Donation and Refund Policy

1. Our Commitment to Donors

Every gift to HungerPods Foundation represents someone’s trust that their generosity will become real, dignified help for a neighbor. This Policy explains how donations work, how we use and acknowledge them, how recurring pledges are billed and canceled, and when refunds are available.

It applies to all donations to HungerPods — online, by mail, at events, or through any other channel we make available — and forms part of our Terms and Conditions.

2. Your Donation Is a Charitable Gift

Voluntary contribution.All donations are voluntary charitable contributions to HungerPods Foundation. A donation is a gift, not a purchase, and — unless we expressly state otherwise for a specific campaign — no goods or services are provided in exchange for your contribution.

We must use your gift for the purpose we asked for it.That is a legal duty under California charitable trust law, not merely a promise. Within that purpose, and unless we agree otherwise in writing, donations are unrestricted gifts supporting our charitable mission as a whole — purchasing staple foods in bulk, packing and distributing grocery bags, running community distributions and deliveries, and covering reasonable program, administrative, and operating costs.

“$20 = 1 bag” is an illustration.Descriptions such as “$20 funds one bag” and “approximately 20 meals” illustrate the typical impact of a gift under our program model. They are not restrictions on your gift, and not a promise that a specific bag is traceable to a specific donation.

If you want to restrict a gift to a particular purpose, please tell us before you give and we will confirm in writing whether we can accept it on those terms.

If priorities shift. If a program, campaign, or location is fully funded, changes, or becomes impractical, we may redirect contributions to where they are most needed in furtherance of our mission.

3. Tax Deductibility

HungerPods Foundation is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 41-5379406), classified under Section 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Because we do not provide goods or services in exchange for ordinary donations,100% of your contribution may be deducted as a charitable contribution, subject to your own circumstances and the limits in the tax code.

The deductibility of any particular gift depends on your filing status, income, whether you itemize, applicable deduction limits, and the type of contribution — so please consult your own tax professional. Nothing on our website, in our receipts, or in our communications is tax, legal, or financial advice.

Receipts for every gift.We provide a written acknowledgment for every donation. Federal law requires a written acknowledgment for any single contribution of $250 or more, and ours states our legal name, our EIN, the amount, and confirmation that no goods or services were provided in exchange — or a description and good-faith estimate of anything that was.

Quid pro quo contributions.If we ever provide goods or services in connection with a contribution — at a benefit event, for example — your receipt will describe them and state their good-faith estimated value, and only the portion of your payment exceeding that value is generally deductible. Federal law requires this disclosure for any such payment over $75.

Lost or incorrect receipts. Email hello@hungerpods.org or call +1 (949) 969-8390 and we will gladly reissue or correct your acknowledgment.

4. Payment Methods, Security, and Processing

Currency and methods. Donations are accepted in U.S. dollars (USD) using the methods we make available.

Secure processing by Stripe. Online card donations are processed by Stripe, Inc., a PCI-DSS Level 1 certified payment processor — the highest level of payment-security certification. Your card details are entered on a secure, TLS-encrypted checkout and transmitted directly to Stripe. HungerPods never receives or stores your full card number. We are not responsible for international transaction fees or currency-conversion surcharges assessed by your issuing bank.

Statement descriptor.Donations appear on your card or bank statement as “HUNGERPODS” or a close variation. If you see a charge you do not recognize, please contact us before disputing it with your bank — we can usually resolve the issue within two business days.

Authorization. By submitting a donation you represent that you are at least 18 years old and authorized to use the payment method provided, and you authorize us and Stripe to charge the stated amount.

Processing costs. If we offer you the option to add a small amount to help cover processing costs, doing so is entirely optional.

5. Recurring Monthly Pledges

Clear terms before you commit. The pledge amount and billing frequency are displayed clearly before you confirm a recurring pledge.

How billing works.Your selected payment method is charged automatically on the schedule you choose — typically monthly, on or about the same date each month — until you cancel. You receive an email receipt for every charge.

Failed or declined payments. If a recurring charge fails, we or Stripe may retry it over the following days and will notify you so you can update your payment method. You are never charged a penalty for a failed payment.

6. Canceling a Monthly Pledge

You can cancel at any time, and it is meant to be easy.

Email hello@hungerpods.orgwith the subject line “Cancel monthly gift,” or call +1 (949) 969-8390. We will cancel your pledge within one business day and send you an email confirming it. We will never ask you to explain why, and we will never route you through a retention process.

What happens next. Canceling stops all future charges. To avoid the next charge, please cancel before your next scheduled gift date. Cancellation takes effect for the next billing cycle and does not retroactively refund contributions already processed and receipted. If you cancel and are charged afterward in error, we will refund that charge promptly.

7. Refunds

Our general rule: donations are non-refundable.Because contributions are put to work quickly — buying food in bulk, packing bags, and supporting distributions — HungerPods generally does not refund completed donations. That said, we know honest mistakes and technical errors happen, and we handle them in good faith.

When we will refund a donation

We will issue a refund, or correct the transaction, in any of the following circumstances, if you contact us within thirty (30) days of the charge:

• Duplicate transactions — the same donation was accidentally processed more than once
• Incorrect amount — a clear entry error, such as $200 charged when you intended $20
• Unauthorized transactions — a donation made without the cardholder’s authorization, including suspected fraud
• Technical errors — a website or processing malfunction caused an incorrect or unintended charge
• Post-cancellation charges — a recurring pledge was charged after you validly canceled it

Requests made after 30 days, or based on a change of mind, are considered case by case in our reasonable discretion. If your circumstances have changed and a gift has created a hardship for you, please just tell us. We would far rather return your money than keep money you need.

How to request a refund

1. Contact us. Email hello@hungerpods.orgwith the subject line “Refund Request,” or call +1 (949) 969-8390. Please include your name, the donation date and amount, the last four digits of the card used, the receipt number if you have it, and a brief description of the issue.
2. We review. Typically within five (5) business days.
3. We refund. Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method through Stripe, typically within five (5) business days of approval. They usually appear on your statement within five to ten business days after that, depending on your bank.

8. What a Refund Does to Your Tax Receipt

A refunded gift is no longer a deductible charitable contribution, and our records will show it as refunded.

If you already received a written acknowledgment for that gift, we will send you a corrected acknowledgment showing the refund and the revised amount.

If you have already filed a tax return claiming the gift, please speak with your tax professional. We keep records in accordance with IRS rules on substantiating charitable contributions, but we cannot advise you on your return.

9. Chargebacks

If you believe a charge is incorrect or unauthorized, please contact us first at hello@hungerpods.org or +1 (949) 969-8390. In nearly every case we can resolve the issue faster than a bank dispute, and chargebacks impose fees on the Foundation that reduce the funds available for food relief. Your card network’s rules govern the outcome of any dispute and take precedence over this Policy.

10. Other Kinds of Gifts

Matching gifts and workplace giving. Many employers match charitable gifts. Matching gifts and workplace-giving contributions are also subject to the rules of the employer or platform involved. Our EIN is 41-5379406 if you need it for a matching-gift form.

Donor-advised funds and employer matches are generally irrevocable once made and cannot be refunded to individuals.

Corporate sponsorships are governed by this Policy together with any separate written sponsorship agreement, which controls in the event of a conflict. If a sponsored program or event is canceled, we will work with the sponsor to redirect the funds or refund the unspent portion, as that agreement provides.

In-kind giftsof food, goods, or services are gratefully accepted at our discretion, subject to quality, safety, and program-fit review. Once accepted, in-kind gifts cannot be returned. Our acknowledgment will describe the donated property but will not state a value — valuing an in-kind gift is the donor’s responsibility under IRS rules.

11. Donor Privacy and Recognition

Your information stays with us. We do not sell, rent, or trade donor information.

Recognition is your choice.We never publish a donor’s name, gift amount, or impact details without that donor’s consent. Anonymous giving is always welcome.

Communication preferences. You may opt out of fundraising and update communications at any time using the unsubscribe link in any message, or by contacting hello@hungerpods.org.

Full details are in our Privacy Policy.

12. Fundraising Integrity and Disclosures

Honest solicitation. We describe our programs, our impact, and our use of funds truthfully and in good faith.

Where we solicit. HungerPods currently solicits donations in California. Because most states require separate charitable-solicitation registration before soliciting their residents, we will register in additional states before actively soliciting there.

California charity information.Information about California charities is available from the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charities and Fundraisers at https://oag.ca.gov/charities.

Financial information. Copies of our exempt-status application materials, our IRS determination letter, and our annual information returns once filed are available on request. Please email hello@hungerpods.org. We aim to provide revenue and expense information, including administration and fundraising costs, within seven days of a request.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Donation and Refund Policy from time to time. Updates will be posted with a new Effective Date, and material changes will be communicated to recurring donors by email before they take effect.

14. Contact Us

• Email: hello@hungerpods.org— subject line “Donations” or “Refund Request”
• Phone: +1 (949) 969-8390
• Address: HungerPods Foundation, 1 Technology Drive, Building J, Suite 703, Irvine, CA 92618
• EIN: 41-5379406

We aim to respond to all donor inquiries within two (2) business days.