THE TIES FOUNDATION — WEBSITE TERMS OF USE
Last Updated: May 20, 2026
1. INTRODUCTION AND ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
The Ties Foundation ("we," "us," or "our") is a nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of Colorado, organized exclusively for charitable purposes under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern your access to and use of the website located at www.thetiesfoundation.org and any related subdomains, content, features, programs, and services we make available through the website (collectively, the "Services").
By accessing or using the Services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated herein by reference. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use the Services.
These Terms constitute a binding agreement between you and The Ties Foundation. Please read them carefully.
2. ELIGIBILITY
The Services are intended for users who are at least eighteen (18) years of age, or who are at least thirteen (13) years of age and accessing the Services with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian. By using the Services, you represent and warrant that you meet these eligibility requirements. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of thirteen (13). For additional information regarding children's privacy, please see our Privacy Policy.
3. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES
The Services are provided for informational, educational, charitable, and community-building purposes in support of intercountry adoptees, their families, and their communities. Through the Services, we may offer, now or in the future:
General information about our mission, programs, and impact;
Educational resources and curated content;
Information about and access to support groups and community programming;
A resource hub aggregating third-party tools, organizations, and references;
Information about and application to grant programs supporting adoptees and their communities;
The ability to subscribe to communications and updates;
The ability to make charitable contributions;
The ability to register for events; and
Such other features as we may add from time to time.
The Services, including specific features, programs, and content, may be modified, suspended, or discontinued at any time without notice and at our sole discretion.
4. ACCEPTABLE USE
You agree to use the Services only for lawful purposes and in a manner consistent with these Terms. You agree not to:
Use the Services in any way that violates any applicable federal, state, local, or international law or regulation;
Use the Services to transmit or procure the sending of any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising or promotional material, including "junk mail," "chain letters," or "spam";
Impersonate or attempt to impersonate The Ties Foundation, our staff, board members, volunteers, grant applicants, donors, or any other person or entity;
Engage in any conduct that restricts or inhibits another person's use or enjoyment of the Services, or which we determine may harm The Ties Foundation, our constituents, or expose them to liability;
Use the Services in any manner that could disable, overburden, damage, or impair the site, or interfere with another party's use of the Services;
Use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated means to access the Services for any purpose without our express written permission;
Introduce any viruses, trojan horses, worms, logic bombs, or other material that is malicious or technologically harmful;
Attempt to gain unauthorized access to, interfere with, damage, or disrupt any parts of the Services, the server on which the Services are stored, or any server, computer, or database connected to the Services;
Attack the Services via a denial-of-service attack or a distributed denial-of-service attack;
Use the Services to harass, abuse, threaten, defame, or otherwise infringe or violate the rights of others;
Collect or harvest any information from the Services, including names, email addresses, or other personal information of other users, without their consent and ours; or
Use the Services in any manner inconsistent with the values of dignity, honesty, curiosity, agency, community, and hope that animate our mission.
We reserve the right to investigate any suspected violation of these Terms and to take any action we deem appropriate, including suspending or terminating your access to the Services and reporting suspected unlawful activity to law enforcement.
5. USER CONTENT
The Services may allow you to submit, post, or transmit content, including stories, comments, feedback, applications, registration information, survey responses, and other materials ("User Content"). You retain ownership of your User Content, but by submitting it you grant The Ties Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual, irrevocable, sublicensable, and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display such User Content in connection with our charitable mission, including in our communications, programs, reports, and publications.
You represent and warrant that:
You own or control all rights in and to the User Content you submit, or you have obtained all necessary permissions and licenses to grant the rights described above;
Your User Content does not and will not infringe, misappropriate, or violate the rights of any third party, including intellectual property rights, rights of privacy, or rights of publicity;
Your User Content does not contain any material that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, harassing, threatening, or otherwise objectionable; and
All factual information you provide is accurate and truthful to the best of your knowledge.
We are under no obligation to monitor User Content but reserve the right to review, edit, remove, or refuse to post any User Content at our sole discretion and without notice. We are not responsible for any User Content posted by you or by any third party.
If you choose to share personal stories, experiences, or identifying information about yourself or others, please do so with care. Once submitted, you may not be able to retract that information from materials we have already published or distributed in good faith reliance on your submission.
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Services, including all content, text, graphics, images, logos, photographs, audio, video, design, organization, compilation, and other materials (collectively, "Foundation Content"), are owned by The Ties Foundation or our licensors and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.
The name "The Ties Foundation," our logos, and all related names, designs, and slogans are trademarks of The Ties Foundation. You may not use such marks without our prior written permission.
Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use the Services and Foundation Content for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:
Reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, publicly display, publicly perform, republish, download, store, or transmit any Foundation Content, except as expressly permitted by these Terms or with our prior written consent;
Use any Foundation Content for any commercial purpose;
Remove or alter any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices on Foundation Content; or
Use any data mining, robots, or similar data gathering or extraction methods with respect to the Foundation Content.
If you wish to use Foundation Content for educational, journalistic, or other purposes, please contact us at info@thetiesfoundation.org.
7. DONATIONS
If we accept charitable contributions through the Services, the following terms apply:
All donations are voluntary and are made to The Ties Foundation in support of our charitable mission. Donations are generally tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors should consult their tax advisors regarding deductibility.
Donations are processed by reputable third-party payment processors. By making a donation, you agree to the applicable processor's terms and authorize the charge described at the time of your donation.
Recurring donations will continue at the frequency and amount you select until you cancel them by contacting us or using any self-service tools we provide.
All donations are non-refundable except in cases of clear error (such as duplicate charges or unauthorized transactions), at our sole discretion. To request review of a donation, contact us at info@thetiesfoundation.org within thirty (30) days of the transaction.
We will provide acknowledgment of donations as required by law. Please retain your acknowledgment for tax purposes.
We comply with applicable state charitable solicitation registration requirements. A copy of the latest registration and financial information filed by The Ties Foundation may be obtained by contacting us or, where applicable, the office of the Secretary of State or other state regulator.
8. GRANT PROGRAMS
The Services may include information about, and the ability to apply for, grants offered by The Ties Foundation. All grant programs are administered in accordance with our policies, applicable IRS rules governing grants by public charities, and the eligibility criteria stated at the time of application.
Submitting an application does not entitle you to receive a grant. We retain sole discretion to determine eligibility, evaluate applications, and make grant decisions. By submitting an application, you represent that all information provided is true and complete to the best of your knowledge and authorize us to verify such information as we deem appropriate.
If you receive a grant, you will be required to agree to the terms of a grant agreement, which may include reporting requirements, restrictions on use of funds, and other conditions. Grant funds must be used solely for the charitable purposes specified in the grant agreement.
9. NO PROFESSIONAL ADVICE; MENTAL HEALTH AND CRISIS DISCLAIMER
THE CONTENT AVAILABLE THROUGH THE SERVICES IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. IT IS NOT INTENDED AS, AND SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AS, MEDICAL, MENTAL HEALTH, PSYCHOLOGICAL, LEGAL, FINANCIAL, IMMIGRATION, OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVICE.
The Ties Foundation is not a healthcare provider, mental health provider, crisis intervention service, counseling service, legal services provider, or financial advisor. The Services are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, treatment, or services from a qualified professional. Always seek the advice of your physician, mental health professional, attorney, or other qualified professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical, psychological, legal, or other personal matter.
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING A MEDICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH EMERGENCY, OR IF YOU OR ANOTHER PERSON ARE IN IMMEDIATE DANGER, CALL YOUR LOCAL EMERGENCY SERVICES IMMEDIATELY. In the United States, you may also contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. International visitors may locate a local crisis helpline through findahelpline.com or befrienders.org.
Any reference on the Services to crisis resources, helplines, third-party services, or other support organizations is provided as a convenience and does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of those services. We are not responsible for the availability, quality, or outcomes of any third-party service. Your decision to contact, engage with, or rely upon any third-party resource is solely your own and at your own risk.
If at any time you feel that content on the Services is causing you distress, please stop using the Services and seek support from a trusted person, professional, or crisis service.
10. DISCLAIMERS AND LIMITATION OF WARRANTIES
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SERVICES AND ALL FOUNDATION CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. WE DISCLAIM ALL WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.
We do not warrant that the Services will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, free of viruses or other harmful components, or that any defects will be corrected. We do not warrant the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or timeliness of any Foundation Content or User Content available through the Services.
Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion of certain warranties, so some of the above exclusions may not apply to you.
11. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT WILL THE TIES FOUNDATION, ITS DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUES, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO YOUR ACCESS TO OR USE OF, OR YOUR INABILITY TO ACCESS OR USE, THE SERVICES, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STATUTE, OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY, AND WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE BEEN INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SERVICES SHALL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID OR DONATED TO US, IF ANY, DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100.00).
Some jurisdictions do not allow the limitation or exclusion of liability for incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation may not apply to you.
12. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless The Ties Foundation and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, contractors, and licensors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, judgments, awards, losses, costs, expenses, and fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to: (a) your violation of these Terms; (b) your use of the Services in violation of applicable law or in any manner not authorized by these Terms; (c) any User Content you submit; or (d) your violation of any rights of another person or entity.
13. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES
The Services may contain links to or integrations with third-party websites, applications, services, or resources, including social media platforms, payment processors, analytics providers, mailing list services, video conferencing tools, and crisis helplines. Such links and integrations are provided for your convenience only.
We do not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for any third-party content, products, services, or practices. Your interactions with any third party accessed through the Services are solely between you and that third party, and are governed by the third party's terms and policies, not ours.
14. THIRD-PARTY PLATFORMS
The Services are hosted on the Squarespace platform and may incorporate functionality from other third-party platforms (such as Google Analytics, email service providers, and payment processors). Your use of the Services is also subject to the terms and policies of these platforms to the extent applicable.
15. MODIFICATIONS TO THE SERVICES
We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, in whole or in part, with or without notice. We will not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension, or discontinuation of the Services.
16. TERMINATION
We may suspend or terminate your access to all or part of the Services at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice, and without liability to you. You may stop using the Services at any time. All provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including without limitation provisions regarding ownership, disclaimers, limitations of liability, indemnification, and governing law.
17. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE
These Terms and any dispute arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Subject to Section 18, you agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Adams County, Colorado, and you irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.
18. DISPUTE RESOLUTION
In the event of any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services, you agree to first contact us at info@thetiesfoundation.org and attempt in good faith to resolve the matter informally. If we are unable to resolve the matter within sixty (60) days of your written notice, either party may pursue formal legal remedies in accordance with Section 17.
19. ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
By using the Services or communicating with us electronically, you consent to receive communications from us electronically, including by email, in connection with your use of the Services. You agree that all agreements, notices, disclosures, and other communications we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing.
20. SEVERABILITY
If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
21. NO WAIVER
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision. No waiver of any provision of these Terms shall be effective unless in writing and signed by an authorized representative of The Ties Foundation.
22. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other policies or notices we publish on the Services, constitute the entire agreement between you and The Ties Foundation regarding the Services and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications and proposals, whether oral or written.
23. ASSIGNMENT
You may not assign or transfer these Terms, by operation of law or otherwise, without our prior written consent. Any attempted assignment without such consent shall be null and void. We may assign or transfer these Terms, in whole or in part, without restriction.
24. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS
We may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, programs, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make changes, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of these Terms and post the revised Terms on the Services. If we make material changes, we will provide notice through the Services or by other means as appropriate. Your continued use of the Services after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms.
25. CONTACT US
If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us:
The Ties Foundation
Email: info@thetiesfoundation.org
Mailing Address: 13918 E Mississippi Ave PMB 60608, Aurora, CO 80012