Terms of Service

Welcome to KadoPool. Please read these Terms of Service ("Terms") carefully. By using our website or mobile application, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

Program addenda. Two programs have their own terms, which add to these Terms: the Partner Organization Addendum, for non-profit organizations in the Partner Program, and the KadoPool Connectors Addendum, for organizers in the Connectors program.

1The Platform

KadoPool ("we," "us," or "our") provides a platform that lets users ("Organizers") collect money from other users ("Contributors") for one or more people ("Recipients"), who receive it as gift cards or as cash on a prepaid Visa card, with a digital keepsake (the KadoBook).

We are not a bank, broker, or financial institution. Stripe, our payment processor, processes every payment and holds the funds until they are paid out. Funds for gift cards and prepaid Visa cards go from Stripe to a bank account KadoPool keeps only for Pool funds, and from there to the card provider. They never pass through KadoPool's operating account.

Each contribution, less the fees in Section 3, belongs to its Pool and is used only for that Pool: paid out to its Recipients, used for a KadoClip the Organizer adds, or refunded, as Sections 3, 4 and 7 describe. The Organizer never has access to the funds, and KadoPool never uses them for its own purposes. When a gift is rounded down to whole dollars, KadoPool keeps the cents left over. Donations to a Donation Pool work differently: each goes to the beneficiary Partner Organization's own Stripe account as it is made (Section 5).

To foster an inclusive community environment, KadoPool utilizes a "Privacy Shield" feature.

You acknowledge and agree that:

• Individual contribution amounts stay private, including from the Organizer and the Recipient. The one exception is a Donation Pool, whose beneficiary organization receives each donor's amount (Section 5).
• The total amount collected may be hidden from the Organizer and Contributors until a minimum number of contributors and amount (determined by KadoPool) is met.
• Contributors only ever see a rounded total for the pool. The Organizer sees the exact amount collected when closing the pool.

2Accounts and Eligibility

• You must be at least 18 years old to create a pool or contribute funds.
• You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration.
• You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials.
• Valid Email Required: You may not use disposable, anonymous, or temporary email services (such as those designed to provide time-limited or self-destructing inboxes) as the primary email for a KadoPool account, as a Contributor identifier, or as a Recipient identifier. KadoPool may refuse registration, block a contribution, or terminate accounts using such addresses.
• Accuracy of Identity: Misrepresentation of your identity, use of another person's information without their permission, or impersonation of any person or entity is prohibited and is grounds for immediate termination under Section 14.

3Payment Processing & Fees

3.1 Contributions and Minimums

Each contribution carries a Payment Processing Fee (charged by Stripe) and a Platform Fee (charged by KadoPool), which you pay in the way the pool's Organizer chooses when creating the pool: (a) included in your contribution (the default): you are charged the amount you choose, and the pool receives it less the fees; or (b) added on top: you are charged your contribution plus the fees, and the pool receives your whole contribution. The Processing Fee shown is Stripe's standard fee for a card issued in the pool's country; when Stripe charges more for your card (for example, a card issued in another country), the difference is taken from the amount the pool receives, whichever option applies (see section 10.2). What you will be charged is shown before you confirm payment.

• Minimum Contribution: To ensure the efficiency of the platform and the value of the final gift, KadoPool requires a minimum contribution amount per transaction. This minimum threshold is clearly disclosed to you within the application before you initiate a payment.
• Fee Cap: To keep KadoPool affordable for larger gift amounts, we apply a maximum cap on Platform Fees per individual contribution.
• Transparency: The checkout screen shows the amount you will be charged and the applicable minimum. When the fees are added on top, they are shown there before you confirm. When they are included in your contribution, the pool receives your contribution less the fees, and the Organizer sees the fees, and what the Recipient will receive, before sending the gift. Current fees, the fee cap and the minimum are listed on our Pricing page. In the US, KadoPool's fee is 2% of the amount given, at most $5 per contribution, and the minimum contribution is $10. By confirming your payment, you agree to these charges.

3.2 Non-Refundable Fees

Processing fees collected by Stripe are non-refundable. If a pool is canceled or a refund is issued, the processing fee retained by Stripe will be deducted from the refund amount. KadoPool refunds its own fee in full. A payment that arrives after the pool's closing date is refunded in full, Stripe's fee included.

3.3 The KadoClip Experience

Organizers may elect to upgrade a pool to a "KadoClip." This upgrade provides an enhanced digital video presentation generated from the collective sentiment and the messages associated to the collection for each Recipient. KadoClip is optional. Its price, per Recipient, is shown in the app before the Organizer adds it and is taken from the pool when the gift is sent. It can be added only when the pool holds enough to pay for it, and it isn't refundable once the gift is sent.

• Enhanced Features: The KadoClip includes themed designs, animations and message layouts designed to elevate the final gift presentation.
• Service Evolution: KadoPool reserves the right to modify, expand, or update the specific features included in the KadoClip to improve the user experience.
• Fees and Eligibility: The KadoClip price is not charged to the Organizer or to any Contributor. It comes out of the pool, tax included, when the gift is sent. KadoClip isn't offered on Donation Pools.

3.4 Receipt of Funds

KadoPool accepts each Contribution through Stripe for the Pool's Recipients or, on a Donation Pool, for its Partner Organization. Once Stripe confirms the payment, the Contributor has nothing more to pay, and can get a refund only as Section 7 allows. If a payout fails, completing it or refunding the Contribution is KadoPool's responsibility, not the Contributor's or the Organizer's.

3.5 Payment Reversals & Chargebacks

KadoPool's rights and remedies with respect to payment reversals, chargebacks, disputes, and ACH returns — whether initiated before or after a Pool has closed, been redeemed, or been disbursed — are set out in Section 14.4 (Payment Reversal Indemnity). Contributors and Organizers agree to cooperate with KadoPool in good faith to resolve any chargeback, dispute, or reversal, and acknowledge that KadoPool may take the actions described in Section 14 to recover reversed amounts and associated fees.

Disputes and the Pool. When a Contributor's payment is disputed or charged back, KadoPool does not hold the Pool. The disputed contribution is treated as lost to the Pool from the moment the dispute is opened: it no longer counts toward the Pool, and if the Pool has already closed, the disputed amount is deducted from the payouts of Recipients who have not yet redeemed their gift, in proportion to their share (each amount rounded down to a whole unit of currency). Notwithstanding Section 14.4, KadoPool does not ask a Recipient to return a payout already received because of a dispute opened afterwards, unless KadoPool reasonably believes the Recipient took part in fraud or misuse described in Section 14. If the dispute is later decided in KadoPool's favor and the funds are returned, KadoPool will contact the affected Recipients to pay them the recovered amount, less the dispute fees charged by our payment processor. If a dispute is decided against KadoPool, the account of the Contributor who made the payment may be suspended under Section 14.5.

Disputes on Donation Pools. A Donation Pool is not held either. When a donation is disputed, KadoPool takes the Partner Organization's part of it back from the Partner Organization's Stripe account while it is still there, without charging the Partner Organization the dispute fees, and pays it to the Partner Organization again if the dispute is decided in KadoPool's favor. Once the donation has been paid out to the Partner Organization's bank, KadoPool handles any recovery with the Partner Organization directly, under the Partner Organization Addendum.

4Redemption and Payout Options

KadoPool is designed for maximum flexibility. Once a Pool is closed, the Organizer and then the Recipient may choose how to receive the collected funds. To receive their gift and open their KadoBook, Recipients create a free KadoPool account.

4.1 Payout Methods

Users may select from the following options available through our integration with third-party payout providers:

• Digital Gift Cards: Gift cards from the brands shown in the app, provided by Zendit.
• Prepaid Visa Card: Where offered, cash up to $999 per Recipient per Pool can be received as a prepaid Visa card, sent by email with no fee. The card is a promotional card issued by Sunrise Banks, N.A. through Zendit. It must be activated within 90 days and can be used for 6 months after activation, as stated when you choose it and with the card. Any part of a Recipient's gift above this limit is received as gift cards.
• Donations: Some pools are for the benefit of a partner organization. In this case, each donation is paid to the partner's own Stripe account as it is made and, once the pool has closed, KadoPool sends its donations to the partner's bank (Section 5).

4.2 Third-Party Terms

Payouts to organizations are processed via Stripe. All gift cards and prepaid Visa cards are ordered via Zendit. By selecting a payout method, you agree to the terms and conditions of the respective provider and the chosen retailer. KadoPool is not responsible for the loss of funds once they have been successfully transferred to a third-party provider or retailer.

4.3 Fees for Specific Payouts

Gift cards and the prepaid Visa card have no payout fee. KadoPool adds no fee of its own. Refer to our Pricing page for details.

4.4 Payout Processing

Once the Recipient has chosen how to receive their gift, KadoPool sends the gift cards and the prepaid Visa card by e-mail, usually within 5 business days: payments first need a few days to clear.

4.5 Recipient On-Boarding & Verification

To claim a pool or initiate a payout, Recipients must complete the following steps:

• Account Creation: Register for a KadoPool account using a valid email address.
• Name: Give their first and last name when the prepaid Visa card or a gift card requires it.
• Unclaimed Funds: If a Recipient hasn't claimed their gift within 12 months after the pool closes, KadoPool may handle the funds as required by applicable unclaimed property laws.

5Partner Organization Program

KadoPool offers a community reinvestment program where 30% of our Platform Fee is shared with verified Partner Organizations: non-profit organizations recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt (e.g., PTA/PTO, non-profit schools, other education-related organizations, or non-profits across various missions). This is a commercial referral fee paid by KadoPool LLC directly to the Partner Organization; it is not a tax-deductible donation from the Contributor.

• Nature of Payment: This payment is a commercial referral fee from KadoPool to the Partner Organization; it is not a tax-deductible donation from the individual Contributor.
• Verification: Organizations give their Employer Identification Number (EIN), which KadoPool checks against the IRS list of tax-exempt organizations, and must verify their identity, banking details, and tax status via Stripe Connect to receive funds and ensure compliance with financial regulations.
• Calculation: For every transaction processed in a pool linked to a Partner Organization, 30% of the KadoPool Platform Fee is allocated to that Partner. The Organizer is responsible for linking the Partner Organization to the pool in the application.
• Organizations not yet registered: An Organizer may link a pool to an organization that has not yet joined the Partner Program. KadoPool will invite the organization to register. Its 30% share is recorded but paid only once it accepts the Partner Organization Addendum and completes verification. If it has not done so within 12 months after the first linked pool closes, the recorded share is released to KadoPool and the organization has no claim to it. The app shows this before the Organizer confirms the link.
• Payment: Funds are tracked and disbursed quarterly once the Partner’s balance reaches $50, or annually by February 15 once it reaches $25 (smaller balances carry over), net of Stripe’s payout fees. Full payment terms are set out in the Partner Organization Addendum.

Donation Pools. Donation Pools are not available in every state. Where KadoPool can't accept a donation or a Partner Organization, the contribution page or the registration form says so before anyone pays or registers. Eligible 501(c)(3) Partner Organizations may also enable Donation Pools — a distinct pool type through which Contributors make charitable contributions remitted directly to the Partner Organization. Only a Partner Organization whose claim is confirmed, whose verification with Stripe and the IRS is complete, and whose Stripe account can receive payments can be chosen for a Donation Pool. Each donation is paid to the Partner Organization's own Stripe account as it is made. Once the pool has closed and its donations have cleared, KadoPool sends them from that account to the Partner Organization's bank in one payout, less Stripe's payout fee. A donation under review for suspected fraud stays in that account until the review ends; the pool's other donations are paid out without it. KadoPool is a software platform and does not solicit donations on behalf of Partner Organizations. On a Donation Pool, everything you pay, fees included, is your donation to the Partner Organization. The Platform Fee and Stripe's fee are the Partner Organization's costs of receiving it, taken from the donation. On Donation Pools, KadoPool donates the same 30% of its Platform Fee to the Partner Organization, in its own name, with each donation. The Partner Organization issues contribution acknowledgments to Contributors. KadoPool provides it with the Contributor information it needs when the pool closes and, at the Partner Organization’s request, may send acknowledgments on its behalf. Acknowledgments are issued after the pool closes, once contributions are final; the payment confirmation email is not a tax receipt.

Donation Pool Organizers. Any registered KadoPool user may create a Donation Pool designating a verified 501(c)(3) Partner Organization as beneficiary. By creating a Donation Pool, you represent and warrant that you are acting as an uncompensated volunteer in support of that organization and are not a professional fundraiser as defined under applicable state law.

Full terms governing the Partner Program — including fee calculation, payout schedule, Donation Pool eligibility and compliance, and termination — are set out in the Partner Organization Addendum, which Partner Organizations agree to upon registration.

6User Conduct & Content

KadoPool is a platform for celebration and gratitude. To maintain a safe and positive environment for all users, you agree to the following:

• Prohibited Content: You will not upload, post, or share any content (including photos, videos, or messages) that is illegal, discriminatory, harassing, defamatory, or sexually explicit. Content that promotes hate speech or violence is strictly prohibited.
• Professionalism & Respect: While KadoPool supports a wide range of social celebrations, users must remain respectful of the recipients and the community. We reserve the right to remove content that we deem, in our sole discretion, to be harmful to the spirit of the gift or the reputation of our partners.
• Privacy of Minors & Third Parties: You are solely responsible for ensuring you have the necessary permissions and consents to upload content featuring other individuals. This is especially critical when uploading content featuring minors; you represent that you have obtained parent or guardian consent where required.
• Intellectual Property: You retain ownership of your content, but you grant KadoPool a limited, non-exclusive license to host, store, and display that content specifically for the fulfillment of your Gift Pool and Digital Keepsake.
• Moderation & Termination: KadoPool does not pre-screen all content but reserves the right to remove any material or terminate accounts that violate these terms or interfere with the service’s operation.

7Refunds & Cancellations

Contributors can request a refund in the app until the pool's closing date. Until the Organizer sends the gift, the Organizer can refund a Contributor or cancel the pool, even after the closing date. Once the gift is sent, contributions can't be refunded. On a Donation Pool, closing the pool takes the place of sending the gift: once the Organizer has closed it, donations can't be refunded.

Please note that third-party processing fees (e.g., Stripe fees) are non-refundable in all circumstances and see our Refund Policy for full details.

Fraud & Investigation Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing, KadoPool may (a) refuse a refund request where the underlying contribution is subject to a fraud investigation, chargeback, dispute, or hold under Section 14; and (b) reverse, adjust, or reclassify any contribution that has been reversed by the Contributor's bank — whether via chargeback, ACH return, or other reversal mechanism — without further notice to the Organizer or Recipient. In such cases, the affected contribution ceases to count toward the Pool's balance and cannot be redeemed or disbursed.

8Disclaimer of Warranties

The Service is provided "as is." We do not guarantee that a specific fundraising goal will be met. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, or legality of the goods purchased with the redeemed gift cards.

9Compliance with Ethics Laws

If you are organizing a gift for a public employee (e.g., a public school teacher), you are responsible for ensuring the gift complies with local ethics laws and gift limits. KadoPool facilitates the collection of funds but does not offer legal advice regarding gift compliance.

10International Use, Currency & Taxes

10.1 Location Selection & Accuracy

When creating an account or a Gift Pool, you are required to identify your country of residence and, where applicable, your state, province, or territory ("Home Jurisdiction").

• The Accuracy Warranty: You represent and warrant that the Home Jurisdiction you select is accurate.
• Operational Impact: KadoPool relies on this selection to:
• Set the default Currency for the Pool.
• Determine the applicable Tax Rates (e.g., VAT, GST, or State Sales Tax).
• Ensure compliance with local financial and Escheatment (abandoned property) regulations.
• Indemnity: You agree to indemnify and hold KadoPool harmless against any penalties, interest, or tax liabilities resulting from your misrepresentation of your Home Jurisdiction.

10.2 Currency & Conversion

Each Pool operates in a single currency determined by the Organizer’s Home Jurisdiction at the time of pool creation. This currency applies to all contributions, fees, and payouts for that pool and cannot be changed once the pool is created.

• Single Pool Currency: The pool currency is set to the local currency of the Organizer’s Home Jurisdiction (e.g., USD, EUR, GBP, AUD). All amounts displayed to Contributors on KadoPool — including the contribution amount, Platform Fee, and Processing Fee — are shown in that currency.
• Cards From Other Countries: Stripe charges a higher Processing Fee for a card issued outside the pool's country (currently 1.5% more for a pool in US dollars). That higher fee is taken from the amount the pool receives, like the rest of the Processing Fee, whether the fees are included in your contribution or added on top; KadoPool's Platform Fee does not change.
• Paying in Another Currency: When you pay on the KadoPool website, Stripe may show the amount in your own currency. Stripe then converts it at an exchange rate that includes a currency conversion fee (currently 2% to 4%), paid by you and shown before you confirm. When you pay in the KadoPool app, you are charged in the pool's currency, and your bank or card issuer converts it and may charge foreign transaction or conversion fees. KadoPool has no control over, and is not responsible for, the exchange rates or fees applied by Stripe or by your financial institution.
• No Currency Guarantee: KadoPool does not guarantee any exchange rate and is not liable for any loss arising from currency fluctuations between the time a contribution is made and the time funds are disbursed.

10.3 Tax Obligations

Platform Fees include any applicable tax.

• Platform Fees: Where the law requires KadoPool to collect tax on its Platform Fee (e.g., State Sales Tax, VAT or GST), that tax is included in the fee, never added on top, and KadoPool remits it.
• Personal Tax Responsibility: You are solely responsible for determining if the receipt of gift funds through a Pool constitutes taxable income or is subject to gift tax reporting in your jurisdiction.

11Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

For US Users: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.

For International Users: These Terms are governed by the laws of New Jersey, except where mandatory local consumer protection laws (such as the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 or Australian Consumer Law) require the application of your local law. In such cases, the mandatory provisions of your local law shall prevail.

12Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, KadoPool’s total liability for any claim arising from these Terms is limited to the total Platform Fees paid by the user to KadoPool in the 12 months preceding the claim. This limit does not apply to KadoPool's obligation to pay out the funds collected in a Pool (Section 3.4).

13Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless KadoPool LLC and its affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:

• (a) Your access to or use of the Service;
• (b) Your violation of these Terms; or
• (c) Any content you upload that infringes the intellectual property or privacy rights of a third party.

14Fraud, Suspicious Activity & Account Security

14.1 Prohibited Conduct

You may not use the Service to:

• (a) engage in fraud, identity theft, unauthorized use of another person's payment method or bank account, money laundering, or the funding of illegal activity;
• (b) misrepresent your identity, use a false name, use another person's information without their permission, or impersonate any person or entity;
• (c) create or contribute to a Pool for the purpose of extracting funds you have not lawfully collected from Contributors, or for a Recipient who is you, an alias of you, or a person acting in coordination with you to disguise the true beneficiary;
• (d) provide false or disposable email addresses (including but not limited to services designed to provide temporary or anonymous email) as a Contributor, Recipient, or account contact;
• (e) create multiple accounts to circumvent a suspension, termination, ban, or other restriction imposed by KadoPool;
• (f) attempt to defeat, evade, or interfere with any fraud-detection, identity-verification, or security control operated by KadoPool or its payment processors.

14.2 Identity Verification at KadoPool's Discretion

KadoPool may, at any time and in its sole discretion, require any user — including Organizers, Contributors, and Recipients — to verify their identity, source of funds, or the legitimacy of any contribution or Pool. Verification methods may include government-issued photo identification, a live photograph or "selfie," address confirmation, and confirmation of ownership of a payment method or bank account. KadoPool may suspend account access and hold Pool funds pending completion of verification. Failure to provide requested verification within thirty (30) days is grounds for permanent account termination and forfeiture of any Pool funds, subject to KadoPool's refund and reversal policies.

14.3 Investigation and Fund Holds

KadoPool may, at any time and without prior notice, suspend any account, freeze any Pool, or place any contribution or payout on hold for up to ninety (90) days (or longer where reasonably necessary in connection with a chargeback, dispute, law-enforcement request, or fraud investigation) while KadoPool investigates suspected fraud, misuse of the Service, or violation of these Terms. During any hold, no interest accrues on held funds and KadoPool has no obligation to disburse them.

14.4 Payment Reversal Indemnity

If a Contributor's payment is reversed, disputed, charged back, or otherwise refunded by their bank, card issuer, or payment provider — whether before or after the Pool has closed, been redeemed, or been disbursed — KadoPool may (i) deduct the reversed amount from payouts not yet claimed or, on a Donation Pool, take the Partner Organization's part of it back from its Stripe account while it is still there, as Section 3.5 describes, and (ii) recover it, with any associated fees, from the account that made the payment, or from any account KadoPool reasonably believes took part in fraud or misuse under this Section 14.

You authorize KadoPool to debit or offset any of the foregoing to satisfy such recovery, and you agree that this authorization survives closure of the affected Pool and termination of your account.

14.5 Termination and Ban

KadoPool may permanently terminate any account it reasonably believes has been used for fraud, identity theft, or coordinated misuse of the Service, and may permanently prohibit the individual or entity behind that account from re-registering, whether under the same or a different name, email address, or payment method. KadoPool's determination of what constitutes reasonable belief is made in its sole discretion, subject only to obvious bad faith.

14.6 Fraud-Data Sharing

You consent to KadoPool sharing information relating to your account, transactions, payment methods, and device fingerprints with (i) our payment processors and their fraud-detection systems, and (ii) law enforcement or regulatory authorities where KadoPool reasonably believes such sharing is necessary to prevent, investigate, or prosecute fraud, or to comply with a lawful request. Information shared under this Section 14.6 may include, without limitation, identifiers relating to bank accounts and payment methods used on the Service.

14.7 Chargeback and Dispute Cooperation

You agree to promptly cooperate in good faith with KadoPool and its payment processors in responding to any chargeback, dispute, or reversal, including providing verification of identity, proof of authorization for a payment, and any documentation reasonably requested. Failure to cooperate is an independent basis for account termination under Section 14.5.