Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms & Conditions

By accessing, browsing, using, or registering on the Grace Imaran Foundation Africa platform (the "Platform"), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (these "Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Grace Imaran Foundation Africa ("GIFA," "we," "our," or "us").

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately cease using the Platform and discontinue all access. Your continued use of the Platform following any modifications to these Terms signifies your acceptance of such modifications.

2. Platform Description & Services

Grace Imaran Foundation Africa operates a medical crowdfunding platform that facilitates the fundraising and donation processes for legitimate medical causes. The Platform provides:

• A marketplace for individuals and families to create and publicize medical fundraising campaigns
• Secure donation processing for donors wishing to contribute to medical causes
• Campaign verification and fraud prevention mechanisms
• Communication tools for campaign creators to share progress updates with donors
• Payment processing and fund transfer services
• Donor dashboard and campaign tracking features

GIFA acts as a marketplace facilitator, not as a lender, financial advisor, or investment manager. We do not provide medical advice, treatment recommendations, or healthcare services.

3. User Eligibility & Account Responsibilities

3.1 Eligibility Requirements

To use the Platform, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old (or the legal age of majority in your jurisdiction)
• Have the legal capacity to enter into binding agreements
• Not be prohibited by law from using the Platform
• Not be a resident of any country under international sanctions
• Not be on any government watch list or sanctions list

3.2 Account Creation & Registration

To create an account, you must provide accurate, complete, and current information:

• Your full, legal name
• Valid email address
• Strong, unique password
• Country and location information
• For campaign creators: identity verification documents (national ID, passport, etc.)

You certify that all information provided is truthful and accurate. You agree to update this information if it changes. Providing false information may result in immediate account termination and legal liability.

3.3 Account Security & Responsibility

You are solely responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your password and login credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Immediately notifying GIFA of any unauthorized access or breach
• Monitoring your account for suspicious activity

GIFA will not be liable for any unauthorized access or use of your account if you fail to maintain account security. You agree to hold GIFA harmless from any claims arising from unauthorized account use.

4. Campaign Creation Guidelines & Requirements

4.1 Eligible Campaigns

Campaigns on GIFA must be for legitimate medical purposes:

• Emergency or specialized surgical procedures (cardiac surgery, cancer treatment, trauma care, etc.)
• Hospitalization and treatment costs
• Medication and pharmaceutical expenses
• Diagnostic testing and imaging
• Physical therapy and rehabilitation
• Mental health treatment and counseling
• Medical equipment and prosthetics

4.2 Ineligible Campaigns

The following campaigns are NOT permitted on GIFA:

• Non-medical fundraising (education, business, debt consolidation)
• Cosmetic or elective procedures not medically necessary
• Campaigns for political, religious, or controversial causes
• Fundraising for individuals already funded through government or insurance
• Campaigns that promote illegal activities or substances
• Campaigns containing hate speech or discrimination

4.3 Campaign Content Requirements

When creating a campaign, you must provide:

• Honest Description: A truthful, detailed explanation of the medical condition and treatment plan
• Medical Documentation: Hospital diagnosis, doctor recommendations, treatment quotes, and medical reports
• Expense Breakdown: Itemized list of all medical costs with supporting documentation
• Beneficiary Information: Identity verification and proof of the beneficiary's medical need
• Photo/Video: Current photo of the beneficiary (recommended for campaign credibility)
• Payment Account Details: Valid bank account or mobile money account where funds will be received

4.4 Campaign Verification Process

All campaigns undergo verification before publication:

• GIFA verification team reviews all submitted documentation
• Medical authenticity is confirmed with healthcare providers
• Beneficiary identity is verified against government-issued identification
• Payment account ownership is confirmed
• Fraud detection algorithms scan for suspicious patterns
• Typical verification timeframe: 24-48 business hours

Campaigns not meeting verification standards will be rejected with explanation. Creators have the opportunity to resubmit with corrections. Repeated rejection or detected fraud will result in permanent account deactivation.

4.5 Campaign Prohibitions

When creating or managing campaigns, you agree NOT to:

• Provide false or misleading information about the beneficiary or medical need
• Exaggerate or fabricate medical details
• Use funds for purposes other than stated medical treatment
• Create multiple campaigns for the same beneficiary without disclosure
• Engage in market manipulation or artificial donation inflation
• Solicit donations through deceptive means
• Harass donors or other campaign creators
• Include prohibited content (hate speech, violence, illegal activity)

5. Donations & Contribution Terms

5.1 Donation Process

By making a donation through GIFA, you:

• Acknowledge that you have voluntarily chosen to contribute
• Authorize payment via your selected method (bank transfer, mobile money, PayPal, etc.)
• Represent that funds come from a legal source
• Accept the terms governing donations and platform fees

5.2 Platform Fees & Charges

GIFA charges fees to sustain operations:

• Successful Campaigns: 5% platform fee on funds raised that reach their target
• Keep-What-You-Raise: 3% platform fee on funds raised that fall short of target
• Low-Income Support: Fee waivers available on case-by-case basis for qualified beneficiaries
• Payment Processing Fees: Actual fees charged by payment processors (varies by method and country)

All fees are transparent and displayed before you confirm your donation. GIFA deducts its fees from campaign funds, not from donor contributions.

5.3 Donation Refunds & Reversals

No Refunds: Once processed, donations are generally non-refundable except in specific circumstances:

• Technical errors resulting in duplicate charges (within 7 days)
• Unauthorized transactions or account compromise
• Campaign detected as fraudulent before funds are transferred
• Chargeback initiated by your bank or payment provider

Requests for refunds must be submitted within 30 days of the donation. GIFA investigates all refund requests thoroughly. False refund claims may result in account suspension.

5.4 Fund Transfer & Campaign Goals

Campaigns operate under two possible frameworks (chosen by creator):

• All-or-Nothing: Funds are released only if target is reached. Otherwise, donations are refunded
• Keep-What-You-Raise: Funds are released once verification is complete, regardless of target achievement

GIFA does not hold funds—money is transferred directly to beneficiary's designated account (usually within 5-7 business days after verification).

6. Prohibited Activities & Conduct

You agree that you will NOT use the Platform for:

• Fraud: Creating false campaigns, providing fraudulent documentation, or making false statements
• Money Laundering: Using GIFA to transfer illicit funds or circumvent financial regulations
• Terrorism Financing: Funding or supporting terrorist organizations or activities
• Illegal Activity: Supporting any illegal enterprise or activity
• Harassment: Harassing, bullying, threatening, or abusing other users
• Unauthorized Access: Attempting to gain unauthorized access to systems or accounts
• Data Breach: Accessing, extracting, or misusing user data or campaigns
• Automated Bots: Using automated tools, scraping, or bots to access the Platform
• Copyright Infringement: Uploading copyrighted content without permission
• Spam & Manipulation: Spamming donors, artificially inflating donations, or manipulating platforms
• Hate & Discrimination: Posting content promoting discrimination, hatred, or violence
• Violation of Laws: Violating any applicable local, national, or international laws

GIFA investigates reports of prohibited activities and reserves the right to terminate accounts and ban users for violations. We cooperate with law enforcement for criminal matters.

7. Content Ownership & Rights

7.1 User-Generated Content

You retain ownership of all content you create and upload (campaign descriptions, stories, photos, videos, comments). By submitting content to GIFA, you grant us:

• A non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use your content
• Permission to display content on the Platform and in our applications
• Permission to share content on social media and marketing materials
• Permission to create derivative works and modify content for platform operations

7.2 Third-Party Content

You warrant that all content you submit is original or you have proper authorization. You may not:

• Upload copyrighted content without permission
• Violate anyone's intellectual property rights
• Include content that infringes on others' rights

GIFA respects intellectual property rights. If we receive a valid infringement claim, we will remove the content and may terminate the violator's account.

7.3 GIFA Intellectual Property

All GIFA Platform content, design, functionality, and branding are owned by GIFA or our licensors. You agree not to:

• Copy or reproduce our platform design or code
• Use our branding or trademarks without permission
• Reverse engineer or attempt to extract our technology

8. Disclaimer of Warranties

GIFA PROVIDES THE PLATFORM "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including:

• Merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose
• Title and non-infringement
• Availability and uninterrupted service
• Accuracy of campaign information or beneficiary details
• Security of transactions or protection against fraud
• Data safety or prevention of data loss

We do not guarantee that the Platform will be error-free, uninterrupted, or free from viruses or harmful code. Your use of the Platform is at your own risk.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, GIFA SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, data, income, or business opportunities
• Loss of goodwill or reputation
• Fraud or misrepresentation by campaign creators or donors
• Misuse of funds by beneficiaries
• Technical errors, service interruptions, or data loss
• Acts of third parties, including payment processors and healthcare providers
• Unauthorized access to or alteration of your account

IN NO EVENT SHALL GIFA'S TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID GIFA IN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM (IF YOU PAID NOTHING, LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO $100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow limitations of liability. If applicable law prohibits the above limitation, GIFA's liability will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless GIFA, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from any and all claims, damages, losses, costs, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your use of the Platform in violation of law
• Your campaign or donations
• Your misuse of user data or content
• Your infringement of any third-party rights
• Any claim by a third party related to your use of the Platform

This indemnification survives any termination or expiration of these Terms.

11. Suspension & Termination

11.1 Grounds for Termination

GIFA may suspend or terminate your account at any time, without notice, for:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent activity or misrepresentation
• Suspicious or illegal activity
• Non-compliance with our verification requirements
• Payment failures or chargebacks
• Violation of applicable laws
• Abusive or harassing behavior toward other users

11.2 Effect of Termination

Upon termination or suspension:

• Your right to use the Platform ceases immediately
• Your account and campaigns are deactivated
• Pending donations may be refunded or canceled
• Your account information is retained for 90 days before deletion
• Legal obligations may require us to retain data longer

11.3 Right to Appeal

If your account is terminated, you may appeal within 30 days by contacting support@gifafrica.org with evidence supporting your appeal. We will review appeals and provide a final decision within 30 business days.

12. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

12.1 Informal Resolution

If a dispute arises, we first attempt informal resolution. You agree to contact us at contact@gifafrica.org with detailed information about the dispute. We will attempt to resolve the matter within 30 days.

12.2 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, any dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration:

• Arbitration occurs in Lagos, Nigeria (or as permitted by applicable law)
• A single arbitrator is selected per arbitration rules
• Each party bears its own costs; arbitrator fees are split equally
• The arbitration award is final and binding

12.3 Exceptions to Arbitration

The following are NOT subject to arbitration:

• Claims for injunctive relief to prevent harm or illegal activity
• Claims in small claims court (if available under applicable law)
• Disputes that cannot be arbitrated under applicable law

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Nigeria, without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The choice of Nigerian law shall not be construed as a waiver of any objection to venue or jurisdiction.

14. Modifications to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be posted on our website with a prominent notice. Your continued use of the Platform after modifications indicates acceptance of the updated Terms. We recommend reviewing these Terms periodically.

15. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, that provision shall be severed, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between you and GIFA regarding your use of the Platform and supersede all prior agreements, understandings, and negotiations.

17. Contact Information

For questions, concerns, or legal notices regarding these Terms, please contact: