Donation Refund Policy
Effective date: June 12, 2026 | Last updated: June 12, 2026
UGLY Start Outreach appreciates your generosity and your commitment to our mission. This policy describes how we handle requests to refund donations made through our website.
1. General rule
Donations to UGLY Start Outreach are gifts. As a general rule, donations are non-refundable once processed. Charitable contributions are considered irrevocable transfers under applicable law.
However, we understand that mistakes happen. We review refund requests on a case-by-case basis and will work in good faith to address legitimate concerns.
2. Eligible circumstances for a refund
We will consider a refund request in the following circumstances:
The donation was made in error (wrong amount, duplicate transaction, or technical error)
An unauthorized person used your payment method to make a donation without your consent
A one-time donation was processed when a monthly recurring gift was not intended, or vice versa
Refund requests must be submitted within 30 days of the original transaction date. Requests submitted after 30 days will not be considered, except in cases of confirmed fraud or unauthorized use.
3. How to request a refund
To request a refund, contact us at info@uglystart.org with the subject line "Donation Refund Request." Please include:
Your full name
The email address used for the donation
The date and amount of the donation
The reason for your request
We will acknowledge your request within 3 business days and provide a decision within 10 business days of receiving all necessary information.
4. Refund method
Approved refunds will be returned to the original payment method used at the time of the donation. Refunds are processed through Stripe and may take 5–10 business days to appear on your statement depending on your bank or card issuer.
We are unable to issue refunds to a different card or bank account than the one originally used.
5. Monthly recurring donations
If you have set up a monthly recurring donation and wish to cancel it, you may do so at any time by contacting us at the email above. Cancellations will stop future charges. We do not provide refunds for past recurring charges unless the criteria in Section 2 are met.
6. Sponsorship payments
Payments for event sponsorship are not donations and are handled separately under a sponsorship agreement. Refunds for sponsorship payments are subject to the terms of the applicable sponsorship agreement. If no agreement exists, contact us to discuss.
7. Non-refundable situations
We will not issue refunds for:
Donations where the funds have already been spent or committed to a specific program or event
Requests made more than 30 days after the transaction date (except confirmed fraud)
Change of mind after 30 days
Disagreement with how we allocate our general operating funds
8. Contact
Questions about this policy? Reach us at:
UGLY Start Outreach
Gastonia, North Carolina