Refund and Cancellation Policy

General refund review

A request should include the payer’s name, email address, transaction date, amount, receipt or order number, payment method, and reason for the request.

Submitting a request does not automatically require a refund. The Foundation may review whether funds have been transferred, restricted, committed, spent, paid to another provider, used to reserve a seat or facility, or connected to a completed benefit.

Approved refunds generally are returned to the original payment method. Processing time may depend on the payment provider, bank, card issuer, employer-giving platform, or other intermediary.

Charitable donations

Charitable donations normally are final. The Foundation may consider a refund when:

• A duplicate payment was made accidentally.
• The amount was entered incorrectly.
• The payment was unauthorized.
• A technical error caused an unintended transaction.
• The Foundation cannot accept an expressly proposed restriction and the donor does not approve unrestricted use.
• Another exceptional circumstance supports returning the contribution.

A donor’s later change of mind does not automatically require a refund, particularly after the funds have been committed or used for an accepted charitable purpose.

If the Foundation issued a charitable acknowledgment for a refunded donation, the donor should retain documentation of the refund and consult a qualified tax adviser about any reporting consequences.

Restricted gifts and sponsorships

A proposed restriction should be discussed before payment. A checkout note, email request, or donor preference does not automatically become a binding restriction unless the Foundation accepts it.

If the Foundation cannot accept a proposed restriction, it may ask whether the donor will permit unrestricted use, propose a related charitable purpose, or approve a refund.

Sponsorship payments may support a defined class, scholarship category, event, resource, facility, or outreach activity. Refund eligibility may depend on whether recognition, materials, reservations, contracts, printing, advertising, or other sponsor benefits already have been provided or committed.

Courses, classes, and registrations

Course and event terms may vary according to the instructor, facility, provider, equipment, materials, certification requirements, and partner responsibilities.

Unless different terms are disclosed during registration:

• A participant may request cancellation before the published deadline.
• Late cancellation or nonattendance may be nonrefundable when the Foundation has incurred costs or reserved limited capacity.
• A registration may be transferred to another eligible participant only with approval.
• Completion, certification, licensing, employment, or acceptance by a third party is not guaranteed.
• A participant removed for unsafe, disruptive, fraudulent, or prohibited conduct may not be entitled to a refund.

If the Foundation cancels an activity and does not offer an acceptable replacement, approved participant payments for that activity generally will be refunded.

Training scholarships

A scholarship inquiry is not an award. No reimbursement should be expected for a course, fee, material, or expense incurred before written approval.

When scholarship assistance is paid directly to a provider, any refund may be returned to the Foundation rather than the participant. When a participant received an approved reimbursement, additional documentation may be required if the course is canceled or the provider issues a credit.

Unused scholarship funds remain under Foundation control and may be reassigned to another eligible charitable purpose consistent with any accepted restriction.

Merchandise and physical items

Refunds for merchandise or physical items may depend on condition, damage, customization, shipping, hygiene, safety, and whether the item can responsibly be returned or reused.

Shipping charges and payment-processing costs may be nonrefundable unless the item was defective, damaged before delivery, or sent incorrectly.

Customized, personalized, digital, downloadable, or consumable items may be nonrefundable after production or delivery has begun.

Digital resources and downloadable materials

Digital purchases generally are nonrefundable after access, download, or delivery unless the file is defective, materially different from its description, or inaccessible because of a verified technical problem the Foundation cannot correct.

Free educational resources do not create a payment or refund right.

Duplicate, unauthorized, or disputed payments

Contact the Foundation promptly before initiating a payment dispute when possible. Early notice may allow a duplicate, incorrect, or unauthorized transaction to be investigated and resolved.

The Foundation may request reasonable information needed to identify the transaction and prevent fraud. Do not send complete payment-card data, banking credentials, or passwords by email.

Legacy or discontinued activities

A prior customer or participant may retain rights and responsibilities associated with a valid transaction completed before a program, product, page, or public offering was changed or discontinued.

Removal of a public sales page does not by itself cancel a valid paid term, erase a completed order, alter an accepted agreement, or require deletion of records needed to administer the transaction.

Questions concerning a historical order should identify the original receipt, order number, date, payer, and service or product involved.

Processing fees and outside-provider costs

Some payment processors, training providers, facilities, vendors, or platforms charge fees that are not returned to the Foundation. The Foundation may consider those costs when reviewing a refund unless applicable terms or circumstances require otherwise.

The amount returned may differ from the amount initially paid when a partial benefit was provided, an accepted nonrefundable cost was incurred, or a transaction involved multiple components.

How to request a refund or cancellation review

Email steven@redtapefoundation.org or call (805) 310-4183.

Include:

• Your name and contact information.
• The transaction date and amount.
• The order, receipt, registration, or reference number.
• The activity, donation, item, or payment involved.
• The reason for the request.
• Any relevant cancellation deadline or supporting information.

Do not send complete card numbers, banking credentials, passwords, or unrelated confidential information.