Terms of Service, EULA & Liability Waiver

1. Agreement; electronic acceptance

These Terms of Service, End User License Agreement, and Liability Waiver (the "Terms") are a binding agreement between you (the individual creating an account, and the nonprofit or other organization you represent) and the operator of 501 Compass ("Provider," "we," "us"). By creating an account, checking the acceptance box, clicking "Create account," signing in after a version change, or using 501 Compass (the "Service"), you agree to these Terms.

If you use the Service on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to bind that organization, and "you" includes that organization. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

These Terms are effective as of September 6, 2026 (version 2026-09-06). We may update them from time to time. Continued use after we post a new version, or after we require re-acceptance, constitutes agreement to the updated Terms.

2. Nature of the Service (not legal, tax, or accounting advice)

501 Compass is software for nonprofit operations: projects, volunteers, documents, grants, board records, donations tracking, compliance reminders, and related tools. It is a productivity and record-keeping aid only.

The Service is not a law firm, CPA firm, registered agent, fundraising counsel, payment processor (except insofar as a third-party processor you connect), or insurance product. Nothing in the Service is legal, tax, accounting, investment, or compliance advice. Form 990 worksheets, grant drafts, policies, and similar outputs are drafts for your professional advisors. You are solely responsible for filings, donor acknowledgements, charitable-solicitation registration, employment law, child-safety rules, and all other legal obligations.

3. Eligibility; accounts; organizations

You must be at least 18 years old and able to form a contract. You must provide accurate information and keep credentials confidential. You are responsible for all activity under your account and your organization's workspace.

Each organization workspace is logically isolated by organization identifier. You must not attempt to access another organization's data. You must not share login credentials across unaffiliated organizations.

We may approve, reject, suspend, or terminate organization signups at our discretion, including for abuse, nonpayment, legal risk, or violation of these Terms.

4. License (EULA)

Subject to these Terms and timely payment of applicable fees, Provider grants you a limited, revocable, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to access the Service for your organization's internal nonprofit operations during your subscription term.

You do not acquire any ownership of the Service, software, trademarks, or documentation. Except as required by law, you may not copy, modify, reverse engineer, scrape, resell, or provide the Service as a bureau to unaffiliated third parties.

All rights not expressly granted are reserved. This license terminates automatically if you breach these Terms or when your subscription or access ends.

5. Subscriptions, trials, and payment

Paid plans are billed in advance through our payment processor (currently Stripe) on a recurring basis until canceled. Prices, taxes, and plan limits are shown at checkout or in-product. You authorize us and the processor to charge your payment method.

Trials, if offered, convert to a paid plan or lock the workspace when they end unless you subscribe or we agree otherwise. Fees are non-refundable except where required by law or where we state otherwise in writing.

Failed payments may result in past-due status, feature suspension, or termination. You remain responsible for amounts owed. Chargebacks initiated in bad faith are a breach of these Terms.

6. Your content; data isolation; backups

You retain ownership of data you submit ("Customer Data"). You grant Provider a worldwide, royalty-free license to host, process, transmit, display, and back up Customer Data solely to provide the Service, to prevent abuse, and to comply with law.

The Service uses a shared application and database with organization-level access controls (membership checks on queries, files stored under your organization identifier). This is logical isolation, not a dedicated server, database, or legal entity per customer. We do not promise that a separate physical database or storage volume will be provisioned for your organization.

You are responsible for exporting and retaining copies of records you are legally required to keep. We may offer an organization export tool; it is provided as-is. We are not your records custodian, backup vendor, or disaster-recovery provider. We may delete Customer Data after account termination subject to our retention practices and legal holds.

7. Acceptable use

You will not: (a) violate law; (b) upload malware or attempt to probe, scan, or breach the Service; (c) interfere with other customers; (d) use the Service to harass, defame, or exploit minors; (e) submit content you do not have rights to; (f) circumvent billing, capability, or tenancy controls; (g) misrepresent your tax-exempt status or use the Service for fraudulent fundraising.

We may investigate, suspend, or report suspected abuse. We may remove content that we reasonably believe is unlawful or harmful.

8. Third-party services

Optional integrations (for example Google, Stripe, QuickBooks, Zoho, email delivery) are provided by third parties under their own terms. We are not responsible for those services, their downtime, or their handling of data you authorize them to receive. Connecting an integration is at your risk.

9. Confidentiality and privacy

Each party will use reasonable care to protect the other's confidential information. Customer Data is your confidential information, except for data you choose to make public (for example a public giving page).

Our Privacy Policy (version 2026-09-06) describes how we handle personal information and is incorporated into these Terms. You must have a lawful basis to upload personal data about donors, volunteers, staff, and beneficiaries, and you are the controller of that data.

10. Disclaimers (read carefully)

THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PROVIDER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, SECURE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS; THAT DATA WILL NOT BE LOST, CORRUPTED, OR DISCLOSED; THAT CALCULATIONS, 990 MAPPINGS, GRANT TEXT, OR COMPLIANCE REMINDERS ARE COMPLETE OR CORRECT; OR THAT THE SERVICE WILL MEET YOUR LEGAL, AUDIT, FUNDING, OR INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS.

You assume the entire risk arising out of use of the Service. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain disclaimers; in those jurisdictions, disclaimers apply to the fullest extent permitted.

11. Assumption of risk and liability waiver

YOU UNDERSTAND THAT SOFTWARE CAN FAIL, THAT HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES, THAT INTERNET AND HOSTING PROVIDERS FAIL, AND THAT UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS, BUGS, AND DATA LOSS CAN OCCUR EVEN WHEN REASONABLE CARE IS USED.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU HEREBY RELEASE, WAIVE, DISCHARGE, AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE PROVIDER AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AFFILIATES, SUCCESSORS, AND ASSIGNS (THE "RELEASED PARTIES") FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, DAMAGES, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, COSTS, AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING ATTORNEYS' FEES) OF ANY KIND, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO: (A) YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICE; (B) LOSS, CORRUPTION, DISCLOSURE, OR UNAVAILABILITY OF CUSTOMER DATA; (C) RELIANCE ON OUTPUTS, REMINDERS, WORKSHEETS, OR REPORTS; (D) ACTIONS OF OTHER USERS IN YOUR ORGANIZATION; (E) THIRD-PARTY SERVICES; (F) SECURITY INCIDENTS, DOWNTIME, OR FORCE MAJEURE; AND (G) DECISIONS MADE BY YOUR BOARD, STAFF, DONORS, REGULATORS, OR AUDITORS.

This waiver is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted. If any portion is held invalid, the remainder continues in effect. You acknowledge that Provider would not offer the Service at the stated prices without this waiver and the limitations below.

12. Limitation of liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE RELEASED PARTIES WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES; LOST PROFITS, REVENUE, GOODWILL, OR DATA; BUSINESS INTERRUPTION; COST OF SUBSTITUTE SERVICES; OR DONOR, GRANT, OR REGULATORY LOSSES; EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY, AND WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE.

THE RELEASED PARTIES' TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNTS YOU PAID TO PROVIDER FOR THE SERVICE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS (US $100). MULTIPLE CLAIMS DO NOT INCREASE THIS CAP.

These limitations apply even if a remedy fails of its essential purpose. They are a fundamental allocation of risk.

13. Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Released Parties from any third-party claim, investigation, or demand arising out of: (a) Customer Data; (b) your use of the Service; (c) your violation of law or these Terms; (d) your fundraising, employment, volunteer, or board practices; (e) a dispute among members of your organization; or (f) your integrations. We may assume exclusive defense at your expense.

14. Term; termination

These Terms continue while you have an account. You may stop using the Service and cancel a paid subscription through the billing portal or by written notice we accept. We may suspend or terminate access immediately for breach, risk, nonpayment, or if we discontinue the Service.

Upon termination, your license ends. Sections that by their nature should survive (including 2, 4 (as to ownership), 6–13, 15–18) survive.

15. Governing law; venue; dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the State of Texas, United States, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. Subject to the arbitration clause below, exclusive venue for permitted court actions is the state or federal courts located in Texas, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

Informal resolution. Before filing a claim, you will email a written description of the dispute and wait thirty (30) days while we attempt to resolve it.

Arbitration. Except for claims that may be brought in small-claims court or claims for injunctive relief to protect intellectual property or unauthorized access, any dispute arising out of these Terms or the Service will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer or Commercial Rules as applicable. The seat of arbitration is Texas. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class action waiver. YOU AND PROVIDER MAY BRING CLAIMS ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY CLASS, COLLECTIVE, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE CLAIMS.

Jury waiver. IF A DISPUTE PROCEEDS IN COURT RATHER THAN ARBITRATION, EACH PARTY WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.

16. Export; government; miscellaneous

You will comply with U.S. export and sanctions laws. The Service is commercial computer software. If any provision is unenforceable, it will be modified to the minimum extent necessary, and the rest remains in effect. These Terms are the entire agreement regarding the Service and supersede prior proposals on that subject. Failure to enforce is not a waiver. You may not assign these Terms without our consent; we may assign them. Notices to you may be sent to your account email. Headings are for convenience only.

No third-party beneficiaries except the Released Parties with respect to the waiver, disclaimers, and limitations. Force majeure: we are not liable for delays or failures due to events beyond reasonable control, including hosting outages, labor disputes, and legal changes.

17. Acknowledgement

BY ACCEPTING THESE TERMS YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ THEM, THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE IN COURT AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS ACTION, AND THAT YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND. IF YOU ARE ACCEPTING FOR AN ORGANIZATION, YOU HAVE AUTHORITY TO BIND IT.