant information about the offer including the rules of the offer on the Project page on Crowdfunder. There will be minimum and maximum investment amounts.

Investment Risks:Please be aware of the following risks associated with investing in Community Shares:

• No FSCS protection:Investments in Community Shares are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means you will not be compensated if the Society becomes insolvent.
• Capital at risk:Your capital is at risk, and returns are not guaranteed. You could lose some or all of your investment.
• Performance dependent on society:The repayment of capital and interest, or payment of dividends, depends entirely on the success of the Society's business model.
• Past performance not indicative:Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
• Read the offer document:It is crucial to read the offer document in full before investing. This document contains important information about the specific risks associated with the investment.

Seeking financial advice:If you are unsure whether investing in Community Shares is suitable for you, it is highly recommended that you seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser.

11. Loyalty Points - Additional terms

Crowdfunder may partner with companies that run loyalty programs (“Loyalty Partners”) so that the loyalty program members can donate their loyalty points to Projects on Crowdfunder (“Loyalty Point Schemes”). This section sets out the rules that apply.

Important Differences For Pledging With Loyalty Points

• Additional rules:The loyalty point rules are added on top of the normal rules for Projects on Crowdfunder unless otherwise specified.  If there's a conflict between the rules about loyalty points in this section and the general rules, the loyalty point rules apply.

• Donations only:Loyalty points can only be used for donations, not Rewards or. Community Shares.
• Gift aid:Gift aid cannot be claimed for loyalty point donations.
• Fees:We do not charge fees on loyalty point donations.
• Getting funds:It takes longer to get funds to Projects - please see below.
• Refunds:Redemption of loyalty points are donations and therefore cannot generally be cancelled or refunded except in the following circumstances, where points will be automatically refunded back to your Loyalty Partner account:

• The Project is cancelled or removed part way through;
• A Project which is “all or nothing” doesn’t meet its Fundraising Target; or
• If required by law.

Administration:We can make changes to how loyalty points work on Crowdfunder. This includes:

• Eligibility:We can update the rules on which Projects can apply.
• Applications:We can decide not to approve a Project.
• Removing Projects:We can remove a Project from a Loyalty Point Scheme.
• Pausing Schemes:We can temporarily stop accepting new Projects into a Loyalty Point Scheme.
• Cancellations:We can cancel a loyalty point donation.
• Ending Schemes:We can make changes to any Loyalty Point Scheme, or even end it completely.

Project Owners - Receiving Loyalty Point Donations

Eligibility:Your Project may be approved to receive loyalty point donations. We do not guarantee that any application you make will be successful. There will be eligibility criteria which differ between Loyalty Partners. Even if you are eligible, approval isn't guaranteed as the partner makes the final decision.

Once approved, you must inform us promptly if your Project no longer meets the eligibility criteria.

Getting your money:The way you get funds from loyalty point donations is different.  You will be required to set up an Extra Funding wallet to receive funds from loyalty point partners as follows:

• Keep What You Raise:you'll get your money within about 10 weeks after the end of the Fundraising Period.
• All or Nothing:If you hit your Fundraising Target, you'll get your money within about 10 weeks after the end of the Fundraising Period.
• For Always On Projects and Charity Profiles:We'll send your money regularly but it will take approximately 10 weeks from the date of donation.

We will send you the funds from loyalty point donations once they add up to £25 (per Loyalty Partner).

We are not responsible if there are delays in payment of funding from Loyalty Partners.

Supporters - Donating Loyalty Points to Projects

• Account requirements:You must have a Loyalty card/account card from the Loyalty Partner. You'll need a Crowdfunder account and you'll need to connect it to your loyalty program account. Make sure you're logged in when you donate.
• Account limits:You can only link one card from each loyalty program to your Crowdfunder account at a time, and it has to be yours. You can only use one card per donation.
• Avios specific rules:You can donate in increments of 125 points (worth at least £1 to the Project). You can donate up to 30,000 Avios each month.
• Approved Projects:You can only donate to Projects approved to accept loyalty points from that specific program. You can choose a different Project to support each time you donate, or keep donating to the same one if you like.
• Sharing Information:We'll share some information about your donation with the Loyalty Partner. This is for things like connecting your accounts, processing your points, and preventing fraud. You can learn more in ourCrowdfunder Privacy Policyand the relevantLoyalty Partner Privacy Policy.
• Donation status:Crowdfunder is collecting donations of loyalty points on the Project Owner’s behalf. Nothing will be delivered to you in return for your loyalty point donation. It is a donation or a gift freely given by you to your chosen Project.
• Collecting Points:Loyalty points cannot be collected on any element of the Loyalty Point Donation.
• Loyalty partner status:Our Loyalty Partners do not have direct relationship with any of the Projects and therefore are not responsible for the nature or quality of a Project nor do they promise that any User will do as they promise.
• Additional rules:Loyalty points are redeemed in accordance with the Loyalty Partner collector rules. Avios will be immediately debited from Your British Airways Executive Club account when Avios are donated.

12. Additional Terms That Apply to All Users

Dealing with Concerns

Reporting Concerns:We work hard to keep Crowdfunder safe and free from illegal or harmful content. We use a combination of technology and human review to identify and remove any content that violates these Terms or the law.

If you find any content on our platform that you believe is illegal, harmful, threatening, violates your rights, is being misused, or breaches these Terms in any way, please report it to us. You can do this by:

• Clicking the "Report this Project" button on the Project page on Crowdfunder.
• Contacting us.

We will review your report and take appropriate action.

Dealing with Inappropriate Content and Behavior:We have a zero-tolerance policy for abusive, illegal, or disruptive behaviour on Crowdfunder. If we find any content or activity that violates our Terms or those of our payment processors, puts our Users at risk, or harms our platform, we may take any of the following actions without notice:

• Remove the offending content.
• Remove any Projects created by the User.
• Record, monitor, edit, or disclose any content.
• Refund any Pledges.
• Suspend or terminate the User's access to Crowdfunder

To the extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for any losses you may experience as a result of the action we take. If an account is terminated, this applies to all accounts associated with that User.

User Conduct

When using Crowdfunder, you agree to:

• Use the platform lawfully:Use the website and its content for its intended purpose and in accordance with these Terms.
• Respect other Users:Do not harass, mislead, or act unlawfully towards other Users. Always get consent before using their contact information.
• Stop contact when asked:If another User asks you to stop contacting them, you must comply immediately.

Prohibited Activities:As well as the limitations set out in Section 5, you are not allowed to:

• Spam other Users:Do not post content or send unsolicited messages, including marketing messages, advertising loan offers, or investment opportunities. We strongly advise against engaging with Users who offer you unsolicited financial opportunities.
• Harm the platform:Do not distribute viruses or anything that could damage Crowdfunder or disrupt our services.
• Unauthorised access:Do not access or attempt to access any materials or data that is not expressly made available to you by us.
• Use automated systems:Do not use or launch any automated system that accesses Crowdfunder or any services we provide in a manner that sends more request messages in a given period of time than a human can reasonably produce in the same period.
• Post irrelevant content:Do not post advertisements, solicitations, or comments unrelated to the ongoing discussion.
• Disrupt the community:Do not engage in any behaviour that inhibits others from using Crowdfunder.
• Infringe on intellectual property:Do not copy, modify, or distribute our content, trademarks, or other Users' copyrighted material without permission.
• Collect User information:Do not collect, harvest or use information about other Users without their consent.
• Misrepresent yourself:Do not impersonate others or falsely represent your affiliation with any person or organisation.
• Access after suspension:Do not use Crowdfunder if your account has been suspended or terminated.

Remember that any information or messages posted on Crowdfunder represent the opinions of the individuals who post them. Relying on this information is at your own risk.

Ownership of Content

Our content:All content on Crowdfunder (and all intellectual property rights in that content) is owned by us or our licensors and is protected by intellectual property laws.

You can use our website and its content for personal, non-commercial purposes. This means you can browse, read, and share links to our content.

You cannot copy, modify, distribute, or reproduce any of our content without our written permission. This includes:

• Editing our content
• Removing copyright notices
• Using our trademarks or logos without permission

The trade marks, logos and brands appearing on Crowdfunder are owned by us or our licensors. No permission is given in respect of the use of any of these.

Your Content:When you share any content on Crowdfunder (like text, images, or videos), you're confirming that:

• You own it:You own the copyright or have permission to use it on Crowdfunder in accordance with these Terms.
• It doesn't infringe on rights:Your content doesn't violate anyone else's intellectual property or other rights.

By sharing content, you give us permission to use it in various ways (including use, copy, adapt, abridge, amend, distribute, modify, translate, publish, display, reproduce, communicate to the public and to make your content otherwise available in any form and/or by any media, whether on a commercial or non-commercial basis) including:

• showing your content to other Users on Crowdfunder.
• using your content in our email and social media communications.
• allowing our partners to use your content on their platforms.
• allowing others to link to pages containing your content.

Even though you give us permission to use your content, you still retain all your intellectual property rights to it.

Third-Party Software and Links

Third party software:Some content on Crowdfunder may require you to download and activate third-party software. This software will be clearly identified. To use this software, you may need to agree to separate terms and conditions from the software provider. We are not responsible for this software or any agreements you make with the third party.

Links to Other Websites:Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We don't control these websites and are not responsible for their content, availability, or your experience on them. Clicking these links is at your own risk.

Privacy on Third-Party Websites:If you visit a linked website, any personal information you give to them will be dealt with in line with their privacy policy

Linking to Crowdfunder:You can link to our website, but you must follow these rules:

• Don't display our homepage in a frame on your website without our permission.
• Don't misrepresent your relationship with us or provide false information about Crowdfunder.

We can revoke your permission to link to our website without notice.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use AI tools and technologies for various purposes, including but not limited to content moderation, fraud detection, Project recommendations and customer support.

Users may use AI tools to generate content for their Projects (e.g., text descriptions, images, videos). We may also offer you AI tools to help with the creation and promotion of your Project. We will handle all User data, including data related to AI implementation, in accordance with our Privacy Policy. Whilst we take reasonable measures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of AI-powered features, we cannot guarantee their performance. If you choose to use the tools offered, you acknowledge that AI tools are constantly evolving and may produce unexpected or unintended results. You are solely responsible for reviewing and verifying their output and for ensuring that such content:

• Is original and does not infringe any intellectual property rights.
• Complies with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Meets these Terms of Use.

We reserve the right to remove any User-generated AI content that violates these Terms.

We shall not be held liable for any damages or losses arising from the use of AI on the platform.

13. General Terms

Our Disclaimers And Limitations On Our Liability

We promise to operate Crowdfunder with reasonable skill and care. However, we provide the website and its content "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permissible under applicable law and subject to the “Limitation of liability” below, we disclaim any and all promises, warranties, conditions, or representations relating to Crowdfunder.co.uk and its content, whether express, implied, oral or written. In particular:

• Content Accuracy:We are not responsible for verifying the accuracy or truthfulness of any content posted on the website.
• User Opinions:Any comments or opinions expressed on Crowdfunder belong to the individuals who post them and do not reflect our views or endorsements.
• Third-Party Services:We cannot guarantee the performance or reliability of third-party services, such as payment processing.
• Your Responsibility:You use Crowdfunder and its content at your own risk. We are not responsible for any losses you may incur as a result of using the website or relying on its content.

You are responsible for how you use the website and its content. The content and information that we make available on Crowdfunder is provided for information only. Accordingly, we exclude any liability for any loss suffered by you as a direct or indirect result of your use of any of the information or content available on Crowdfunder.

Internet Risks and Limitations:By using Crowdfunder, you acknowledge and accept the inherent risks and limitations of the internet. This includes:

• Technical Performance:We cannot guarantee that the website will always be available or accessible, or that your access will be uninterrupted or error-free.
• Security Risks:We cannot guarantee that our website or servers are free from viruses or other harmful software. It is your responsibility to protect your devices with appropriate security software. Any content you download from our website is at your own risk.

Limitation of liability

There are certain liabilities which we cannot exclude by law and nothing in these Terms excludes or limits our liability for the following:

• for death or personal injury caused by its negligence, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation; or
• any other matter for which it would be illegal or unlawful for us to exclude or attempt to exclude its liability.

Subject to the statement above, the following applies

We will not be responsible or liable if we are prevented or delayed from complying with our obligations under these Terms by anything you (or anyone acting on your behalf) does or fails to do or due to events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

If you are a User then if either we or you fail to comply with these terms, neither of us shall be responsible for any losses that the other suffers as a result, except for those losses which are a foreseeable consequence of the failure to comply with these terms. Losses are foreseeable where they were contemplated by you and us at the time you accept these terms; and

If you are a Project Owner then we will under no circumstances be liable to you, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, arising under or in connection with the contract for:

• any losses related to any business of yours including but not limited to lost data, profits, revenue, savings, business, opportunity, goodwill, reputation, business interruption or any pure economic loss (in each case, whether such loss is direct or indirect) however arising; or
• any form of indirect, consequential or special loss, however arising; or

• any direct loss (for which liability is not expressly excluded in these terms) in excess of the total amount of fees we have received in respect of the project to which your claim relates (whether in respect of a single event, series of connected events or of unconnected events); or if no fees were paid, in excess of £100.

Indemnity:You agree to use Crowdfunder only as permitted by these Terms. You also agree to fully compensate us (and our employees, officers, agents, and suppliers) for any damages, losses, costs, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees, that we incur due to:

• your breach of these Terms; and
• our liability arising from your use of Crowdfunder, or anyone using your account with your permission or due to your negligence.

Governing Law and Disputes

Governing law and jurisdiction:Any disputes or claims arising out of or related to these Terms, or any agreement made under them, will be governed by and interpreted according to the laws of England. This includes any non-contractual disputes or claims.

Disputing a decision by Crowdfunder:If you disagree with any action we take, you can raise a complaint - please see ourcomplaints process.

Please note you have a right to bring a claim for breach of contract if:

• the content which you generate, upload or share on Crowdfunder is taken down, or access to it is restricted, in breach of these Terms; or
• you are suspended from using Crowdfunder in breach of these Terms.

Dispute between you and Crowdfunder:If a dispute arises between us, we both agree to first try to resolve it through mediation, following the Centre for Dispute Resolution (CEDR) Model Mediation Procedure. If either of us refuses to start mediation within 30 days of the dispute arising, or if we can't reach a settlement within 40 days of starting mediation, either of us can take the dispute to the courts of England. These courts will have exclusive jurisdiction to resolve the dispute.

Disputes between Users:Crowdfunder is not obligated to get involved in disputes arising in connection with the use of Crowdfunder between Users or Users and any third party. We will cooperate with regulatory or law enforcement authorities in any investigations related to your dispute with another User.

Other General Terms

Copyright Complaints:Crowdfunder respects the intellectual property rights of others. We prohibit Users from uploading, posting, or sharing any materials that infringe someone else's copyright.

We will comply with clear notices of alleged copyright infringement. To submit a notice of infringement or a counter-notice, please contact us by using the "Report this Project" button on the relevant Project page or completingour online form.

Any copyright issues with content hosted on third-party websites that are linked to from Crowdfunder are not our responsibility and should be addressed with the third-party website.

Severability.If any part of these Terms is found to be unenforceable as a matter of law, all other parts of these Terms will not be affected and shall remain in force.

Entire Agreement:These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and us relating to the subject matter.

Events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control:If we are prevented or delayed from complying with our obligations under these Terms by anything you (or anyone acting on your behalf) does or fails to do or due to events or circumstances beyond our reasonable control, we will not be deemed to be in breach of contract. Such circumstances include, but are not limited to, fire, flood and other acts of God, strikes, trade disputes, lock outs, restrictions of imports or exports, riot, accident, disruption to energy or communications supplies, civil commotion, acts of terrorism or war.

Assignment:You may not assign, sub-license or otherwise transfer any of your rights under these Terms.

Waiver:If you breach these Terms and we choose to ignore your breach, we will still be entitled to use our rights and remedies at a later date.

Exclusion of third party rights:These Terms do not create any right enforceable by any person who is not a party to them or any contract made under them, except that the provisions of these Terms may be enforced by any of our licensors.

Language:These Terms may be presented to you in more than one language. However, the English language version shall prevail. All contracts made under these Terms will be concluded in English.

Territory:Crowdfunder is controlled and operated from the United Kingdom. If you choose to access Crowfunder.co.uk from outside the United Kingdom, we make no representation that the content and operation of Crowdfunder will comply with local laws.

Changes To These Terms and To The Crowdfunder Website

Changes to These Terms:We may update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on Crowdfunder and will take effect seven days after they are posted. By continuing to use Crowdfunder after that time, you accept the updated Terms. If you don't agree to the changes, you must stop using Crowdfunder.

Changes to Crowdfunder:We can change, suspend, or discontinue the Crowdfunder website and/or its services at any time, for any reason. We may also add or remove features, or restrict your access to parts or all of Crowdfunder.

Contact Us

Crowdfunder Limited is a company incorporated in England. Our registered office address is Crowdfunder, 3 Southview House St Austell Enterprise Park, Carclaze, St Austell, Cornwall, United Kingdom, PL25 4EJ.Our registered company number is 07831511 and VAT registration number is 162895181.

Contact us viaour form.