The Foundational Contract Governing Your Interaction with Our Global Mission.

Welcome to the comprehensive Terms and Conditions of Service (hereinafter referred to as the “Terms”) governing your relationship with the Welfare Organization for Relief Livelihood and Development (hereinafter referred to as “WORLED,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a registered non-profit organization dedicated to providing relief, improving livelihoods, and promoting sustainable development globally. These Terms represent a legally binding agreement between you, the individual or entity accessing or utilizing our website located at info@worle.site, our digital platforms, donation processing services, publications, or any other online or offline service provided by WORLED (collectively referred to as the “Services”), and WORLED itself. By accessing or using any part of our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be fully bound by these Terms, as they may be modified or supplemented from time to time, and that this agreement governs all aspects of your engagement, from submitting a simple contact form to making a substantial financial contribution intended to support our crucial humanitarian work in vulnerable communities across the world. If you do not agree to all the provisions contained within these Terms, you are explicitly prohibited from accessing or using our Services, and you must discontinue all utilization immediately, as your continued interaction constitutes an implicit and explicit acceptance of the entirety of this binding contractual framework that underlies our operational and ethical commitments, ensuring a standardized, transparent, and legally sound relationship with every member of our global community of supporters and partners.

These Terms are designed to clearly delineate the rights and responsibilities of both WORLED and the user, recognizing the unique nature of our organization as a non-profit operating within the highly regulated sphere of international aid and development, requiring strict compliance, accountability, and ethical conduct. Your acceptance of these Terms extends not only to the legal clauses concerning digital use and liability but also to the core principles governing the processing and allocation of philanthropic funds, the use of our intellectual property, and the required standards of conduct when engaging with our staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries, reflecting the high standards of integrity that we apply to our mission delivery in the field and our administration at our headquarters in Beltsville, Maryland. Should you be entering into this agreement on behalf of an entity, such as a corporation, foundation, or institutional partner, you warrant and represent that you possess the full legal authority to bind that entity to these Terms, and the term “you” shall refer inclusively to both the individual accessing the Services and the organization on whose behalf the access is being granted, underscoring the universal applicability of this foundational document to all parties seeking to collaborate with WORLED in the advancement of our critical humanitarian and development mandate across the globe.

Mission, Status, and Purpose of Use

Acknowledging the Humanitarian Context and Non-Profit Integrity Guiding Our Terms.

The use of WORLED’s Services is intrinsically tied to our organizational mission: to empower communities by providing resources and support for sustainable development, alleviating poverty, promoting education, and fostering economic growth, ensuring a better future for all. You acknowledge and accept that WORLED is a recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (or its equivalent in international jurisdictions where we are registered), and all activities facilitated through our Services, including, but not limited to, the solicitation and acceptance of donations, the recruitment of volunteers, and the publication of programmatic updates, are conducted solely in furtherance of this explicit, charitable purpose, reflecting our legal and ethical status as a humanitarian entity. Your interaction with the Services is therefore understood to be in support of this mission, and you shall not use the Services for any purpose that is commercial, illegal, misleading, malicious, or contrary to the ethical principles of international aid and development that WORLED rigidly upholds in all its operations, both administrative and field-based, recognizing that the integrity of our platform and reputation is paramount to our continued ability to deliver life-changing services to those in need.

By using our Services, you understand and affirm that the content provided, whether textual, photographic, or videographic, is intended primarily to inform, educate, and raise awareness regarding the global challenges of poverty, crisis, and vulnerability, as well as to transparently report on the specific, measurable outcomes of our relief, livelihood, and development interventions worldwide, ensuring our stakeholders are fully informed about the impact of their partnership. While we strive for absolute accuracy in all reporting, you accept that the complexities and dynamic nature of the environments in which we operate mean that specific details, timelines, and logistical arrangements are subject to rapid change, and all information is provided on an “as-is” basis, acknowledging the inherent uncertainties present in high-stakes humanitarian work. Furthermore, you expressly agree that your use of the Services is a demonstration of your commitment to responsible global citizenship and that you will not undertake any action that could, in any way, jeopardize the safety, security, privacy, or ongoing effectiveness of our dedicated staff, courageous volunteers, or vulnerable beneficiary communities, upholding the sanctity of the humanitarian space and recognizing the serious consequences that misuse of our platform could have on our ability to operate successfully in fragile contexts.

Use of the Website and Digital Account Integrity

Requirements for Eligibility, Responsible Conduct, and Maintaining Account Security.

Access to and use of certain aspects of WORLED’s Services, such as submitting a formal volunteer application, creating a recurring donor profile, or participating in an interactive forum or community engagement section of our website, may require you to register for a personal user account, necessitating the submission of accurate, complete, and verifiable registration information, including a current email address, physical address, and the creation of a secure password. You represent and warrant that all information you provide during the registration process is true and current, and you explicitly agree to promptly update your account details in the event of any changes to your contact information or personal circumstances, as maintaining up-to-date records is essential for effective communication, accurate receipting, and compliance with administrative and legal reporting requirements across our international operations. You are solely and entirely responsible for maintaining the strict confidentiality and security of your account credentials, including your password, and you accept full responsibility for all activities, transactions, and statements that occur under your account, whether or not such activity was authorized by you, emphasizing the critical importance of selecting a robust password and implementing measures to prevent unauthorized access to your account details, as we cannot be held liable for losses arising from your failure to secure your personal authentication information, in line with established digital responsibility standards.

You agree to notify WORLED immediately, without delay, upon becoming aware of any actual or suspected unauthorized use of your account or any other breach of security concerning the Services, allowing our technical teams to take immediate corrective action to mitigate potential risk and investigate the unauthorized activity thoroughly. Moreover, your use of the Services is strictly conditioned upon your commitment to refrain from engaging in any Prohibited Uses, which include, but are not limited to, transmitting or distributing any malicious code, viruses, worms, or other harmful software intended to disrupt, damage, or limit the functionality of any computer hardware or telecommunications equipment belonging to WORLED or any other user; attempting to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Services, other user accounts, or the internal server systems or networks connected to WORLED through hacking, password mining, or any other nefarious or illegal means; using the Services to transmit any abusive, defamatory, harassing, libelous, threatening, racially or ethnically objectionable, or otherwise unlawful material; using automated means (such as scraping, bots, or spiders) to access, harvest, or manipulate any data or content from the Services without our express written permission; or impersonating any person or entity, including any WORLED employee or field worker, in an attempt to mislead or defraud other users or stakeholders, as maintaining a secure, honest, and respectful digital environment is fundamental to our operational integrity and accountability to our global community.

Intellectual Property Rights and Content Licensing

Defining Ownership of Humanitarian Reporting and Granting Necessary Use Permissions.

All content, features, and functionality available on or through the WORLED Services, including, but not limited to, the logo, trademarks (such as WELFARE ORGANIZATION FOR RELIEF LIVELIHOOD AND DEVELOPMENT and WORLED), textual documentation, photographic and video reports from the field, graphical user interface, proprietary financial models, internal training materials, program designs, software code, and the overall design and arrangement of the site, are the exclusive intellectual property of WORLED or its licensors and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Services strictly for your personal, non-commercial purposes, which includes viewing published content, reading programmatic reports, sharing donation links with friends and family, and interacting with our organization in a manner consistent with our core charitable mission, and this license is subject to your continuous adherence to these Terms at all times. You shall not, without the express prior written consent of an authorized WORLED executive, reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any of the material on our Services, with the sole exception of small, unmodified excerpts used for the legitimate purpose of news reporting, public advocacy, or academic commentary that directly supports the goals of international development and poverty alleviation.

Any content or information that you submit or transmit to WORLED through the Services, including but not limited to comments, forum posts, volunteer testimonials, suggested improvements, or any other user-generated content (collectively, “User Content”), remains your property, but by submitting such User Content, you automatically grant WORLED a worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully sub-licensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display, and perform the User Content in connection with the operation of the Services and the broader promotion of WORLED’s humanitarian mission, in any media formats and through any media channels now known or hereafter developed, including, for example, featuring your testimonial in our annual report, using a photograph you submit in a social media campaign, or incorporating a suggestion into a program design document. You warrant that you own or control all rights in and to your User Content and that our use of the User Content will not infringe upon the rights of any third party or violate any applicable law or regulation, recognizing that this license is essential for WORLED to effectively communicate its mission and impact to a global audience, leveraging the community’s contributions to maximize our outreach and fundraising effectiveness across all platforms and jurisdictions where we operate.

Donations and Financial Transaction Policy

The Unwavering Principles of Financial Stewardship, Allocation, and Non-Refundability.

WORLED relies entirely on the generous financial contributions of individuals, foundations, and corporate partners to fund its vital operations, and all monetary transactions processed through our Services are subject to this specific and transparent Donations and Financial Transaction Policy, reflecting our commitment to meticulous financial stewardship and accountability. All donations made to WORLED are final and non-refundable, a crucial operational policy necessitated by the immediate and critical nature of our humanitarian work, which requires funds to be allocated swiftly and irrevocably to support pre-planned and emergency field operations, including the purchase of life-saving relief supplies, the funding of local vocational trainers, and the execution of essential infrastructure development projects in remote and vulnerable communities. Because donated funds are typically committed and deployed to the field within a very short timeframe following receipt, processing a refund would not only create an undue and burdensome administrative cost but could also directly compromise our ability to fulfill existing programmatic commitments, potentially impacting the lives and well-being of the beneficiaries who are depending on the timely arrival of resources facilitated by your contribution, therefore solidifying the necessity of this stringent non-refundable policy which ensures continuity of service delivery.

Furthermore, while WORLED strives to honor donor preferences regarding the earmarking of funds—such as directing a donation specifically toward an “Education” program or a “Water Sanitation” project—you acknowledge and agree that all donations are ultimately provided to WORLED with the understanding that they are unrestricted and subject to the organization’s complete discretion in their final allocation, a principle that is legally and ethically essential for responsible non-profit governance. This flexibility is vital because it allows our executive leadership and field directors to quickly pivot resources and reallocate funds to the area of greatest, most urgent need, particularly during unpredicted natural disasters, emergent crises, or logistical disruptions that may render the originally designated project temporarily non-viable, ensuring that the total impact of your generosity is maximized at all times, preventing unnecessary administrative delays and upholding our primary commitment to saving lives and building resilient communities wherever the need is most acute. You are solely responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all payment information provided, and you warrant that you are authorized to use the chosen payment method, accepting that WORLED will securely process your payment details using industry-standard encryption and engaging only with reputable, third-party payment processors who maintain the highest standards of financial security and regulatory compliance to safeguard your sensitive information during the transaction process, confirming our commitment to protecting your financial data as vigilantly as we protect our mission integrity.

Code of Conduct for Engagement

Mandatory Standards of Respect, Ethical Behavior, and Legal Compliance for All Stakeholders.

All individuals engaging with WORLED, including donors, applicants, volunteers, staff, and general users of the Services, are bound by a strict Code of Conduct for Engagement that is foundational to our organizational integrity and reflective of the core values of compassion, integrity, and respect that guide our humanitarian mission globally. You agree to interact with WORLED personnel, beneficiaries, and other community members in a manner that is consistently respectful, professional, constructive, and free of any form of harassment, discrimination, hate speech, bullying, verbal abuse, or derogatory commentary directed toward any person based on their race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, or any other protected characteristic, recognizing that maintaining a safe and inclusive environment is critical to our operational effectiveness and ethical standing. This Code of Conduct applies equally to all communication mediums, whether written comments on our website, electronic correspondence, or in-person interactions during volunteer or partnership meetings, underscoring the universal requirement for dignified engagement across our entire sphere of influence and activity.

You further commit to complying with all applicable local, national, and international laws and regulations in connection with your use of the Services and any interaction with WORLED, particularly concerning anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and compliance with all sanctions and trade restrictions relevant to our international operations. If your engagement involves physical interaction with our field programs, such as through a volunteer deployment, you explicitly agree to adhere to all WORLED safety protocols, ethical guidelines for humanitarian workers, and the specific security instructions issued by the field director or local security personnel, recognizing that operations in vulnerable contexts carry inherent risks and require complete adherence to established protocols designed to protect the safety of all team members and local populations, accepting that any failure to adhere to these high standards may result in the immediate and permanent suspension of your access to the Services or termination of your engagement with the organization without notice or liability to WORLED.

Limitations of Liability and Disclaimers of Warranties

Acknowledgment of Risk and the ‘As Is’ Nature of Our Digital Services.

The Services provided by WORLED are offered on an “as is” and “as available” basis, without any warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement of intellectual property rights, and we specifically disclaim all such warranties to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, acknowledging the inherent limitations and vulnerabilities present in all digital platforms. WORLED makes no guarantee, representation, or warranty that the Services will be free of technical errors, secure against all potential malicious attacks or unauthorized intrusions, constantly available without interruption, or that any defects or errors in the Services will be immediately corrected, and you use the Services entirely at your own risk, accepting the unavoidable risks associated with internet-based communication and data processing, which we diligently work to mitigate but cannot completely eliminate.

Under no circumstances shall WORLED, its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, affiliates, or licensors be liable to you or any third party for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or exemplary damages, including, but not limited to, damages for loss of profits, loss of data, loss of anticipated savings, or loss of goodwill, arising out of or in connection with your access to, use of, or inability to use the Services, or any failure of performance, error, omission, interruption, defect, delay in operation or transmission, computer virus, or line or system failure, even if WORLED has been advised of the possibility of such damages. This limitation of liability applies regardless of the legal theory, whether based on contract, tort (including negligence), strict liability, or any other basis, and reflects the nature of our organization as a non-profit dedicated to resource maximization for mission delivery, not commercial risk management. Furthermore, WORLED specifically disclaims all liability for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites that may be linked to or from our Services, and your reliance on any information obtained through the Services is solely at your own risk, underscoring your independent responsibility to vet external information and sources.

Indemnification and Defense

Your Obligation to Protect WORLED Against Claims Arising from Your Misconduct.

You expressly agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless WORLED, its affiliates, subsidiaries, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, licensors, and service providers from and against any and all claims, liabilities, demands, judgments, losses, costs, expenses, and damages, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms, your misuse of the Services, your breach of any applicable law or regulation, or your negligence or willful misconduct in connection with your engagement with the organization, recognizing the seriousness of any action that could undermine our operational stability. This includes, without limitation, any claims asserted by a third party that arise from or are related to your User Content, your violation of any third-party right (including, without limitation, any intellectual property or privacy right), or your violation of any laws or regulations applicable to your physical or digital presence in connection with WORLED, such as breaches of local anti-corruption statutes or international sanctions compliance requirements, emphasizing the broad scope of this protective agreement.

Your obligation to indemnify and defend WORLED will survive the termination of your use of the Services and the expiration or termination of these Terms, ensuring that our organization remains protected against claims arising from prior misconduct or breaches. WORLED reserves the right, at its own expense and sole discretion, to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter otherwise subject to indemnification by you, and in such case, you agree to fully cooperate with WORLED in asserting any available defenses and providing all requested information, documentation, and assistance necessary for the effective defense against the claim, acknowledging that this cooperation is essential for protecting the organization’s reputation and resources, which are ultimately intended for humanitarian and developmental work in vulnerable communities worldwide.

Termination and Suspension of Access

WORLED’s Right to Immediately Withdraw Service for Breach or Security Concerns.

WORLED reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion and without prior notice or liability to you, to suspend, limit, or terminate your access to all or any part of the Services for any reason, including, but not limited to, your breach of any of the provisions contained within these Terms, your engagement in any activity that poses a security risk or operational threat to the Services or to other users, or any conduct that WORLED deems to be inconsistent with its mission, ethical standards, or legal obligations, particularly in the context of international humanitarian operations where maintaining integrity and security is paramount. Examples of grounds for immediate termination include confirmed unauthorized use of your account, transmission of malicious software, making false or defamatory statements about WORLED or its staff, or engaging in any activity that violates the established Code of Conduct for Engagement, confirming our commitment to a zero-tolerance policy for behaviors that compromise our ethical mandate.

Upon the immediate termination of your access to the Services, your right to use the Services will cease instantly, and you must immediately cease all use of the platform and delete any content or materials downloaded or obtained from WORLED in connection with your access, subject to the perpetual license granted to WORLED for any User Content you previously submitted. Furthermore, WORLED may, at its sole discretion, delete or remove any User Content or information associated with your account from its servers and databases, without incurring any liability to you or any third party for such deletion, although certain data may be retained for mandatory compliance, legal, or financial auditing purposes in line with our internal data retention policies. Termination of your access does not relieve you of any obligations accrued prior to termination, including your duty to indemnify WORLED for any prior breaches, and all provisions of these Terms that, by their nature, should survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability, shall remain in full force and effect following any such termination, ensuring the continued legal protection of the organization.

Governing Law and Mandatory Dispute Resolution

Establishing Jurisdiction and the Required Process for Resolving Formal Disagreements.

These Terms and your use of the Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland, United States, without regard to its conflict of law principles, thereby establishing a consistent and predictable legal framework for all contractual and transactional relationships entered into with the organization, irrespective of the physical location of the user or the origin of the dispute, recognizing that our administrative headquarters are located in Beltsville, Maryland. In the event of any claim, dispute, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, your use of the Services, or any communication with WORLED, you agree that such dispute shall be submitted to mandatory binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, which is agreed to be the exclusive means for resolving such disputes outside of small claims court actions, ensuring an efficient, confidential, and definitive resolution process.

The arbitration shall take place in Prince George’s County, Maryland, or at such other location as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, and the arbitration shall be conducted by a single, neutral arbitrator jointly selected by the parties, or if the parties cannot agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days, the arbitrator shall be appointed by the AAA in accordance with its established rules, ensuring impartiality and expertise in the subject matter. You and WORLED explicitly agree that all arbitration proceedings shall be conducted on an individual basis only and that there shall be no joinder or consolidation of claims with any other person or entity, and you expressly waive any right to participate in any form of class action or class-wide arbitration, underscoring the necessity of resolving disputes through individual proceedings. Each party shall bear its own costs and attorneys’ fees associated with the arbitration, although the prevailing party may be entitled to recover certain costs as determined by the arbitrator, and the decision of the arbitrator shall be final, binding, and non-appealable, providing a conclusive mechanism for resolving legal disagreements while preserving WORLED’s resources for its core humanitarian mission.

Updates and Modifications to the Terms

The Continuous Review and Right to Amend This Governing Agreement.

WORLED reserves the exclusive right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to revise, update, replace, or modify these Terms at any time, for any reason, including, but not limited to, reflecting changes in our operational structure, adapting to new legal or regulatory requirements in the international jurisdictions where we operate, implementing new features or services on our website, or responding to evolving ethical and programmatic standards within the humanitarian sector, ensuring the Terms remain relevant and compliant. When we make material changes to these Terms, we will take reasonable steps to notify you of such changes, which may include updating the “Last Revised” date prominently displayed at the beginning of this document, posting a notice on the homepage of our website, or sending an electronic notification to the email address associated with your account, emphasizing our commitment to transparency regarding the binding agreement governing your relationship with us.

You acknowledge and agree that it is your responsibility to periodically review these Terms to stay informed of any updates or amendments, as these changes are effective immediately upon posting to the Services, or at a later date specified in the notice of modification, and your continued use of the Services following the posting of any revised Terms constitutes your explicit and unconditional acceptance of and agreement to be bound by those changes, thereby reaffirming the continuous validity of this contractual relationship. Should you disagree with any modification to these Terms, your sole and exclusive remedy is to immediately cease all use of the Services and, if applicable, formally notify WORLED of your withdrawal from further engagement, as continued interaction with any WORLED platform or service after a change has been implemented will irrevocably signify your full acceptance of the newly revised and legally binding conditions.

Contact and Formal Notice Provision

Designated Channels for Official Legal and Administrative Communications.

For the purposes of providing any formal legal notice, service of process, or official written communication required under these Terms, or for any general inquiry regarding the Terms themselves, all correspondence must be sent in writing and addressed to the designated legal and administrative headquarters of the organization. Such official notices must be transmitted by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by a recognized international courier service that provides verifiable proof of delivery, ensuring the security and traceability of all critical legal communication directed to the organization.

The official address for all formal written and legal notices is:

Welfare Organization for Relief Livelihood and Development (WORLED) Attention: Legal and Compliance Department 4900 DAISEY CREEK TERRACE, BELTSVILLE, MD 20705 United States of America

All general, non-legal inquiries regarding these Terms can also be directed to our administrative email at info@worle.site with the subject line clearly marked “TERMS AND CONDITIONS INQUIRY,” although it is explicitly noted that electronic correspondence, including email, shall not be deemed valid or effective for the purpose of serving formal legal notice upon WORLED, which requires the use of the aforementioned certified mail or courier service to the physical Beltsville address. The receipt of all official notices will be deemed effective only upon verification of delivery by the courier service or postal authority, reinforcing the strict protocol required for managing all legally binding communications with the organization.