Terms of Service

1. Agreement to terms

By accessing or using the website indiancaucus.org (the "Site") or our community application on the web or as a mobile app (the "App," together with the Site, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms") and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use the Services.

These Terms apply to all visitors, subscribers, donors, event participants, volunteers, App members, and any other person who accesses or uses the Services or interacts with Indian Caucus of Secaucus ("we," "us," or "our"), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Secaucus, New Jersey.

2. Use of the website

You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. You agree not to:

• Use the Site in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations, including New Jersey law.
• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any part of the Site, our servers, or any database connected to the Site.
• Submit false, misleading, or fraudulent information through any form on the Site.
• Use automated tools, bots, or scrapers to access or collect data from the Site without our prior written consent.
• Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or any other harmful code.
• Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity.
• Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits any other person's use or enjoyment of the Site.

3. Donations

Indian Caucus of Secaucus is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations may be tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

• Non-refundable: All donations are final and non-refundable, consistent with IRS rules governing charitable contributions. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us within 7 days and we will review the request at our sole discretion.
• Tax receipts: You will receive an email receipt upon completing your donation that serves as your official tax record. Donations of $250 or more will receive a written acknowledgment as required by IRS Publication 1771.
• No goods or services: Unless otherwise stated, no goods or services are provided in exchange for donations, making the full amount potentially deductible.
• Use of funds: All donations are used solely to support the charitable purposes of Indian Caucus of Secaucus. We cannot guarantee that a donation will be applied to any specific program or expense.
• Payment processing: Donations are processed by Stripe, Inc. By donating, you also agree to Stripe's terms of service.

4. Events, vendor spots, and sponsorships

All fees paid for event vendor spots, sponsorship packages, and program advertising are governed by our Refund Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

• All event fees are non-refundable and non-transferable except as expressly permitted in the Refund Policy.
• All events are held rain or shine. We are not liable for weather conditions.
• We reserve the right to refuse service or remove any individual from an event for conduct that is unlawful, disruptive, or in violation of our community standards.
• Event participants are responsible for their own conduct and safety at all events. Indian Caucus of Secaucus is not liable for personal injury or property damage at events except to the extent required by applicable New Jersey law.

5. Communications

By subscribing to our newsletter or providing your contact information, you consent to receive communications from us as described in our Privacy Policy.

• Email: You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email or at indiancaucus.org/unsubscribe. Transactional emails (donation receipts, event confirmations) are not subject to unsubscribe.

SMS / text-messaging program

By providing your mobile number, you expressly consent to receive recurring informational text messages from Indian Caucus of Secaucus. Messages may include community event announcements, Diwali Mela updates, volunteer opportunities, sponsorship follow-ups, performer registration reminders, meeting reminders, and event-day logistics. You provide your number through our website forms, event registration forms, volunteer signup forms, sponsorship forms, performer registration forms, community interest forms, or in-person signup sheets.

• Message frequency varies — typically 1–4 messages per month, with additional reminders during major event periods.
• Message and data rates may apply.
• Reply STOP (or UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, END, or QUIT) to unsubscribe; reply START (or YES or JOIN) to opt back in.
• Reply HELP (or INFO) for assistance.
• We do not sell or share mobile numbers or SMS consent information with third parties for marketing purposes.

See our Privacy Policy for the full TCPA disclosure.

6. The community app and member accounts

Indian Caucus of Secaucus offers a community application (the "App") — available on the web and as a native mobile app — that lets members create a profile, post to community feeds, comment, share photos, join meetups and channels, and send messages to other members. Your use of the App is governed by these Terms in addition to any app-store terms that apply (for example, Apple's Licensed Application End User License Agreement).

• Eligibility (age 13+). You must be at least 13 years of age to create an account or use the App. By completing setup you confirm that you are 13 or older. The App is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it.
• Accurate information. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during account setup (including your real first and last name and a valid phone number) and to keep it up to date. You are responsible for all activity that occurs under your account and for keeping your sign-in secure.
• One person, one account. Accounts are personal to you. You may not share, sell, or transfer your account, or impersonate any other person or organization.

7. User-generated content and community standards

The App lets you submit content — including posts, comments, photos, messages, profile details, event and meetup listings, and other materials ("User Content"). You are solely responsible for your User Content and the consequences of posting it.

Zero tolerance for objectionable content and abusive behavior. There is no tolerance for objectionable, illegal, or abusive content or behavior on the App. By using the App you agree that you will not post, share, or transmit content that:

• is unlawful, defamatory, libelous, fraudulent, or invasive of another's privacy;
• is hateful, harassing, threatening, bullying, or that incites violence against, or discriminates against, any person or group based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, or any other protected characteristic;
• is sexually explicit, pornographic, or sexualizes minors in any way;
• is obscene, graphically violent, or otherwise objectionable;
• promotes illegal activity, self-harm, or the sale of regulated or illegal goods;
• infringes the intellectual property, publicity, or other rights of any person;
• contains spam, scams, malware, or unsolicited commercial solicitation; or
• impersonates another person or misrepresents your affiliation with a person or entity.

License to your content. You retain ownership of your User Content. By submitting User Content, you grant Indian Caucus of Secaucus a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to host, store, display, reproduce, and distribute that content solely for the purpose of operating, promoting, and improving the App and our community programs. You represent that you own or have the rights to the content you submit.

8. Moderation, reporting, blocking, and enforcement

To keep the community safe, we maintain active content moderation as described in our Community Guidelines. By using the App you acknowledge and agree that:

• Automated and human review. Public posts, comments, and other non-private text are screened by automated content moderation. Content flagged as objectionable may be blocked or removed automatically, and our team reviews reports.
• Reporting. You can report any post, comment, photo, message, or member you believe violates these Terms or the Community Guidelines using the in-app report tools. We act on reports of objectionable content and remove offending content and/or eject the offending user, ordinarily within 24 hours.
• Blocking. You can block another member at any time to stop seeing their content and prevent them from contacting you.
• Strikes and suspension. Members who post content that violates our standards accumulate strikes. After three (3) violations, the account is automatically suspended. We may also suspend or terminate any account immediately, with or without notice, for serious or repeated violations.
• Private messages. Direct messages between members are end-to-end encrypted and are not readable by us; we therefore cannot proactively moderate their contents. Please use the report and block tools if you receive abusive messages, and contact support@indiancaucus.org in an emergency.
• Appeals. If you believe an enforcement action was a mistake, you may appeal by emailing support@indiancaucus.org.

We reserve the right, but assume no obligation, to monitor, review, edit, remove, or disable any User Content at our sole discretion, and to remove or restrict any account, at any time, for any reason, without liability to you.

9. Member listings, transactions, and in-person meetings

The App includes features that let members interact, post listings, and arrange to meet or transact with one another — including rentals, jobs, meetups, marketplace posts, photos, and direct messages. Indian Caucus of Secaucus is only a neutral venue that hosts this content. We are not a party to, and are not responsible for, any listing, communication, agreement, transaction, rental, employment relationship, sale, payment, or in-person meeting between members.

• No screening or endorsement. We do not verify, endorse, guarantee, or vouch for any member, listing, rental, job, employer, landlord, item, price, or statement posted on the App, and we make no representation about the truth, quality, legality, or safety of any of it.
• You transact at your own risk. You are solely responsible for evaluating, and bear all risk arising from, any listing, offer, person, or interaction. Do your own due diligence, never send money or deposits before verifying the other party, and never share sensitive financial or personal information. We strongly advise meeting in public places and exercising caution.
• No agency or employment. Nothing on the App creates an employment, agency, partnership, or landlord–tenant relationship between you and Indian Caucus of Secaucus. Job and rental postings are between the members involved; we are not the employer, landlord, broker, or agent.
• Identity verification is not a guarantee. Some features (e.g., posting rentals or jobs) require identity verification through a third-party provider (Stripe Identity). Verification confirms a government ID and selfie were checked by that provider; it is not a background check and does not guarantee a person's honesty, intentions, or suitability. A "verified" badge is not our endorsement.
• In-person meetings & meetups. Meetups and any in-person gatherings arranged through the App are organized by members, not by us. You attend voluntarily and assume all risks of personal injury, illness, loss, or property damage. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release Indian Caucus of Secaucus from any and all claims arising out of member-arranged meetings, listings, or transactions.
• Disputes between members are solely between those members. We have no obligation to mediate or resolve them, though you should report unsafe or fraudulent behavior using the in-app tools.

10. Intellectual property

All content on the Site — including text, images, logos, graphics, audio, video, and software — is the property of Indian Caucus of Secaucus or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, transmit, display, or create derivative works from any content on the Site without our prior written consent, except for personal, non-commercial use or as expressly permitted by law.

The Indian Caucus of Secaucus name and logo are trademarks of the organization. Use of these marks without our written permission is prohibited.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Site is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Our Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and protect your personal information, and your rights regarding that information.

12. Disclaimer of warranties

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT, SERVICES, AND INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH THE SITE ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free of viruses or other harmful components. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of any content on the Services, including User Content and member listings, posts, messages, and profiles, which are created by users and not by us. We make no warranty regarding any member, transaction, listing, rental, job, or in-person interaction arranged through the App.

13. Limitation of liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, INDIAN CAUCUS OF SECAUCUS, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND VOLUNTEERS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES — INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL — ARISING FROM YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SITE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATED TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE SITE SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU DONATED OR PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties or liabilities, so the above limitations may not apply to you.

14. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Indian Caucus of Secaucus and its officers, directors, employees, and volunteers from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to your violation of these Terms or your use of the Site.

15. Third-party links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites. These links are provided for convenience only. We do not endorse, control, or take responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites. We encourage you to review the terms and privacy policies of any site you visit.

16. Governing law and dispute resolution

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising from or relating to these Terms or your use of the Site shall be resolved exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Hudson County, New Jersey, and you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts.

Before initiating any formal legal proceeding, you agree to first contact us in writing and give us 30 days to attempt to resolve the dispute informally.

Binding arbitration & class-action waiver

Please read this carefully — it affects your legal rights. Except for small-claims matters and requests for injunctive relief, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services that cannot be resolved informally shall be settled by final and binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its applicable rules, on an individual basis, in or near Hudson County, New Jersey. You and Indian Caucus of Secaucus each waive the right to a trial by jury and the right to participate in a class, collective, or representative action. Disputes will be brought only in an individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

Opt-out: You may opt out of this arbitration and class-waiver provision by emailing support@indiancaucus.org within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, stating your name and that you opt out of arbitration. To the extent any portion of this provision is found unenforceable, the remainder will continue to apply, and any non-arbitrable dispute will proceed in the courts identified above. Where mandatory local law gives you non-waivable rights (for example, certain consumer protections), nothing here limits those rights.

17. Accessibility

Indian Caucus of Secaucus is committed to ensuring our website is accessible to all individuals, including those with disabilities. We strive to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. If you encounter an accessibility barrier or need assistance, please contact us.

18. Changes to these terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be posted to this page with a revised date. Your continued use of the Site after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. For material changes, we will make reasonable efforts to notify you by email or a notice on the Site.

19. Entire agreement and severability

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Refund Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Indian Caucus of Secaucus regarding your use of the Site. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

20. Contact us

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact: