Terms and Conditions

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF USE
Project Hopelet by Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT)

Welcome to “Hopelet” (“Platform”), a fundraising initiative run by the registered trust Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT). By accessing or using this platform (www.hopelet.in), you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully before proceeding.

1. DEFINITIONS

  • “We”, “Us”, “Our” refers to the managing trust, Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT).
  • “Platform” means the digital fundraiser platform “Hopelet” hosted under SORT.
  • “User” refers to anyone who browses, registers, donates, or creates campaigns.
  • “Beneficiary” means the individual or NGO for whom the fundraiser is created.
  • “Campaign Creator” means the person or entity creating a fundraiser on Hopelet.

2. ELIGIBILITY

  • Campaigns must be created only by individuals aged 18 and above or by verified NGOs.
  • We reserve the right to reject or suspend any campaign not aligning with our ethical, legal, or humanitarian guidelines.

3. CAMPAIGN APPROVAL AND VERIFICATION

  • All campaigns undergo a pre-verification process by our review team.
  • Campaign creators must provide valid documentation: identity proof, medical or educational records, supporting bills, and relevant authorizations.
  • Only campaigns that pass this vetting process will be published.

4. USE OF FUNDS

  • Campaign creators agree to use funds strictly for the purpose described.
  • Misuse or misappropriation of funds may result in legal action and permanent blacklisting.
  • Funds are not directly accessible by campaign creators. Withdrawal requests are manually reviewed and require documentation and usage plans.

5. TAX EXEMPTIONS AND DONOR RECEIPTS

  • Tax exemption under Section 80G may be available only for eligible campaigns routed via registered NGOs. Not all donations are tax-deductible.
  • Donors must request receipts at the time of payment and provide valid contact details.

6. DONOR CONDUCT

  • Donations made via Hopelet are voluntary and non-refundable.
  • Donors agree not to post or promote hate speech, defamatory content, or abuse on any campaign.
  • False or misleading donations in someone else’s name without their consent are strictly prohibited.

7. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

  • All content, branding, data, and design belong to Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT) unless otherwise credited.
  • Users are prohibited from copying or redistributing platform materials without written permission.

8. TERMINATION

  • We may suspend or permanently delete any user, donor, or campaign for violation of our terms, misrepresentation, fraudulent activity, or misuse of funds.
  • Such termination will be done without notice in cases of gross violations.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

  • SORT and the Hopelet platform shall not be liable for:
    • Any dispute between donor and beneficiary post-verification.
    • Personal, emotional, or reputational loss from donation outcomes.
    • Technical delays, payment gateway issues, or data loss.

10. AMENDMENTS

For any queries regarding these Terms, you may write to us at: support.hopelete@gmail.com

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY
Project Hopelet by Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT)

This Privacy Policy outlines how your personal information is collected, used, and protected when you visit or interact with the Hopelet fundraising platform, operated by Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT), a registered trust.

1. SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy applies to:

  • Campaign creators
  • Donors
  • Visitors to our website (www.hopelet.org)
  • NGO partners and volunteers interacting via the platform

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

We collect the following categories of data:

a. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)

  • Full Name
  • Email address
  • Phone number
  • Postal address
  • PAN or Aadhaar (in select cases)
  • Bank details (for fund disbursement)

b. Non-Personal Information

  • Browser and device type
  • IP address
  • Cookies and browsing behavior
  • Geolocation data (if enabled)

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

Your information is used for:

  • Creating and verifying fundraiser campaigns
  • Processing donations securely
  • Generating tax receipts (where applicable)
  • Disbursing funds to beneficiaries
  • Internal audit and compliance
  • Sending impact updates, newsletters (with your consent)
  • Improving platform experience and user interface

4. INFORMATION SHARING AND DISCLOSURE

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. However, we may share information:

  • With payment gateway providers for processing donations
  • With government bodies for legal compliance (e.g., audits, taxation, cybercrime investigations)
  • With verified NGO partners (only for campaign purposes)
  • With internal team members strictly on a need-to-know basis

5. DATA SECURITY MEASURES

We are committed to securing your data:

  • All transactions are encrypted using SSL (Secure Socket Layer)
  • Donor data is stored on encrypted servers
  • Access to personal data is role-restricted
  • Regular audits are conducted to prevent breaches

6. COOKIES

Hopelet uses cookies for:

  • User login and session tracking
  • Analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)
  • Customizing user experience You may disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect platform functionality.

7. DATA RETENTION

We retain your data as long as:

  • Your account is active
  • Legal, regulatory, or dispute resolution purposes exist
  • For archival and audit requirements

You may request deletion of your data by writing to support.hopelet@gmail.com, subject to legal limitations.

8. YOUR RIGHTS

You have the right to:

  • Access and update your data
  • Request correction or deletion of inaccurate data
  • Opt out of newsletters or communications
  • Lodge a complaint regarding data misuse to our Data Protection Officer

9. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Hopelet may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., payment processors, NGO partner sites). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. Please read their privacy policies before sharing information.

10. CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

Our platform is not intended for individuals under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors.

11. CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

We may update this policy periodically from time to time.

 

Refund Policy

REFUND POLICY
Project Hopelet by Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT)

We at Sentient Observation And Response Team (SORT) strive to ensure complete transparency in donations made via the Hopelet platform. This Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which a donation refund may or may not be applicable.

1. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

  • All donations made on Hopelet are considered voluntary and final.
  • Hopelet is not obligated to refund donations unless exceptional circumstances apply, as detailed below.

2. ELIGIBLE CASES FOR REFUND

Refund requests may be considered only under the following circumstances:

  1. Duplicate Payment: If a donor makes multiple transactions by error.
  2. Technical Error: In case of payment failure or gateway malfunction.
  3. Fraudulent Campaign: If SORT independently finds that the campaign was misrepresented and/or fraudulent and the donated amount has not yet been disbursed.

3. NON-ELIGIBLE CASES

Refunds will not be processed in the following cases:

  • Change of mind by the donor after a valid donation.
  • Emotional dissatisfaction with campaign progress.
  • Requests made after 7 days of donation.
  • Campaigns where funds have already been partially or fully disbursed.

4. REFUND REQUEST PROCESS

To apply for a refund, the donor must:

  • Email us at hopelet@gmail.com with subject line “Refund Request – [Donor Name]”
  • Mention donation ID, transaction date, amount, reason, and attach any relevant proof
  • Submit the request within 7 days from the date of donation

5. REFUND APPROVAL AND DISBURSEMENT

  • SORT will verify the refund request and revert within 5-7 working days.
  • If approved, the refund will be processed via the original mode of payment within 10 working days.
  • Refund decision by SORT shall be final and binding.

6. CONTACT INFORMATION

For any clarification, email: support.hopelet@gmail.com


This Refund Policy is subject to change without prior notice. Updated versions will be posted on the website and will be applicable immediately.