Your Trust is Our Priority.

We are building KadoPool to be the safest, most transparent way to give as a group. Here is how we protect your money and your data.

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Bank-Grade Security

We do not store your credit card numbers. All payments are processed by Stripe, the same processor used by GoFundMe, Kickstarter, and Etsy.

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Privacy by Design

Amounts are private. The recipient sees who contributed (unless you choose anonymous), but never how much.

🛡️

Smart Custody

The Organizer manages the pool, but never touches the money. Funds are held securely and released directly to the Recipient.

Video Guides

Step-by-step walkthroughs for every feature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Money & Safety

Is there a fee to use KadoPool?
It is free to create a pool. When contributing, we charge a small platform fee to cover credit card processing and site maintenance. Redemption is 100% free for the recipient—they get the full value of the gift card or cash payout with zero fees.
Does the Organizer hold the money?
No. Unlike Venmo, the Organizer never touches the funds. Money goes directly to a secure holding account and is released only to the Recipient via their unique Keepsake Link. This ensures total safety for everyone.
Do I have to set a fundraising goal?
No. KadoPool is completely open-ended. Whether the group raises $20 or $2,000, the recipient receives the exact total collected. There are no minimums to meet and no caps to hit. You just set a deadline, and we handle the rest.
Can family members abroad contribute?
Yes! Thanks to Stripe, family members can contribute from almost anywhere in the world using their local cards. Note that the pool is denominated in the Organizer's home currency (e.g., USD), so international banks may handle the conversion automatically.

Privacy & Etiquette

Do I have to contribute to sign the card?
Yes, participation requires a contribution, but the amount is up to you. Whether you give $1 or $50, you appear exactly the same on the card. Our Privacy Shield ensures that minimal contributions are welcomed without judgment, allowing everyone to participate comfortably.
Does the recipient know exactly how much I gave?
No. The recipient sees the list of contributors and their messages, but only the Total Pool Amount. Your individual contribution is strictly confidential. The Total Pool Amount is initially hidden until the pool of contributors is large enough (5) to protect privacy. KadoPool is meant to help larger pool of people get organized.
How do reminders work? I don't want to nag people.
You have control. As the Organizer, you can send manual reminders to your list at any time. To help you out, we also automatically schedule polite nudges 72 hours before the deadline and on the final day—but only to those who haven't contributed yet. Once someone chips in, they won't be bothered again.

Logistics & Redemption

How does the recipient get the money?

It works via an allocation system. The Pool Owner decides the initial split between Cash and specific Gift Cards. The Recipient then claims the funds and can decide to convert the cash portion into gift cards directly in the app.

Example A: 100% Cash

Owner allocates $200 to Cash.

The Recipient can withdraw all $200 to their bank.
OR
The Recipient chooses to spend some or all of it purchasing gift cards (like Amazon or Sephora) directly inside the app.

Example B: The "Nike + Cash" Split

The Pool Owner allocates $100 to a Nike Gift Card and leaves the remaining $50 as Cash.

The Recipient receives the $100 Nike card (which cannot be changed) plus $50 in flexible cash. They can withdraw that $50 to their bank account or use it (or part of the amount) to buy a second gift card in the app.

When exactly does the pool close?
The pool closes automatically at 11:59 PM (23:59) Local Time on the date you selected. (For US users, this defaults to Eastern Standard Time). After this cutoff, no new contributions can be accepted.
Can I contribute about the pool closes
No - once the pool closes, nothing can be changed. Recipients and allocation are frozen. Contributors cannot give money past the deadline nor sign the card. The Pool Owner will then generate the Keepsake for the Recipients and distribute the proceeds digitally.
Can I get a refund?
Read our full Refund Policy

Account & Access

I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
If you've lost access to your account, you can reset your password securely. You'll need access to the email address you signed up with. Use the "Forgot my Password" link on the app then update your password online. You will then be able to login with your new password nearly immediately.

Reset Password
I have 2 accounts. How do I link them?
If you have created two accounts with 2 different emails, you will be able to link these 2 accounts. You will need to choose a primary account and this will be the only account you may use on KadoPool. This can be requested through the app in the profil section. Once requested, this cannot be reversed.

For Schools & Partners

I claimed my organization. How do you validate it?
Security is our top priority. Once an authorized official claims the organization, we use Stripe to validate information. Verifications can include:
  • Verifying your email matches the organization's official domain (e.g., @your-school.edu).
  • Public records (like the NCES database or IRS 501(c)(3) list).
  • Request a determination letter to approve tax-free payouts.

Stripe will confirm once the process is completed and it will confirm directly to KadoPool your status.

This process does not prevent you from using KadoPool immediately.

How do Partner Organizations get the KadoPool donation?
Turn Gifting into Fundraising. Once verified on Stripe, your organization will automatically receive 30% of KadoPool’s platform fees from every gift linked to this organization. We send these payouts periodically to support our partners.

Account & Signing In

I signed in with Apple and a different email appeared — what happened?

When you sign in with Apple, Apple gives you the option to Hide My Email. If you chose this option, Apple created a private relay address (e.g. [email protected]) instead of sharing your real email with KadoPool.

This means your KadoPool account was created under that relay address, not the email address you normally use. As a result, pools you were invited to under your real email may not appear under your Apple login (or vice-versa).

The fix: use the Account Merge feature in the app (Profile → Account) to link your two accounts. Once merged, everything will be under one account.

How do I link my Apple account with my regular email account?

You can merge your accounts directly in the KadoPool app:

  1. Open the app and go to Profile → Account.
  2. Tap Link another account and enter the email address for your other KadoPool account.
  3. Choose which account should be the primary (all your data will move to this account).
  4. A confirmation email will be sent to the other account's email address. Open it and tap Confirm Merge.
  5. Done! Both accounts are now merged. Sign in with your primary account going forward.

The secondary account will be deactivated after the merge. If you try to sign in with it, the app will remind you to use the primary account instead.

Can I undo an account merge?
Account merges are permanent and cannot be reversed in the app. If you merged by mistake, please contact us at [email protected] and we will look into it manually.

Still have questions?

We are real people based in New Jersey. Drop us a line and we'll get back to you.