Terms of Service

Effective Date: February 14, 2026 | Last Updated: February 14, 2026

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of this website ("Site") and the donation services available through it. This Site is operated by Retrievers and Friends of So Calif, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization ("Organization"), and is powered by Bloom (bloomgiving.org), a fundraising platform operated by Bloom One LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Bloom").

By accessing this Site or making a donation, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use this Site or make any donations.

1. About This Site

This Site is hosted and managed by Retrievers and Friends of So Calif using the Bloom platform. Bloom provides the technology infrastructure, including website hosting, donation processing, and donor management tools. Retrievers and Friends of So Calif is solely responsible for the content published on this Site and for the use of donated funds.

2. Donation Terms

Payment Processing

All donations are processed by Bloom One LLC on behalf of Retrievers and Friends of So Calif using Braintree (a PayPal service) as the payment processor. Bloom collects the funds and disburses Retrievers and Friends of So Calif's share according to its payout schedule.

Processing Fees

Donation processing incurs a fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. You may be given the option to cover this fee so Retrievers and Friends of So Calif receives 100% of your intended donation. If you choose to cover the fee, it is added to your total charge (e.g., a $100 donation becomes approximately $103.20). If you do not cover the fee, it is deducted from Retrievers and Friends of So Calif's share (e.g., on a $100 donation, Retrievers and Friends of So Calif receives approximately $96.80).

Platform Tips

You may be given the option to add a voluntary tip to Bloom to support the platform. Platform tips are separate from your donation to Retrievers and Friends of So Calif, retained by Bloom One LLC, and are not tax-deductible as a charitable contribution.

Finality of Donations

All donations are final. Refunds are generally not available except as required by law, at Retrievers and Friends of So Calif's discretion, or in cases of verified fraud. If you believe a donation was made in error, contact support@bloomgiving.org within 60 days.

Tax Deductibility

Retrievers and Friends of So Calif is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Your donation may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. A tax receipt will be sent to the email address you provide. If you choose to cover processing fees so that Retrievers and Friends of So Calif receives your full intended donation amount, the total amount charged may be treated as part of your charitable contribution, subject to applicable tax laws. Optional platform tips paid to Bloom One LLC are not charitable contributions and are not tax-deductible. Please consult your tax advisor.

3. Recurring Donations

If you make a recurring donation, you authorize Bloom (via Braintree) to charge your payment method on a recurring basis for the amount you specify. You may cancel at any time by contacting Retrievers and Friends of So Calif or emailing support@bloomgiving.org. Cancellation takes effect before the next billing date. Donations already processed are not refundable.

4. Payment Methods

This Site accepts: Credit/Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover), PayPal, Venmo, ACH Bank Transfer, Apple Pay, and Google Pay (availability may vary). All payment methods are processed securely through Braintree. Your sensitive payment information is never stored on our servers.

5. User Conduct

You agree not to: make fraudulent donations or use stolen payment methods; attempt to circumvent security measures; use automated tools to submit donations; interfere with the Site's operation; impersonate another person; or use the Site for any unlawful purpose. Bloom reserves the right to refuse or reverse any transaction it believes is fraudulent or unauthorized.

6. Intellectual Property

The content on this Site (text, images, stories, logos) is owned by or licensed to Retrievers and Friends of So Calif. The Bloom platform (software, design, technology) is the property of Bloom One LLC. You may not reproduce or create derivative works from this content without permission.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THIS SITE AND THE DONATION SERVICES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. Neither Bloom nor Retrievers and Friends of So Calif warrants that the Site will be uninterrupted, error-free, or secure.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, BLOOM ONE LLC SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES. BLOOM'S TOTAL LIABILITY SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL PROCESSING FEES AND PLATFORM TIPS YOU HAVE PAID IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM. Retrievers and Friends of So Calif IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE USE OF DONATED FUNDS.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Bloom One LLC, Retrievers and Friends of So Calif, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims arising from your use of this Site, your violation of these Terms, or any fraudulent transaction you initiate.

10. Governing Law & Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware. If you have a dispute, please contact support@bloomgiving.org first. Any unresolved disputes shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in Delaware. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, DISPUTES WILL BE RESOLVED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT AS PART OF A CLASS ACTION.

11. Changes to These Terms

Bloom may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be posted on this Site with an updated "Last Updated" date and take effect 30 days after posting. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at support@bloomgiving.org.

This website is powered by Bloom, a fundraising platform for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, operated by Bloom One LLC.