Refund and Cancellation Policy

Effective Date: December 5, 2025

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

This Refund and Cancellation Policy explains how refunds work on the One Million Small Startups platform. Our all-or-nothing funding model means you are only charged if campaigns and events reach their funding goals.

1. All-or-Nothing Funding Model

Our platform uses an all-or-nothing funding model, which provides built-in protection for supporters:

• If Goal Not Met: You are never charged. No refund is needed.
• If Goal Met: You are charged only after the campaign/event reaches its funding goal
• Your payment method is authorized but not charged until the funding goal is met
• You have the right to cancel your pledge before the campaign/event is funded

2. Canceling Before Funding Deadline

2.1 How to Cancel

You can cancel your donation or ticket reservation anytime before the funding deadline:

1. Log in to your account
2. Go to "My Donations" or "My Tickets"
3. Find the campaign or event
4. Click "Cancel Pledge" or "Cancel Reservation"

2.2 No Charges Apply

• If you cancel before the funding deadline, you will not be charged
• Your payment authorization will be released within 5-7 business days
• You will receive email confirmation of the cancellation

3. Refunds After Campaign/Event Is Funded

3.1 Donation Refunds

Once a campaign reaches its funding goal and charges are processed, refund eligibility depends on the circumstances:

Eligible for Refund:

• Campaign Cancelled: If the organizer cancels the campaign after it's funded
• Fraudulent Campaign: If we determine the campaign was fraudulent
• Event Cancelled: If the event is cancelled by the organizer
• Major Changes: Significant changes to campaign terms (date, location, purpose)
• Non-Delivery: Promised perks or benefits are not delivered

Not Eligible for Refund:

• Change of mind after funding deadline
• Minor changes to campaign details
• Dissatisfaction with the event experience
• Weather-related issues (unless event is cancelled)
• Personal emergencies preventing attendance

3.2 Ticket Refunds

Ticket refunds after an event is funded are subject to the organizer's refund policy, which you can view on the event page before purchasing.

Typical Organizer Policies:

• Full Refund: If event is cancelled by organizer
• Partial Refund: If requested within specified timeframe (e.g., 30 days before event)
• No Refund: Some events may have no-refund policies (will be clearly stated)
• Transfer Policy: Some organizers allow ticket transfers to other attendees

4. Refund Request Process

4.1 How to Request a Refund

1. Contact the event organizer first (contact info provided on campaign/event page)
2. If the organizer does not respond within 5 business days or denies your reasonable request, contact our support team
3. Email refunds@oms2.org with:
   • Your order number or transaction ID
   • Campaign or event name
   • Reason for refund request
   • Supporting documentation (if applicable)
   • Evidence of communication with organizer

4.2 Refund Timeline

• Review: We review refund requests within 5-7 business days
• Processing: Approved refunds are processed within 5-10 business days
• Receipt: Funds appear in your account within 5-10 business days after processing
• Total Time: Expect 15-27 business days for the complete refund process

4.3 Refund Method

• Refunds are issued to the original payment method used for the transaction
• We cannot issue refunds to a different payment method
• If the original payment method is no longer valid, contact us for alternative arrangements

5. Platform Fees

5.1 Non-Refundable Fees

Our 5% platform fee is non-refundable in most cases, as it covers:

• Payment processing during the authorization period
• Platform infrastructure and maintenance
• Fraud prevention and security measures
• Customer support services

5.2 When Platform Fees Are Refunded

We will refund platform fees only in these specific cases:

• The campaign was fraudulent and we initiated the refund
• There was a technical error that resulted in duplicate charges
• We cancelled the campaign due to Terms of Service violations

5.3 Payment Processing Fees

• Stripe payment processing fees (~2.9% + $0.30) are non-refundable
• These fees are charged by Stripe, not by us
• When issuing refunds, Stripe fees are deducted from the refund amount

6. Event Cancellations by Organizers

6.1 Full Event Cancellation

If an organizer cancels an event after it's been funded:

• All ticket holders receive automatic full refunds
• Refunds include the ticket price minus payment processing fees
• Platform fees are typically not refunded (see section 5.2 for exceptions)
• Refunds are processed within 10 business days
• You will receive email notification of the cancellation and refund

6.2 Partial Cancellation or Changes

If an organizer makes significant changes to an event:

• Date Change: Full refund available upon request
• Location Change: Full refund available if location changes to a different city
• Major Format Change: Refund available if event format substantially changes (e.g., in-person to virtual)
• Performer/Speaker Change: Refunds at organizer's discretion

7. Disputes and Chargebacks

7.1 Contact Us First

Before disputing a charge with your bank or credit card company, please contact us. We are committed to resolving issues fairly and quickly.

• Email: disputes@oms2.org
• We respond to most inquiries within 24-48 hours
• Disputes are often resolved faster through direct communication

7.2 Chargeback Consequences

If you file a chargeback with your bank without contacting us first:

• Your account may be temporarily suspended pending investigation
• You may be responsible for chargeback fees ($15-$25)
• Repeat chargebacks may result in permanent account termination
• We may refer fraudulent chargebacks to collections or legal action

7.3 Legitimate Chargebacks

File a chargeback if:

• You see charges you didn't authorize (potential fraud)
• You were charged incorrectly or multiple times
• We are unresponsive to your refund request
• You don't receive a refund after 30 days

8. Partial Refunds

In some cases, we may offer partial refunds:

• Late Cancellation: Partial refund if you cancel close to the event date
• Partial Attendance: For multi-day events, refund for unused days
• Service Issues: Compensation for significant service problems

Partial refunds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis and are at our discretion.

9. Exceptions and Special Circumstances

9.1 Force Majeure

In cases of force majeure (natural disasters, pandemics, war, government actions, etc.):

• Organizers may reschedule events without offering refunds
• Refunds are available if the event is permanently cancelled
• We are not liable for losses due to force majeure events

9.2 Medical or Personal Emergencies

• We understand emergencies happen, but tickets are generally non-refundable for personal reasons
• Some organizers may allow ticket transfers to another person
• Consider purchasing event insurance for expensive tickets

10. Tax-Deductible Donations

Refunds affect tax deductions:

• If you receive a refund, the donation is no longer tax-deductible
• You must amend your tax return if you already claimed the deduction
• We will send updated donation receipts reflecting refunds
• Consult a tax professional for specific advice

11. International Supporters

For international transactions:

• Refunds are issued in the original currency
• Currency conversion fees may apply and are not refundable
• International bank transfer fees may be deducted from refunds
• Processing times may be longer for international refunds

12. Contact Information

For refund-related inquiries:

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Refund Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will notify you of material changes by email or through a prominent notice on our platform. Your continued use after changes indicates acceptance.