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Terms of Use

Effective Date: [INSERT DATE]

Welcome to the website of the Rural Alabama Resource Center (“RARC,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).

By accessing or using this website, you agree to comply with and be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree with these Terms, please do not use this website.

1. Purpose of the Website

The RARC website is intended to provide information about our nonprofit mission, programs, services, events, resources, volunteer opportunities, advocacy efforts, and community initiatives.

Information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only.

2. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing this website, you confirm that:

  • You are at least 13 years old; or
  • You are using the website under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

Your continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of these Terms of Use and any future modifications.

3. Permitted Use

You may use this website only for lawful purposes.

You agree not to:

  • Violate any applicable laws or regulations
  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the website or servers
  • Interfere with website functionality or security
  • Upload malicious software or harmful code
  • Use the website to harass, threaten, or abuse others
  • Impersonate another person or organization
  • Use automated systems to scrape or harvest website data without permission
  • Reproduce or distribute website content for commercial purposes without written consent

We reserve the right to restrict or terminate access for violations of these Terms.

4. Intellectual Property

Unless otherwise noted, all website content is owned by or licensed to RARC, including:

  • Logos
  • Branding
  • Graphics
  • Text
  • Website design
  • Original publications
  • Downloadable resources
  • Audio, video, and multimedia content

Content may not be copied, reproduced, modified, distributed, or used commercially without prior written permission.

Limited personal, educational, and noncommercial use is permitted when proper attribution is provided.

5. User Submissions

If users submit content through forms, email, volunteer applications, surveys, or other interactive features, users grant RARC a non-exclusive right to use submitted information for organizational purposes.

Users are responsible for ensuring submitted content:

  • Is accurate
  • Does not violate laws
  • Does not infringe on third-party rights
  • Does not contain harmful or malicious material

We reserve the right to remove or refuse submissions at our discretion.

6. Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services.

These links are provided for convenience only.

RARC does not control or endorse third-party websites and is not responsible for their:

  • Content
  • Policies
  • Security
  • Availability
  • Privacy practices

Users access third-party websites at their own risk.

7. Donations and Transactions

If donations or purchases are processed through the website, transactions may be handled through third-party payment processors and fundraising platforms, including the GiveWP donation system used by RARC.

RARC does not guarantee uninterrupted availability of payment services.

Users are responsible for reviewing the terms and privacy policies of payment providers.

All donations are voluntary.

8. No Professional Advice

Information provided on this website does not constitute:

  • Legal advice
  • Medical advice
  • Mental health counseling
  • Financial advice
  • Professional social services guidance

Users should consult qualified professionals regarding their individual circumstances.

Emergency situations should be directed to appropriate emergency services or crisis resources.

9. Disclaimer of Warranties

This website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties of any kind, express or implied.

RARC does not guarantee:

  • Website availability
  • Accuracy of information
  • Error-free functionality
  • Continuous operation
  • Freedom from viruses or harmful components

Use of the website is at the user’s own risk.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, RARC and its officers, directors, volunteers, employees, affiliates, and partners shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or special damages arising from:

  • Use of the website
  • Inability to access the website
  • Reliance on website information
  • Third-party services or links
  • Technical issues or interruptions

11. Indemnification

Users agree to indemnify and hold harmless RARC and its representatives from claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising from:

  • Violation of these Terms
  • Misuse of the website
  • Violation of another person’s rights
  • Unlawful conduct related to website use

12. Privacy

Use of this website is also governed by our separate Privacy Policy.

By using this website, you acknowledge that you have reviewed the Privacy Policy.

13. Community Standards

RARC seeks to foster a respectful, inclusive, and community-oriented environment.

Users interacting with the website, social media pages, online forms, or community resources associated with RARC agree not to:

  • Harass or intimidate others
  • Use hateful, discriminatory, or threatening language
  • Submit false or misleading information
  • Disrupt services or events
  • Engage in unlawful conduct

RARC reserves the right to restrict participation, remove submissions, or block access when conduct is determined to be harmful to the organization, its mission, volunteers, staff, or community members.

14. Nondiscrimination Statement

RARC is committed to providing services, programs, and opportunities without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics under applicable law.

15. Media and Content Use

Photos, videos, testimonials, and other materials submitted to or captured during RARC events, programs, or activities may be used for educational, promotional, fundraising, or informational purposes unless otherwise prohibited by law or specifically requested in writing.

Individuals requesting removal of identifiable media may contact RARC for review.

16. Social Media and Third-Party Platforms

RARC may maintain official accounts, pages, groups, or profiles on third-party platforms including, but not limited to:

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X
  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Threads
  • LinkedIn
  • Other current or future social media platforms

Interactions with RARC through third-party platforms are also subject to the terms, privacy policies, and community standards of those platforms.

RARC is not responsible for outages, policy changes, account restrictions, data practices, moderation decisions, or technical issues associated with third-party platforms.

Comments, messages, tags, mentions, or other public interactions directed toward RARC social media accounts may be moderated or removed if determined to include:

  • Harassment
  • Hate speech
  • Threats
  • Spam
  • Misinformation
  • Illegal content
  • Impersonation
  • Malicious links

Users should avoid submitting sensitive personal, medical, legal, or financial information through public social media channels.

RARC reserves the right to block, mute, restrict, or report accounts that violate community standards or interfere with organizational operations.

17. Availability of Resources and Services

RARC strives to maintain accurate and up-to-date information regarding programs, services, events, and resources.

However, availability may change without notice due to funding limitations, staffing, emergencies, operational needs, or other circumstances.

RARC does not guarantee the continued availability of any specific program, resource, referral, or service.

18. Accessibility

RARC is committed to making its website accessible to all users, including individuals with disabilities.

If you experience accessibility barriers, please contact us so we can work to improve access.

19. Modifications to the Website or Terms

We reserve the right to:

  • Modify website content
  • Change or discontinue features
  • Restrict access
  • Update these Terms of Use at any time

Changes become effective upon posting.

Continued use of the website after updates constitutes acceptance of revised Terms.

20. Governing Law

These Terms of Use shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama and applicable federal law.

Any disputes arising from use of the website shall be resolved in courts located within the State of Alabama.

21. Donation Policy

Online Donations

RARC accepts online donations through the GiveWP fundraising platform integrated into this website.

By submitting a donation through the website, donors acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this Donation Policy.

Payment Processing

Online donations may be processed through secure third-party payment providers connected to GiveWP, including services such as Stripe, PayPal, Square, or similar payment processors.

RARC does not directly store complete payment card information on its own servers.

Payment information submitted through third-party processors is governed by the privacy, security, and terms of those providers.

Tax-Deductible Contributions

RARC intends to operate as a nonprofit organization.

If and when federal tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code is granted, eligible donations may become tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Donors should consult a qualified tax professional regarding the deductibility of contributions.

Donation Receipts

Electronic donation confirmations or receipts may be automatically generated through GiveWP or associated payment processors.

Donors are responsible for retaining copies of receipts for their records.

Recurring Donations

If recurring donations are offered, donors authorize recurring charges according to the selected donation schedule.

Recurring donations may be modified or canceled by contacting RARC or through donor account management tools when available.

Cancellation requests may require reasonable processing time.

Refund Policy

Donations are generally considered voluntary and nonrefundable.

However, RARC may review refund requests on a case-by-case basis in situations involving:

  • Duplicate transactions
  • Unauthorized transactions
  • Technical payment errors
  • Accidental donation amounts

Refund requests should be submitted within 30 days of the transaction date.

RARC reserves the right to approve or deny refund requests at its discretion.

Donor Privacy

RARC values donor privacy and does not sell or trade donor personal information.

Donor information may be used for:

  • Donation processing
  • Tax documentation
  • Organizational communications
  • Donor acknowledgment
  • Internal recordkeeping

Additional information regarding donor data practices is available in the Privacy Policy.

Security

RARC takes reasonable measures to help protect donation information and website security.

However, no electronic transmission or payment system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Donors submit information at their own risk.

Failed Transactions and Errors

RARC is not responsible for technical issues, interruptions, banking errors, internet outages, or payment processor failures that may affect donation processing.

If a donor believes an error has occurred, they should contact RARC as soon as possible.

Modification of Donation Terms

RARC reserves the right to modify this Donation Policy at any time.

Changes become effective upon posting to the website.

22. Contact Information

Questions regarding these Terms of Use may be directed to:

Rural Alabama Resource Center (RARC)
TBD
ashlee@ruralalabamaresource.org
TBD
http://www.ruralalabamaresource.org

Disclaimer

These Terms of Use are provided as a general template for informational purposes and should not be considered legal advice. RARC should consult with a qualified attorney to ensure compliance with applicable laws and organizational needs.