Policies for Posting Information at GuideStar

Note: The use of "You" in this document refers to You and Your organization.

GuideStar, an initiative of Philanthropic Research, Inc., welcomes Your tax-exempt organization as a GuideStar Participant. We appreciate Your contribution to our efforts to help improve the nonprofit sector by providing information to donors, nonprofit organizations, and the general public. Your access to and continued use of GuideStar on behalf of Your organization constitutes Your organization's acceptance, without limitation, of these policies.

GuideStar Participation

As a GuideStar Participant, You will provide answers to the required questions in the GuideStar Information Form (GIF). GuideStar will post the information and financial data at www.guidestar.org.

Information, Materials to be Posted

  • You agree that the information You submit will be accurate, to the best of Your knowledge.
  • You agree that the material You submit will not compare Your organization to another. Further, You will not post material that represents opinion as fact; instead, You will use phrases such as "Our organization believes that ..."
  • You agree not to use any obscene, indecent, or offensive language, or to include any material that is defamatory, abusive, harassing, or hateful. Further, You will not include material that invades anyone's privacy, or encourages conduct that would otherwise violate any local, state, national, or international law or regulation.
  • You are responsible for ensuring that the material You provide does not violate the copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, and other personal and proprietary rights of any third party.
  • By posting information on the GuideStar Web site, You grant GuideStar and its affiliates the right to copy, publish, and distribute any material You post with credit to Your organization.
  • GuideStar also has the right to license Your organization's data to other entities, unless You notify GuideStar in writing. If You do not wish to have Your organization's data licensed to other entities, see the instructions for removing Your organization from these programs.
  • GuideStar has the right, but is not required, to edit Your material.
  • GuideStar reserves the right to remove any content at any time.

GuideStar's Obligations

  • GuideStar will make all efforts to post the information You provide within two business days. A Customer Service representative will contact You before the original posting to ensure that You have authorized this posting.
  • GuideStar will provide Customer Service for all GuideStar Participants at customerservice@guidestar.org and 1-800-784-9378. All efforts will be made to respond to requests in one business day.
  • GuideStar will publish the public e-mail address You provide as part of Your GuideStar Report in information obtained by GuideStar Premium users. It will not publish any private e-mail address You provide in order to communicate directly and confidentially with GuideStar.
  • GuideStar will publish Your news releases. GuideStar will include Your information in its data services licenses with other organizations, unless You request that Your organization be removed from these programs.

Liability for Damages

  • GuideStar will post Your information as quickly and accurately as possible, but due to the possibility of human or mechanical error, it does not warrant or guarantee the accuracy, quality, completeness, currency, or validity of the information You have provided to this site. Nor does GuideStar warrant or guarantee the accuracy, quality, completeness, currency, or validity of the information about Your organization that has been provided by other sources. GuideStar will correct, in a timely manner, any verifiable mistakes that have been brought to its attention.
  • GuideStar is not liable to You or any third parties for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages allegedly sustained from Your affiliation with the GuideStar Web site.
  • GuideStar is not liable to You or any third parties for any direct, indirect, special, consequential, or punitive damages allegedly sustained from Your affiliation with the GuideStar Web site.

Use of the GuideStar Web Site

  • Your organization will have the opportunity to post information about Your organization directly on the GuideStar Web site. You agree that You will not attempt to gain access to GuideStar's servers by any other means. Nor will You disrupt, modify, or interfere with www.guidestar.org or its associated software, hardware, or servers in any way.
  • You agree not to sell or use for commercial gain any of the information on GuideStar, except in accordance with a GuideStar licensing agreement.

Incorporation of Policies and Disclaimers for GuideStar Users

  • Your organization will be users of the GuideStar Web site as well as GuideStar Participants. Therefore, You are bound by the terms of Policies for GuideStar Users as well as by the terms of this document. The document requires Your organization to respect the privacy of GuideStar users, to acknowledge that GuideStar does not endorse Your organization or any organization described on the site, to recognize GuideStar's copyright and trademark protections, and to accept GuideStar's disclaimers, among other things.

Changes in Agreement

  • GuideStar reserves the right to update, from time to time, these Policies on Posting Information at GuideStar. Such updating will in no way relieve You of Your obligations under earlier versions of this agreement. Use of the GuideStar Site constitutes acceptance of the terms and conditions in place at the moment of use.

Jurisdiction

  • This site is controlled and operated from GuideStar's offices in Virginia. You agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of this agreement, which is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Virginia.