1. Overview and Acceptance of Terms

These Terms and Conditions (“Agreement”) set forth the legally binding conditions under which applicants, users, beneficiaries, donors, volunteers, and institutional partners (collectively, “Participants”) may access and engage with services offered by Rise Fund Global (“RFG,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By accessing, using, or applying for any services, grants, platforms, or communications provided through our official channels, including our website https://risefundglobal.org, you agree to be bound by this Agreement in its entirety.

If you do not agree with any provision, you must immediately discontinue your access and participation. Continued use of the platform constitutes acknowledgment and acceptance of the current version of these Terms.

These Terms apply universally to all Participants, including but not limited to:

• Individual grant applicants
• Organizational or institutional beneficiaries
• Donors, sponsors, or financial partners
• Volunteers, staff, or contractors
• Any third party accessing the platform

This Agreement supersedes any previous verbal or written arrangements, except where expressly supplemented by a signed partnership contract.

2. Definitions

For clarity and consistency, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned:

• “Applicant”: Any individual or organization submitting a funding or service request.
• “Beneficiary”: A verified and approved applicant who has received funds, services, or support.
• “Verification Token”: A small, refundable security measure confirming the authenticity of payout details.
• “Disbursement Partner”: Financial intermediaries or NGOs contracted by RFG to facilitate payments.
• “Fraud”: Any deliberate act of misrepresentation, forgery, impersonation, collusion, or withholding of material information with the intent to deceive.
• “Platform”: All official digital properties, portals, or communication channels maintained by RFG.
• “Cycle”: The defined review and disbursement period determined by RFG.
• “Services”: Includes funding programs, training materials, communications, data collection, or any other assistance provided.

3. Eligibility & Jurisdictional Scope

3.1 Individual Applicants

• Must be at least 18 years old, or 16+ with verified guardian consent.
• Must reside in, or be a national of, a country classified as “low-income” or “lower-middle-income” by the World Bank or UNDP HDI Index.
• Must demonstrate clear financial, developmental, educational, or entrepreneurial need.
• May only submit one application per active cycle. Duplicate applications are automatically disqualified.
• Applicants must not be under international sanctions, embargoes, or criminal investigation.

3.2 Organizational Applicants

• Must be non-profit entities such as NGOs, CBOs, SACCOs, religious institutions, or informal community groups.
• Registered entities must upload incorporation or registration documents.
• Unregistered groups must provide formal letters of recognition from verified local councils, elders, or local authorities.
• Organizations involved in arms trade, political militancy, rebel activity, terrorist financing, or illicit industries are strictly prohibited.
• RFG reserves the right to limit, suspend, or revoke eligibility based on past compliance, suspicion of fraud, or contextual risks.

3.3 Jurisdictional Exclusions

Applicants located in regions restricted by international sanctions, or where RFG is legally barred from operating, are ineligible. RFG reserves full discretion to decline services in conflict zones or unstable political environments.

4. Application and Submission Process

4.1 Submission Rules

• All applications must be submitted exclusively via https://risefundglobal.org.
• Applications via email, courier, or third-party agents are rejected unless expressly authorized in writing.
• Use of unauthorized intermediaries, brokers, or consultants is strongly discouraged. RFG does not recognize or endorse unofficial application agents.

4.2 Required Documentation

Applicants must provide accurate, current, and verifiable documents, including but not limited to:

• Government-issued identification
• Proof of residence, refugee, or asylum status
• Detailed project proposals and implementation plans
• Budgets and beneficiary-impact projections
• Financial statements (for organizations)
• Legal registration certificates (where applicable)

Documents must be in English or French. Translations must be certified. Falsified or altered documents will result in immediate disqualification.

4.3 Application Timelines

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling, cycle-based schedule.
• Timelines vary based on regional priorities, donor directives, and RFG capacity.
• Applicants are encouraged to monitor official channels for deadlines and cycle announcements.

5. Review, Shortlisting, and Verification

5.1 Evaluation Criteria

Applications are assessed on:

• Relevance to community needs
• Social and financial impact
• Feasibility and sustainability
• Monitoring and accountability measures
• Risk management capacity

Shortlisting does not guarantee funding.

5.2 Verification Process

All shortlisted applicants undergo Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence checks, including:

• Video or voice interviews
• Document authentication
• Legal and banking reference checks
• Community or field officer validation

5.3 Verification Token

RFG imposes no application fee. However, to finalize due diligence, applicants must confirm their payout details via a small, one-time, refundable verification token.

Purpose:

• Confirms banking or mobile payout accuracy before large transfers
• Protects against fraud, impersonation, and criminal infiltration
• Ensures compliance with international anti-money laundering (AML) standards

Refund Guarantee:

• If approved, the token is added to your grant.
• If declined, the token is fully refunded within 3 business days.

This safeguard aligns with international development and humanitarian funding best practices.

6. Grant Disbursement Policy

Grants are disbursed securely using internationally regulated platforms, based on verification status, regional infrastructure, and applicant capacity.

Options include:

1. SWIFT-Enabled International Transfers — for formal organizations and verified individual applicants with bank accounts.
2. Financial Intermediary Transfers — via trusted partners like Wise, Western Union Business Solutions, or WorldRemit.
3. Mobile Money Disbursements — e.g., Airtel Money, MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash (where regulated).
4. Digital Payment Platforms — e.g., PayPal or Payoneer, subject to compliance review.
5. NGO or Embassy Partnerships — escrow or on-behalf disbursement in fragile regions.

Timeline: 7–21 business days post-verification and fund clearance.

Currency: Grants are primarily disbursed in USD, with local equivalents where available. Conversion fees are borne by recipients.

Delays caused by banking errors, regulatory holds, or third-party systems are beyond RFG’s liability.

7. Recipient Obligations and Fund Use

Beneficiaries agree to:

• Use funds strictly for the approved purpose
• Submit financial or progress reports (as requested)
• Maintain transparent accounting records
• Avoid diversion of funds to unrelated third parties
• Refrain from using grants for illegal, political, or violent activities

Violations may result in:

• Immediate termination of funding
• Repayment demands
• Legal action in relevant jurisdictions
• Blacklist from future participation

8. Data Privacy, Security, and Consent

RFG is committed to protecting personal data in line with GDPR, PIPEDA, and CCPA standards.

We may collect:

• Personal identifiers (name, date of birth, address)
• Biographical and demographic data
• Financial information for payout processing
• Project documentation and monitoring reports

We do not sell or lease personal data. Aggregated anonymized data may be used for:

• Program monitoring
• Impact evaluation
• Donor reporting

Participants may request access, correction, or deletion of their data by contacting: privacy@risefundglobal.org.

9. Fraud Prevention and Whistleblower Protection

RFG enforces a zero-tolerance policy toward fraud, bribery, and exploitation. Prohibited activities include:

• False identity or impersonation
• Collusion with brokers or unauthorized agents
• Submission of forged documents
• Terrorist financing or money laundering
• Misappropriation of funds

Reporting:
Concerns should be reported to fraud@risefundglobal.org.

Protection:
Whistleblowers are guaranteed confidentiality unless disclosure is required by law. Retaliation against whistleblowers is prohibited.

10. Website Use and Intellectual Property

• All content on the RFG platform is copyright-protected.
• Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, or modification is prohibited.
• Users may download forms and resources for personal application purposes only.
• Misuse of website content for fraudulent solicitation will result in legal action.

11. Limitation of Liability

RFG, its staff, or partners shall not be held liable for:

• Delays due to banking or regulatory procedures
• Losses caused by currency fluctuations
• Website downtime or system errors
• Application rejection or disqualification
• Unintended disclosure due to cyberattacks beyond reasonable control

All services are provided “as is”, without warranties of success, merchantability, or fitness for any specific purpose.

12. Amendment of Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Updates will be published on https://risefundglobal.org.

Participants are responsible for checking periodically for revisions. Continued engagement constitutes acceptance of modifications.

13. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

• This Agreement is governed by the laws of Ontario, Canada, alongside applicable international humanitarian laws.
• Disputes shall first be addressed through mediation.
• If unresolved, disputes shall proceed to binding arbitration in Toronto, Ontario.
• Litigation is reserved as a last resort, subject to Canadian jurisdiction.

14. Contact Information

• General inquiries: support@risefundglobal.org
• Partnerships: partners@risefundglobal.org
• Legal matters: legal@risefundglobal.org
• Fraud reports: fraud@risefundglobal.org
• Privacy requests: privacy@risefundglobal.org