When Alawi may review or issue a refund of a contribution.
This Refund Policy forms part of the Alawi Foundation Terms of Service. It applies to one-time and recurring contributions made directly to Alawi through alawifoundation.co or an Alawi-authorized payment page. It does not govern support that Alawi provides to an applicant, beneficiary, vendor, or other support recipient.
Alawi Foundation is a U.S. nonprofit organization and is the sole recipient and payee of contributions made through the Site. A contribution is a voluntary gift to Alawi for the support purpose displayed at checkout. It is not a purchase, deposit, escrow payment, or payment to a support applicant.
Support applicants do not receive contributions, maintain balances, control payouts, or decide whether a donor receives a refund. Alawi reviews and decides refund requests in its own name, subject to this Policy, applicable law, and payment-provider rules.
Contributions are generally final and irrevocable once processed because Alawi may promptly commit or use its funds for the approved support purpose, related compliance work, or costs expressly permitted under the Terms of Service. Submitting a request does not guarantee a full or partial refund.
A change of mind, dissatisfaction with the timing or form of support, failure to reach a displayed support target, an applicant not receiving unrestricted cash, or a donor's inability to claim a tax deduction does not by itself create a right to a refund. Nothing in this Policy limits a right that cannot lawfully be waived.
Alawi may consider a full or partial refund when reasonably supported by the available records, including:
For ordinary errors, a donor should submit a refund request within 30 calendar days after the contribution date. Alawi may deny a later request, particularly after funds have been committed or used for the approved purpose. The 30-day period does not restrict claims involving an unauthorized or fraudulent payment or any longer period required by applicable law or payment-method rules.
A support page being paused, closed, fully supported, or removed does not automatically require a refund. If a displayed purpose becomes completed, impossible, unlawful, or materially inaccurate, Alawi will review the remaining amount associated with that purpose. Where permitted, Alawi may issue refunds or use the amount for a closely related support purpose that reasonably advances the same support objective. Alawi will not treat an applicant as the owner of the contribution.
Alawi will make any disclosure or obtain any consent required before accepting future contributions for a materially different purpose.
A donor may cancel a recurring contribution at any time using a cancellation method provided with the payment receipt or by contacting Alawi from the email address used at checkout. Cancellation applies to future charges and does not automatically refund a contribution already processed.
When possible, submit a cancellation request at least three business days before the next scheduled charge. A request to refund an already processed recurring contribution is reviewed under the same standards and time periods as a one-time contribution.
Submit a request through our Contact page using the email address associated with the contribution. Include:
Do not send a full card number, bank-account number, password, or security code. Alawi may request limited additional information through an appropriate channel to verify the donor and transaction.
Alawi may confirm the transaction, payment status, donor identity, support-purpose information, whether funds have been committed or used, and any relevant fraud, sanctions, legal, or payment-provider requirements. Alawi may approve a full refund, approve a partial refund, request more information, or deny the request. The applicant does not decide the outcome.
A sanctions restriction may delay or legally prohibit a refund. If a contribution or refund involves blocked property, a blocked person, a Restricted Jurisdiction, or another prohibited interest, Alawi may be required to block, reject, retain, or report the transaction and will issue or release funds only when permitted by applicable law or an OFAC license.
Alawi will communicate its decision to the verified donor contact. Reviews may take longer when a payment is unsettled, disputed, under fraud review, subject to a legal hold, or dependent on information from a bank or payment provider.
An approved refund is submitted through the payment provider to the original payment method. Alawi cannot send a card refund to a different card, bank account, applicant, or other person. A refund will not exceed the amount of the original contribution and will be processed in the transaction currency unless applicable rules require otherwise.
After a refund is submitted, it typically appears within 5 to 10 business days, depending on the payment method, bank, and card issuer. A refund may appear as a reversal of the original charge, may take longer, or may fail if the original payment method cannot accept it. Currency-conversion differences or fees imposed by a donor's bank are outside Alawi's control.
Contacting Alawi before opening a payment dispute may allow us to investigate and avoid a duplicate refund. This request does not waive any non-waivable dispute or chargeback right. If a donor receives both a refund and a separate dispute credit for the same contribution, Alawi may take reasonable steps to correct the duplicate credit.
If a contribution is refunded, any receipt or confirmation for the refunded amount is canceled or adjusted and should not be relied upon as evidence of an unreversed contribution. Donors are responsible for obtaining independent tax advice about any refund, reversal, or adjustment.
Alawi may update this Policy to reflect changes in its programs, payment methods, legal obligations, or provider rules. Changes apply prospectively unless applicable law requires otherwise. This Policy is governed by the Terms of Service, including their New Mexico governing-law provision. Questions or refund requests may be submitted through our Contact page.