Legal
Payments & Funds Disclaimer
This disclaimer explains how money moves when you donate on the Platform and the limited role of Apsida Foundation with respect to funds.
Effective date: August 27, 2026. Operator: Apsida Foundation (apsidafoundation.org).
1. Core statement
Apsida Foundation does not collect, hold, custody, or take a platform commission from campaign donations. Donations made through the Platform are processed by independent payment processors (payment gateways) and, for connected Fundraisers, are directed to the Fundraiser’s own connected payment account (for example, a Stripe Connect account). Apsida Foundation is not an intermediary wallet, escrow agent, or bank for those campaign funds.
2. Payment processors
Card and electronic payments are handled by third-party processors. Today the Platform primarily uses Stripe Connect (Stripe, Inc. and affiliates). Other processors (including PayPal) may be enabled in the future. Processors are independent companies. Their services are subject to their own terms, privacy policies, compliance programs (including KYC/AML where applicable), and fee schedules.
3. Processor fees
Payment processors may charge fees to process transactions (for example, a percentage of the donation plus a fixed amount per charge). Fee rates can vary by payment method, country, nonprofit status with the processor, volume, and other factors set by the processor—not by Apsida Foundation. Apsida Foundation does not keep those processor fees. Where the Platform offers an option to “cover processing fees,” that amount is still processed through the payment gateway according to the checkout flow presented to you.
4. Platform fee
Apsida Foundation’s stated platform fee on campaign donations is 0%. We do not deduct a commission from gifts before they reach the Fundraiser’s connected account. This does not eliminate processor fees or any taxes or bank charges that may apply outside our control.
5. Who receives the donation
The recipient of a campaign donation is the Fundraiser identified on the campaign page (the organization running the campaign), via its connected payment account—not Apsida Foundation as custodian of project funds. Fundraisers are responsible for use of funds, donor acknowledgments, and any required charitable registrations or filings.
6. What we store about payments
We may store donation amounts, timestamps, campaign and user identifiers, name-privacy preferences, limited processor reference IDs, and related metadata needed to operate the Platform, show progress, provide support, and meet legal obligations. We do not store full payment card numbers (PAN) or bank account secrets on our application servers. Card data is handled by the payment processor.
7. Tax and deductibility
Whether a donation is tax-deductible depends on the Fundraiser’s tax status and on applicable law. Apsida Foundation does not guarantee deductibility and does not provide tax, legal, or accounting advice. Donors should consult their own advisors and verify the Fundraiser’s status independently.
8. Chargebacks and disputes
Payment disputes, chargebacks, and refunds are handled under processor rules and the Fundraiser’s practices, as further described in our Refunds & Disputes policy. Apsida Foundation may assist with information available in Platform records but does not control settlement of funds held by the processor or Fundraiser.
9. No financial advice; risk
Nothing on the Platform is an offer of securities, investment advice, or a guarantee of results. Crowdfunding involves risk that a campaign may not meet its goal or that a Fundraiser may change or cancel plans subject to applicable law and its own policies.
10. Plain-language overview
For a non-legal diagram of the flow Donor → Payment Provider → Fundraiser, see How donations work. If that overview conflicts with this Disclaimer or the Terms of Use, this Disclaimer and the Terms control.