Terms and Conditions
Effective Date: November 8, 2025
1. Introduction
SponsorAFamily.org (the “Platform”, “we”, “us”, or “Sponsor A Family”) connects individuals and families seeking sponsorship with Financial Donors interested in providing direct support. These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern all users of the Platform including Financial Donors, Sponsored Families, Affiliates, and visitors. By using the Platform or creating an account you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
2. Definitions and Who This Covers
Financial Donor — an individual who contributes money via the Platform to support a listed family.
Sponsored Family — a household that registers and publishes a listing requesting sponsorship and that enrolls in the Platform’s payout process.
Affiliate / Payout Program — the Platform’s mechanism for collecting, tracking, attributing, and distributing sponsorship proceeds to Sponsored Families.
Visitor — an individual who browses listings and content on the Platform without creating an account.
3. How the Platform Works
The Platform publishes Listings submitted by Sponsored Families describing their needs and sponsorship goals. All donations are collected by SponsorAFamily.org’s PayPal business account, which serves as the primary payment recipient. SponsorAFamily.org is responsible for managing the collection, pooling, tracking, and weekly distribution of funds to Sponsored Families, deducting a 10% platform fee to cover hosting, maintenance, and payment processing costs.
Key Operational Points
Listings: Families create and publish listings to the All Listings archive where donors can browse and select a listing to support.
Donation Collection: All donations are processed through SponsorAFamily.org’s integrated PayPal business account. Donors make contributions to SponsorAFamily.org, which then receives and temporarily holds the funds pending distribution to the Sponsored Family.
Platform Fee: A 10% fee is deducted from each contribution to cover platform hosting, website maintenance, software licensing, website security, payment processor fees, and other operational expenses. The remaining 90% of the donation is distributed to the Sponsored Family.
Weekly Distribution: SponsorAFamily.org distributes collected funds to Sponsored Families on a weekly basis, provided that the family’s account balance meets the minimum weekly threshold of $10.00. Distributions occur every Friday, subject to verification and payment processor processing times.
Fund Holding and Management: SponsorAFamily.org temporarily holds all collected donations until the weekly payout cycle. During the holding period, funds remain in SponsorAFamily.org’s PayPal account and are subject to PayPal’s terms, account agreements, and reserve policies.
Role-Specific Flows: Donors and Families are routed to role-appropriate pages and dashboards to reduce confusion and ensure proper handling of payouts and listing management.
4. Accounts, Eligibility, and User Responsibilities
Age and Eligibility: You must be 18 years or older to create an account or participate in donation activities.
Account Responsibility: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity that occurs under your account.
One Account per Role: Each person or legal entity should maintain at most one account per role unless otherwise approved by SponsorAFamily.org.
Accurate Information: You agree to provide accurate, complete, and up-to-date information when registering and when creating or updating a listing.
5. Sponsored Families, Payouts, and Affiliate Participation
To receive sponsorship funds distributed via SponsorAFamily.org, Sponsored Families must enroll in and remain in good standing with the Platform’s Payout Program (the “Program”). Enrollment is required for payout and is completed during listing creation or via the Sponsored Family’s account settings.
Enrollment and Payment Requirements
Payout Account Required: Sponsored Families must provide valid bank account information or an approved payment processor account to receive distributions. SponsorAFamily.org may withhold distribution until qualifying payout details are verified and approved.
Affiliate / Tracking Participation: Sponsored Families will participate in the Platform’s affiliation/tracking process as part of the Program when applicable. Participation authorizes SponsorAFamily.org to track donations, attribute payouts, and manage fund distribution according to Program rules and tracking procedures.
Fees and Deductions: A 10% fee will be deducted from all donations to cover platform hosting, software licensing, website security, payment processor fees, payment processing costs, and other operational expenses. The remaining 90% of the donation is remitted to the Sponsored Family each week, subject to threshold and verification requirements.
Responsibility for Account Details: Families are responsible for providing accurate payout account details. SponsorAFamily.org is not responsible for delays, losses, or errors caused by incorrect payout information or by third-party payment processor policies.
Verification: SponsorAFamily.org may require verification of identity, payout details, or supporting documentation prior to releasing funds. Verification may add processing time to initial or subsequent payouts.
Payout Timing and Thresholds
Distribution Schedule: SponsorAFamily.org distributes collected sponsorship funds to Sponsored Families on a weekly basis.
Minimum Threshold: Payouts are released only when a Sponsored Family’s account balance reaches the minimum weekly threshold of $10.00. If an account does not meet this threshold in a given week, funds will be carried over to the following week and combined with new donations.
Timing: Distributions are processed on a designated day each week (currently Fridays) and typically appear in the recipient’s payout account within 1–3 business days, depending on the recipient’s financial institution and PayPal processing times.
Holds and Delays: SponsorAFamily.org or its payment processor (PayPal) may place temporary holds on funds for verification, fraud prevention, or compliance purposes. These holds may delay distributions beyond the standard weekly schedule.
Program Documentation: Specific payout schedules, thresholds, and verification requirements are published in the Program documentation available in your account dashboard.
6. Donor Terms and Guidance
Sponsorship Notice: Contributions made through SponsorAFamily.org are personal sponsorships or gifts provided directly to Sponsored Families. These contributions are not tax-deductible unless explicitly stated on a listing. SponsorAFamily.org is not a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Fund Receipt and Transfer: By making a donation, you acknowledge and agree that SponsorAFamily.org receives your contribution on behalf of the Sponsored Family and will remit 90% of the donation to the family after deducting the 10% platform fee. Your donation is not a charitable contribution.
Donor Responsibility: Donors are responsible for selecting the correct donation method and for verifying listing details if they wish to do so. SponsorAFamily.org does not guarantee outcomes, fulfillment by the Sponsored Family, or use of funds by the recipient.
Payment Processing: All payments are governed by PayPal’s terms, conditions, and privacy policy in addition to these Terms. Donors agree to comply with PayPal’s acceptable use policies.
7. Content Moderation, Removal, and Termination
Right to Remove: SponsorAFamily.org reserves the right to remove or decline any listing, content, or account for violations, fraud, misrepresentation, illegal activity, or for any reason in our discretion.
Consequences: Fraudulent activity or repeated violations may result in account suspension, termination, and forfeiture of pending payouts or privileges.
Reporting: If you suspect fraud, abuse, or misrepresentation, report it through the Platform’s contact form or support channels and provide relevant details for investigation.
8. Fees, Payment Processing, and Refunds
Platform Fee Disclosure: A 10% fee is retained from each sponsorship contribution to cover platform hosting, software licensing, website security, payment processor fees, and maintenance costs. This fee is disclosed at the point of donation.
Processor Fees: PayPal and other third-party payment processors may charge additional fees or assessments. These fees are governed by the payment processor’s terms and are disclosed at the time of donation where applicable.
Refunds: Refund requests must be submitted to SponsorAFamily.org and/or the payment processor. SponsorAFamily.org will cooperate in investigating disputes and will work with PayPal to process refunds where applicable. SponsorAFamily.org is not responsible for processor decisions regarding refunds except where Platform error is proven. Please note that refunds may take 5–10 business days to process depending on the financial institution.
Chargeback Policy: Any chargeback or dispute filed with PayPal or a financial institution may result in account suspension and forfeiture of remaining funds in the account.
9. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
The Platform is provided “as is.” To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SponsorAFamily.org disclaims all warranties, express or implied. SponsorAFamily.org does not guarantee results, delivery of funds, or specific outcomes. SponsorAFamily.org is not responsible for:
Delays or errors in payment processing caused by PayPal or other third-party payment processors.
Loss of funds due to account verification failures, incorrect payout information, or processor policies.
The use of funds by Sponsored Families after distribution.
Disputes between Donors and Sponsored Families regarding sponsorship promises or expectations.
In no event will SponsorAFamily.org’s aggregate liability for any claim exceed the total amounts paid to SponsorAFamily.org in connection with the relevant transaction or such lesser amount as required by law.
10. Arbitration and Governing Law
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, you and SponsorAFamily.org agree to resolve disputes as follows:
Agreement to Arbitrate: Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Platform, or any transaction between you and SponsorAFamily.org shall be finally resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Consumer Arbitration Rules, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
Location and Venue: Unless otherwise required by applicable law, arbitration hearings (in-person, if any) shall be held in or near Glen Allen, Henrico County, Virginia. The arbitrator may permit remote proceedings where appropriate.
Small Claims and Injunctive Relief: Either party may bring eligible claims in small claims court notwithstanding this arbitration agreement. SponsorAFamily.org may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in state or federal court in Henrico County, Virginia to protect intellectual property or proprietary rights without waiving the arbitration requirement for other claims.
Class Action Waiver: To the maximum extent permitted by law, you and SponsorAFamily.org each waive any right to participate in a class, collective, or representative action.
Governing Law: These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and the federal laws of the United States, without regard to conflict of law principles, except where local consumer protection laws require otherwise.
11. Miscellaneous
Changes: We may update these Terms from time to time. Continued use after posting constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Severability: If any provision is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in effect.
Assignment: Users may not assign these Terms without SponsorAFamily.org’s prior written consent. SponsorAFamily.org may assign these Terms in connection with a merger or sale.
Entire Agreement: These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any Affiliate Terms, constitute the entire agreement between you and SponsorAFamily.org.
12. Contact and Notices
For questions about these Terms, to report abuse, or to send legal notices:
SponsorAFamily.org
Email: support@sponsorafamily.org
By using SponsorAFamily.org you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.
Important Notices
⚠️ Sponsorship Notice: Contributions made through SponsorAFamily.org are considered personal sponsorships or gifts provided directly to families in need. These are not tax-deductible charitable donations. SponsorAFamily.org is not a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
ℹ️ Platform Fee Notice: A 10% platform fee is deducted from each sponsorship contribution to cover the costs of hosting, website maintenance, software, security, and payment processing. The remaining 90% is distributed directly to the sponsored family on a weekly basis (minimum $10.00 threshold).
💳 Fund Receipt Notice: All donations are received and held by SponsorAFamily.org’s PayPal business account before being distributed to Sponsored Families. By donating, you authorize SponsorAFamily.org to receive and manage your contribution on behalf of the Sponsored Family.