1. Purpose
This Acceptable Use Policy ("Policy") describes the campaigns, content, and conduct that are not allowed on Giver. It applies to every Recipient, campaign creator, Donor, and Affiliate Partner using giverstories.com and related services (the "Platform").
Giver processes payments using Stripe, Inc. and its affiliates ("Stripe"). This Policy is written to align with, and to help Giver and its users comply with, Stripe's Prohibited and Restricted Businesses list, available at stripe.com/legal/restricted-businesses, as Stripe may update it from time to time. If a conflict arises between this Policy and Stripe's list, Stripe's list controls, and Giver will update this Policy to stay consistent with it.
This Policy supplements, and should be read alongside, Giver's Terms of Service, which contains the full legal terms governing use of the Platform.
2. How We Apply This Policy
Every campaign submitted to Giver is reviewed before it goes live, according to its trust tier (Giver Verified, Affiliate Backed, or Community Vouched), and may be reviewed again at any time afterward. We check each campaign's stated need, and any linked product, service, or organization, against this Policy.
If a campaign, Recipient, Donor, or Affiliate Partner violates this Policy, Giver may remove the campaign or content, suspend or terminate the associated Account, hold or reverse funds, decline to process further transactions, and report the activity to Stripe or law enforcement where appropriate.
3. Prohibited Campaigns and Activity
The following are never permitted on Giver, consistent with Stripe's list of prohibited businesses. A campaign, product, service, or organization connected to any of the following may not be listed, funded, or promoted on the Platform:
3.1 Illegal Activity
- Illegal drugs, controlled substances, or equipment or items intended for making or using them.
- Fake identification, fake references, or document falsification services.
- Any product, service, or activity that is illegal in the jurisdiction where it is offered or targeted.
- Activity that engages in, encourages, promotes, or celebrates unlawful violence or physical harm to people or property, or targets any group based on race, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, or another immutable characteristic.
3.2 Adult Content and Services
- Pornography or other sexually explicit content or media, including AI-generated content of this kind.
- Prostitution, escort services, sexual massage, or similar adult services.
3.3 Debt Relief and Certain Financial Services
- Debt settlement, debt negotiation, or debt consolidation services.
- ATMs, check cashing, money orders, or traveler's checks.
- Debt collection agencies.
- Peer-to-peer money transmission unconnected to a specific, disclosed need (see Section 6 for how Giver's model differs from this).
- Shell banks or the sale of bearer shares.
3.4 Gambling
- Games of chance, internet gambling, casino games, sweepstakes, contests, or fantasy sports leagues with a monetary or material prize.
- Lotteries, sports betting or odds-making with a prize, or bidding-fee auctions.
3.5 Government Impersonation
- Offering government services on behalf of an embassy or consulate, without authorization, or with misleading claims.
- Campaigns that misrepresent themselves as official government disbursements or grants.
3.6 Weapons and Dangerous Materials
- Illegal weapons or accessories, or improperly marked firearm replicas.
- Toxic, flammable, combustible, or radioactive materials, or unmailable goods under USPS rules.
3.7 Intellectual Property Infringement
- Counterfeit goods, or the unauthorized sale of brand-name or designer products.
- Distribution of music, movies, software, or other licensed material without authorization.
3.8 Certain Legal Services
- Bail bonds.
- Law firms collecting funds through Giver for anything other than a specific, disclosed personal need of the Recipient.
3.9 Lending, Credit, and Identity Services
- Loan repayment funded through a credit card process that circumvents card network rules.
- Credit monitoring, credit repair, or credit counseling services.
- Identity theft protection, monitoring, or recovery services.
3.10 Marijuana and Unsafe Health Products
- Cannabis products, dispensaries, or related equipment, and CBD products exceeding the applicable legal THC limit.
- Pseudo-pharmaceuticals or nutraceuticals that are unsafe or make unsubstantiated health claims.
3.11 Cryptocurrency and Non-Fiat Currency
- Cryptocurrency mining or staking, initial coin offerings, or secondary NFT sales.
3.12 Deceptive or Abusive Practices
- Pyramid schemes or multilevel marketing recruitment schemes.
- "Get rich quick" claims, fake testimonials, high-pressure upselling, or outrageous or unsubstantiated claims.
- Telemarketing, door-to-door sales, or the sale of online traffic or engagement.
- Any other activity Giver reasonably considers unfair, deceptive, or predatory toward Donors or the public.
4. Restricted Activity Requiring Prior Review
The following categories are not automatically prohibited, but require Giver's advance review and approval, consistent with Stripe's restricted business categories, because they carry added legal, financial, or reputational risk:
- Legal firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories referenced in a campaign's stated need.
- CBD products within legal THC limits.
- Pharmaceuticals, medical devices, or telemedicine services referenced in a campaign.
- Tobacco products.
- High-value goods, precious metals, or stored value.
- Any campaign involving a registered nonprofit, charity, or political organization as an Affiliate Partner or Beneficiary.
- Any use of the Platform that resembles a content-monetization platform, such as paying Recipients for exclusive content rather than for a disclosed personal need.
If your campaign involves any of the above, contact us at hello@giverstories.com before publishing so we can review it.
5. Sanctions and High-Risk Jurisdictions
Consistent with U.S. law and Stripe's requirements, the Platform may not be used by, for the benefit of, or in connection with:
- Any individual or entity on a restricted party list maintained by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the U.S. Department of Commerce, the United Kingdom, the European Union, or the United Nations.
- Any person located in, resident in, or a citizen of a jurisdiction subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions, including Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and the Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk regions.
Giver and Stripe screen campaigns and Accounts for sanctions risk, and any match will result in the campaign being blocked and funds being held or returned as required by law.
6. How Giver's Model Fits Within Stripe's Fundraising Category
Stripe treats general, undirected money transfers between individuals as prohibited peer-to-peer money transmission. Giver does not operate that way. Every campaign on Giver is tied to a specific, disclosed, verifiable need described by the Recipient, reviewed under Giver's trust tier system before it goes live, and followed up with required documentation of how funds were used. This structure places Giver within Stripe's supported crowdfunding and fundraising category rather than prohibited peer-to-peer transmission, consistent with how similar platforms operate on Stripe.
7. Reporting a Violation
If you believe a campaign, Recipient, Donor, or Affiliate Partner is violating this Policy, report it using the report option on the campaign page or by emailing hello@giverstories.com. We investigate all reports and take appropriate action, which may include removing content, suspending an Account, or reporting the matter to Stripe or law enforcement.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy as Stripe updates its Prohibited and Restricted Businesses list or as our own risk assessment changes. We will post the updated Policy on the Platform and update the date above. Continued use of the Platform after a change takes effect means you accept the updated Policy.
9. Contact
Giver LLC 852 E Arrowhead Lane, Salt Lake City, UT 84107 hello@giverstories.com