Verification & Eligibility Policy
Effective Date: [EFFECTIVE DATE] Last Updated: [LAST UPDATED] Version: 2.0
1. Purpose
Verification protects Students, Donors, Organizations, and the integrity of the Service. It ensures that Campaigns are legitimate, that Creators have proper authority, and that funds reach their intended educational purpose. This Policy forms part of the Agreement (see Terms of Service).
2. Eligible Educational Needs (Examples)
Campaigns may be created for legitimate educational expenses, including but not limited to:
- School fees, tuition, and enrollment costs;
- Examination and certification fees;
- Textbooks, workbooks, and school supplies;
- Laptops, tablets, calculators, and educational technology;
- Assistive technology and accessibility equipment;
- School uniforms and required clothing;
- Transportation to and from school (bus passes, fuel cards where paid to a provider);
- Educational program participation fees (pre-approved);
- Extracurricular fees directly tied to school programs;
- Internet access or connectivity for remote learning (paid to a provider);
- Nutritional support programs administered by schools.
The above list is illustrative. KidStarter reserves the right to approve or reject any Campaign category at its sole discretion.
3. Ineligible Uses (Examples)
The following are not eligible for Campaign creation:
- Cash disbursements to individuals, students, or families;
- Gift cards or cash-equivalent instruments (unless disbursed to a verified vendor for specific items);
- Gifts unrelated to education;
- Personal electronics for entertainment purposes only;
- Travel unrelated to education;
- Medical expenses (unless directly related to educational access, e.g., prescription glasses for a student);
- Religious activities or materials (unless part of an approved educational program);
- Political activities, advocacy, or campaigns;
- Anything illegal under applicable law;
- Anything prohibited by our payment processors;
- Debt repayment;
- Duplicative funding for needs already met.
4. Verification Requirements
KidStarter may require one or more of the following, depending on the Campaign, Creator role, and jurisdiction:
4.1 Creator Verification
- School or institutional email/domain verification;
- Government-issued ID (viewed for verification, not stored beyond verification period unless legally required);
- Employment or role confirmation (e.g., school staff directory listing);
- Guardian relationship documentation (e.g., court order, birth certificate extract — viewed for verification, not stored unless required).
4.2 Campaign Verification
- School authorization letter on official letterhead;
- Guardian authorization/consent form;
- Invoice, quote, or purchase order from vendor or school;
- Proof of enrollment or eligibility in the relevant institution;
- Documentation of the specific educational need;
- Photographs of the educational environment (with PII removed or blurred).
4.3 Organization Verification (for disbursement recipients)
- Institutional email or domain verification;
- Government registration or charity registration documents;
- Tax-exempt status documentation (if claimed);
- Bank account verification (for wire/ACH disbursements);
- Authorized signatory confirmation.
4.4 Corporate Sponsor Verification
- Company registration documents;
- Authorized representative confirmation;
- Sanctions and PEP screening (see KYC/KYB & Screening Notice).
5. Verification Process
5.1. Verification is initiated when a Creator submits a Campaign or when an Organization registers to receive disbursements.
5.2. KidStarter's Trust & Safety team reviews submitted documentation against the Campaign details and applicable policies.
5.3. KidStarter may use automated tools to assist with verification (e.g., email domain checks, document format validation) but human review is required for final approval of all Campaigns involving minors.
5.4. Timelines: KidStarter aims to complete initial verification review within 5 business days of receiving complete documentation. Complex cases may require additional time.
6. Review Outcomes
| Outcome | Description |
|---|---|
| Approved | Campaign is published and eligible for donations. |
| Approved with Conditions | Campaign is published subject to specific conditions (e.g., content edits, additional documentation before disbursement). |
| Pending — Additional Information Required | Campaign is held pending additional documentation from the Creator. |
| Rejected | Campaign does not meet eligibility requirements. Creator is notified with the reason. |
| Paused | Campaign was live but has been paused due to a report, policy review, or compliance concern. |
| Removed | Campaign has been permanently removed for policy violation, fraud, or safety concern. |
7. Ongoing Monitoring
7.1. Verification is not a one-time event. KidStarter may request additional documentation at any time, including prior to or after disbursement.
7.2. Ongoing monitoring may include:
- periodic re-verification of Creator credentials;
- transaction monitoring and velocity analysis;
- review of Campaign updates and modifications;
- response to user reports and complaints;
- random audits of a sample of Campaigns.
7.3. Failure to respond to a documentation request within 14 days may result in Campaign pause or removal.
8. Appeals
If your Campaign is rejected, paused, or removed, you may appeal by contacting [SUPPORT EMAIL] within 14 days, providing additional context or documentation. Appeals are reviewed as described in the Community Guidelines Section 10.
9. Contact
General Support: [SUPPORT EMAIL] Verification Inquiries: [SUPPORT EMAIL] Safety Reports: [REPORT LINK OR EMAIL]