Terms &
Conditions

The acceptance of any contribution, gift, or grant is at the sole and exclusive discretion of Charity & Hope ("the Organisation"). The Organisation reserves the absolute right to accept or decline any donation, regardless of amount, source, or nature.

• Mission Alignment — The Organisation will not accept any gift unless it can be used or expended consistently with the charitable purpose, mission statement, and strategic objectives of the Organisation.
• Reputational Considerations — Gifts from sources that may compromise the Organisation's reputation, integrity, or independence will be declined.
• Legal Compliance — All accepted donations must comply with applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations.
• Ethical Standards — The Organisation adheres to the highest ethical standards in all fundraising and gift acceptance practices.

For donations exceeding $10,000 USD (or equivalent in other currencies), the Organisation conducts comprehensive due diligence, including:

• Verification of donor identity and legitimacy
• Source of funds investigation for anti-money laundering compliance
• Conflict of interest assessment
• Restriction and condition evaluation
• Legal and tax implications review

No irrevocable gift, whether outright or life-income in character, will be accepted if, under any reasonable set of circumstances, the gift would jeopardise the donor's financial security, well-being, or ability to maintain their standard of living.

• Essential Living Expenses — Gifts that would deprive donors of funds needed for housing, food, healthcare, or other necessities
• Emergency Reserves — Donations that eliminate reasonable emergency fund reserves
• Dependent Support — Gifts affecting the donor's ability to support legal dependents
• Medical Needs — Contributions impacting access to necessary medical care or insurance
• Long-term Security — Donations compromising retirement security or long-term financial stability

For life-income arrangements including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and pooled income funds:

• Minimum age requirements apply (typically 60+ years)
• Minimum gift amounts are established for administrative efficiency
• Actuarial calculations must ensure adequate remaining income for the donor
• Professional legal and financial review is mandatory
• A cooling-off period of 14 days applies before finalisation

The Organisation will refrain from providing advice about the tax or other legal treatment of gifts and will strongly encourage all donors to seek independent guidance from their own qualified professional advisers.

Recommended Professional Consultation:

• Tax Advisors — For understanding tax deduction implications and benefits
• Estate Planning Attorneys — For complex gifts, bequests, and estate planning integration
• Financial Planners — For assessing donation impact on overall financial health
• Certified Public Accountants — For accounting and reporting requirements
• Investment Advisors — For gifts of securities and appreciated assets

Tax deductibility varies significantly by jurisdiction. Donors should be aware that:

• Tax treatment depends on donor's country of residence and tax status
• International donations may carry different reporting requirements
• Currency exchange implications should be considered
• Some countries may not recognise foreign charitable deductions
• Transfer taxes, VAT, or other levies may apply in certain jurisdictions

The Organisation readily accepts donations of cash and cash equivalents, including:

• Currency — All major international currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, XAF, etc.)
• Cheques — Made payable to "Charity & Hope" or legal registered name
• Wire Transfers — Direct bank transfers (preferred for large donations)
• Credit/Debit Cards — Via secure online payment platforms
• Digital Payments — Mobile money, PayPal, Stripe, and other verified platforms
• Cryptocurrency — Bitcoin, Ethereum, and major cryptocurrencies (subject to conversion policies)

The Organisation accepts donations of publicly traded securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds listed on recognised exchanges:

• Marketability — Must be readily marketable on established exchanges
• Valuation — Valued at mean of high and low on date of transfer
• Liquidation — Generally sold promptly upon receipt unless otherwise directed by the Board
• Transfer Process — Electronic transfer via DTC or physical certificate delivery
• Restrictions — Securities subject to Rule 144 limitations require special review

Gifts of in-kind services and goods are accepted at the sole discretion of the Organisation based on mission relevance, quality standards, administrative capacity, and liability assessment. Common in-kind donations accepted include:

• Medical supplies and equipment (new, properly stored)
• Educational materials and books
• Professional services (legal, accounting, medical, etc.)
• Technology equipment (computers, software licences)
• Vehicles in good working condition
• Food and agricultural products (subject to safety regulations)

Certain categories of gifts require enhanced review and approval prior to acceptance due to special obligations or potential liabilities:

Real Property:

• Environmental site assessments (Phase I, Phase II if needed)
• Title search and title insurance
• Property appraisal by qualified independent appraiser
• Zoning, encumbrance, and easement review
• Ongoing maintenance and carrying cost analysis

Non-Liquid & Private Securities:

• Closely held stock and private company shares
• Limited partnership interests
• Stock options and warrants
• Restricted securities under applicable regulatory rules

The Organisation reserves the right to decline any restricted gift where restrictions are deemed too burdensome, impractical, or inconsistent with organisational mission. Contributions with restrictions require special consideration, including:

• Program Restrictions — Must align with organisational priorities
• Time Restrictions — Endowments require Board approval
• Naming Opportunities — Subject to specific naming rights policies
• Conditional Gifts — Evaluated for feasibility of fulfilment

The Organisation will not accept donations from:

• Known or suspected criminal organisations
• Designated terrorist organisations or individuals
• Sources involved in human trafficking, slavery, or exploitation
• Entities engaged in illegal environmental destruction
• Organisations promoting hate, discrimination, or violence
• Anonymous sources exceeding legal thresholds

The Organisation will provide acknowledgments to donors meeting applicable tax requirements. Acknowledgments include: organisation's legal name and tax ID; date of receipt; description and/or exact cash amount; statement on goods/services provided in exchange; confirmation of tax-exempt status; and timing (issued within 30 days or by January 31 for year-end gifts).

The Organisation maintains comprehensive records of all donations for a minimum of seven (7) years, including donor correspondence, gift instruments, acknowledgment letters, appraisals, Board resolutions for complex gifts, and disposition records for non-cash assets.

The Organisation will respect and honor the intent of the donor relating to gifts for restricted purposes. If circumstances change such that restricted gifts can no longer be used as originally intended, the Organisation will: make reasonable efforts to contact the donor; seek alternative uses as close as possible to original intent; apply cy pres doctrine consistent with applicable law; and obtain legal counsel guidance when appropriate.

• Information Restriction — Donor identity restricted to only those staff members with a legitimate need to know
• Public Recognition — No public disclosure without explicit donor consent
• Internal Protocols — Strict confidentiality procedures and staff training
• Legal Requirements — Disclosure only when required by law or court order

For donors in jurisdictions covered by data protection laws, you have the right to: access, correct, or erase personal data held by the Organisation; data portability; withdraw consent for marketing communications; object to processing; and lodge complaints with supervisory authorities.

The Organisation will NOT compensate, whether through commissions, finders' fees, or other means, any third party for directing a gift or a donor to the Organisation. This prohibition includes commission-based fundraising, finders' fees, contingent compensation, kickbacks, and referral bonuses.

• Salaried Staff — Reasonable salaries for employed fundraising professionals
• Fixed-Fee Consultants — Predetermined consulting fees not tied to gift amounts
• Professional Advisors — Legal, accounting, and appraisal fees paid directly by donors
• Event Vendors — Standard fees for event services unrelated to donation amounts

As an international organisation operating across multiple jurisdictions, Charity & Hope complies with:

• Cameroon Law — Law No. 99/014 of 22 December 1999 governing NGOs; CEMAC financial regulations; national AML/CFT requirements
• FATF Recommendations — Financial Action Task Force international standards
• African Union — Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption
• European Union — GDPR for EU donors; Anti-Money Laundering Directives
• United States — FATCA reporting; IRS compliance for US donors
• United Kingdom — Charity Commission guidelines for UK supporters

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Cameroon. Any disputes shall be resolved through:

1. Good Faith Negotiation — Initial attempt at amicable resolution
2. Mediation — Non-binding mediation before a neutral third party
3. Arbitration — Binding arbitration under OHADA Uniform Act rules
4. Jurisdiction — Courts of Douala, Cameroon for final adjudication

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Organisation provides no investment, financial, or tax advice and accepts no liability for donor financial decisions; makes no representations regarding tax deductibility; is not liable for asset valuation disputes or market fluctuations between pledge and receipt.

By making a donation, donors represent and warrant that:

• They have legal ownership and authority to donate the gifted property
• The gift is free from liens, encumbrances, or adverse claims
• All information provided is accurate and complete
• The donation complies with all applicable laws and regulations
• Funds are from legitimate, legal sources
• They have consulted appropriate professional advisors

Donors agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Charity & Hope, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from: breach of donor representations; ownership disputes regarding donated property; environmental contamination of donated real property; product liability claims for donated goods; intellectual property infringement claims; or any illegal activity related to the source or nature of the donation.

The Organisation reserves the right to amend, modify, or update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Material changes will include a 30-day advance notice period. Amendments do not retroactively affect completed donations. Making subsequent donations constitutes acceptance of amended terms.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if such modification is not possible, shall be severed. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

The Organisation maintains zero tolerance for corruption and bribery. All donations must comply with applicable anti-corruption laws including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the UK Bribery Act 2010, the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption.

Neither party shall be liable for failure to perform obligations due to circumstances beyond reasonable control (acts of God, war, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, government actions). No waiver of any provision shall constitute a continuing waiver unless executed in writing by an authorised representative. These Terms, together with any specific gift agreements executed in writing, constitute the entire agreement between the donor and Charity & Hope regarding donations.