Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using OpenContribute ("Platform", "Service", "we", "us", or "our"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not use our Platform.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and OpenContribute. Your continued use of the Platform after any changes to these Terms constitutes acceptance of those changes.

2. Eligibility

Age Requirement:

You must be at least 13 years old to use OpenContribute. If you are under 18 years of age, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use the Platform and they must agree to these Terms on your behalf.

Account Authority:

By creating an account, you represent and warrant that:

• All information you provide is accurate, current, and complete
• You have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms
• For NGO accounts: You are authorized to represent the organization and bind it to these Terms
• You are not barred from using the Platform under any applicable laws

3. User Accounts

Account Creation:

To access certain features, you must create an account. You can register as either a Volunteer or an NGO/Organization. You may also use social login (Google OAuth) to create your account.

Account Security:

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach
• Ensuring your account information remains accurate and up-to-date

One Account Per User:

You may only create one account per email address. Creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions, manipulate reviews, or engage in fraudulent activity is strictly prohibited.

Account Deletion:

You may delete your account at any time from your profile settings. Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Some data may be retained as described in our Privacy Policy.

4. User Conduct and Prohibited Activities

Prohibited Activities:

You agree NOT to:

• Post False Information: Provide misleading, fraudulent, or false information about yourself, your organization, or opportunities
• Harassment: Harass, bully, threaten, or intimidate other users
• Spam: Send unsolicited messages, advertisements, or promotional content
• Impersonation: Impersonate another person, organization, or entity
• Illegal Activities: Use the Platform for any illegal purposes or to violate any laws
• Harmful Content: Post content that is defamatory, obscene, offensive, discriminatory, or promotes violence
• Intellectual Property Violation: Infringe on copyrights, trademarks, or other intellectual property rights
• System Interference: Attempt to hack, disrupt, or compromise the Platform's security or functionality
• Data Scraping: Use automated tools to extract data from the Platform without permission
• Fake Reviews: Post fake, fraudulent, or misleading reviews or ratings
• Solicitation: Solicit personal information from minors or engage in inappropriate conduct with volunteers
• Commercial Exploitation: Use volunteer opportunities for commercial gain without proper disclosure

Professional Conduct:

All users must maintain professional and respectful conduct. NGOs must treat volunteers with respect and provide safe, meaningful opportunities. Volunteers must honor commitments and conduct themselves professionally.

5. User Content and Intellectual Property

Your Content Ownership:

You retain ownership of all content you post on the Platform, including posts, comments, work showcases, achievements, problem statements, solutions, reviews, and images ("User Content").

License Grant to OpenContribute:

By posting User Content, you grant OpenContribute a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, transferable license to:

• Display, reproduce, and distribute your User Content on the Platform
• Use your User Content for promotional purposes (e.g., featuring successful projects in marketing materials)
• Create derivative works (e.g., compilations, aggregated statistics)
• Sublicense your User Content to third-party service providers necessary for Platform operation

This license continues even if you delete your account, for content that has been shared or distributed to other users.

Content Representations:

By posting User Content, you represent and warrant that:

• You own or have the necessary rights to post the content
• The content does not violate any laws, third-party rights, or these Terms
• The content is accurate and not misleading

Platform Content:

All Platform content, features, functionality, and design (excluding User Content) are owned by OpenContribute and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or create derivative works without our express written permission.

6. Volunteer Opportunities and Applications

Platform Role:

OpenContribute is a connecting platform only. We facilitate connections between volunteers and organizations but are not:

• An employer, recruiter, or staffing agency
• A party to any agreement between volunteers and organizations
• Responsible for the quality, safety, or legality of opportunities posted
• Responsible for verifying the accuracy of opportunity descriptions

Volunteer Commitments:

When you apply for or accept a volunteer opportunity:

• You are making a commitment directly to the organization, not to OpenContribute
• You should honor your commitments or communicate cancellations promptly
• Repeated no-shows or unprofessional conduct may result in account restrictions

NGO Responsibilities:

Organizations posting opportunities must:

• Provide accurate descriptions of opportunities
• Provide a safe environment for volunteers
• Comply with all applicable labor laws and regulations
• Not misrepresent volunteer positions as employment opportunities
• Respond to applications in a timely manner

7. NGO Verification and Responsibilities

Verification Process:

OpenContribute may verify NGO accounts by reviewing submitted documents (registration certificates, etc.). A "verified" badge indicates that basic documentation has been reviewed, but does NOT constitute:

• An endorsement or guarantee of the organization's legitimacy, quality, or impact
• A comprehensive background check or due diligence investigation
• A guarantee that donations will be used appropriately
• Legal or financial advice about the organization

NGO Representations:

By creating an NGO account, you represent that:

• Your organization is legitimate and legally established (or in the process of formal registration)
• All information provided is accurate and current
• You have authority to represent the organization
• You will use the Platform in accordance with your organization's mission and applicable laws

8. Donations and Financial Transactions

Direct Donations:

OpenContribute displays NGO bank account and UPI information to facilitate donations. All donations are made directly to the NGOs, not through OpenContribute.

Donor Responsibilities:

• You are responsible for verifying the legitimacy of organizations before donating
• All donations are made at your own risk
• OpenContribute is not responsible for how donations are used
• OpenContribute cannot issue tax receipts or donation confirmations (contact the NGO directly)
• OpenContribute cannot facilitate refunds or chargebacks

NGO Donation Responsibilities:

NGOs accepting donations must:

• Comply with all applicable laws regarding charitable donations and tax receipts
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date bank account information
• Use donations in accordance with their stated mission and applicable laws
• Issue tax receipts directly to donors (if applicable)
• Not engage in fraudulent fundraising activities

9. Reviews, Ratings, and Feedback

Review Guidelines:

When posting reviews or ratings, you must:

• Base reviews on genuine, personal experiences
• Provide honest, fair, and constructive feedback
• Not post fake, fraudulent, or misleading reviews
• Not post reviews to manipulate ratings or harm reputation
• Not include personal attacks, profanity, or discriminatory language
• Not disclose confidential or sensitive information

Review Verification:

Reviews from volunteers are linked to actual applications or volunteer activities to ensure authenticity. We may remove reviews that violate these guidelines or appear fraudulent.

NGO Response Rights:

NGOs have the right to respond to reviews publicly. Responses should be professional, factual, and constructive.

Review Removal:

OpenContribute reserves the right to remove reviews that violate these Terms, contain false information, or are reported as abusive. We are not obligated to remove negative but truthful reviews.

10. Badges and Certificates

Badge System:

OpenContribute awards badges to recognize achievements and contributions. Badges are:

• Awarded automatically based on platform activity and criteria
• For recognition and gamification purposes only
• Not transferable or redeemable for monetary value
• Subject to revocation if obtained through fraudulent means

Volunteer Certificates:

Certificates issued by NGOs through the Platform:

• Are issued by the NGOs, not by OpenContribute
• Reflect hours and activities as reported by the NGO
• May be verified using unique verification codes
• Are intended for personal records and portfolio purposes

11. Content Moderation and Removal

Moderation Rights:

OpenContribute reserves the right to:

• Review, approve, or reject user-generated content before it appears publicly
• Remove content that violates these Terms or applicable laws
• Remove content reported as inappropriate, false, or harmful
• Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
• Investigate reports of misconduct or policy violations

Reporting System:

Users can report inappropriate content, fake profiles, or policy violations through our reporting system. We will review reports and take appropriate action, but we are not obligated to remove content or take specific action.

No Obligation to Monitor:

While we have the right to moderate content, we are not obligated to monitor all content posted on the Platform. We are not responsible for User Content or any harm caused by it.

12. Disclaimers and Warranties

"AS IS" Disclaimer:

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

• Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
• Warranties that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure
• Warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
• Warranties that defects will be corrected

No Verification of Users:

OpenContribute does NOT conduct background checks, verify identities, or investigate the backgrounds of users. You interact with other users at your own risk.

No Guarantee of Results:

We do not guarantee that:

• Volunteers will find suitable opportunities
• NGOs will receive applications or donations
• Users will achieve specific outcomes from using the Platform
• Certificates or badges will be recognized by third parties

Third-Party Content:

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the content, privacy policies, or practices of third-party sites.

13. Limitation of Liability

Exclusion of Damages:

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, OPENCONTRIBUTE, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Indirect, Incidental, or Consequential Damages: Including lost profits, data loss, or business interruption
• Personal Injury or Property Damage: Resulting from your use of the Platform or participation in volunteer activities
• User Conduct: Actions, content, or conduct of other users
• Third-Party Actions: Actions of NGOs, volunteers, or third parties you interact with through the Platform
• Donations: Loss of donations, misuse of funds, or failure to receive tax receipts
• Data Breaches: Unauthorized access to your account or data (except as required by law)
• Platform Errors: Errors, bugs, or technical issues with the Platform
• Content Accuracy: Inaccurate, misleading, or false content posted by users

Cap on Liability:

IN NO EVENT SHALL OPENCONTRIBUTE'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY. SINCE THE PLATFORM IS FREE TO USE, THIS AMOUNT MAY BE ZERO (₹0).

Jurisdictional Limitations:

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages. In such jurisdictions, our liability shall be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless OpenContribute, its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, expenses, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any rights of another person or entity
• Your User Content
• Your interactions with other users, including volunteers and NGOs
• Your participation in volunteer activities arranged through the Platform
• Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations

This indemnification obligation shall survive termination of your account and these Terms.

15. Termination and Suspension

Your Right to Terminate:

You may terminate your account at any time by deleting your account from your profile settings.

Our Right to Terminate:

OpenContribute reserves the right to suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Repeated complaints from other users
• Inactivity for an extended period (as per our retention policy)
• At our sole discretion for any reason

Effect of Termination:

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Platform immediately ceases
• Your account and profile data will be deleted (subject to our retention policy)
• Some User Content may remain visible in anonymized form
• Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive (e.g., indemnification, limitation of liability) will continue to apply

We are not liable to you or any third party for termination of your account.

16. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

Governing Law:

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of India, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Jurisdiction:

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India.

Informal Resolution:

Before filing a legal claim, you agree to first contact us at support@opencontribute.org to attempt to resolve the dispute informally. We will attempt to resolve disputes in good faith within 30 days.

Waiver of Class Actions:

You and OpenContribute agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

17. Changes to These Terms

OpenContribute reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms
• Post a prominent notice on the Platform
• Send an email notification to your registered email address
• For significant changes, require you to accept the new Terms before continuing to use the Platform

Your continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Platform and delete your account.

18. Miscellaneous

Entire Agreement:

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and OpenContribute regarding the Platform.

Severability:

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

Waiver:

No waiver of any term of these Terms shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term, and our failure to assert any right or provision under these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision.

Assignment:

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your account to any third party without our prior written consent. OpenContribute may assign these Terms without restriction.

Force Majeure:

OpenContribute shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes outside its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, strikes, or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor, or materials.

19. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us: