Donation Refund Policy

Effective Date: February 1, 2026

At HandsOn San Diego, we deeply appreciate the generosity and commitment of all our volunteers. Your donations help us further our mission and expand our impact in the community. This Donation Refund Policy outlines the conditions under which donations and fees may be refunded, in compliance with IRS charitable‑contribution regulations and Stripe’s payment‑processing policies.

1. Volunteer Registration Donations

Volunteers are invited to make a donation during the registration process to support the organization’s ongoing programs and operational needs. These donations are voluntary and considered non-refundable, except in limited cases of verified error or fraud.

Refunds for volunteer donations will be considered under the following circumstances:

• The donation was made in error (e.g., an incorrect amount was entered).
• A duplicate donation was made.
• The donor’s payment method was used fraudulently.

To request a refund, please contact us at info@handsonsandiego.org within 15 days of the donation date. Include your full name, date of donation, donation amount, and the reason for the request.

Refunds are issued to the original payment method and may take 5–10 business days to process. Cash donations will be returned via check. If you made your donation by credit card, your refund will be credited to that same credit card. 

This policy does not limit a donor’s right to dispute a charge with their financial institution. Mission Edge San Diego and HandsOn San Diego may provide supporting documentation to verify the legitimacy of the donation in any such case.

2. Court-Ordered Volunteer Program Fees

Individuals registering as part of a court-ordered service program are required to pay a non-refundable administrative fee. This fee covers administrative costs, verification services, and ongoing compliance documentation. It is not a charitable contribution and therefore not tax‑deductible.

This fee will not be refunded except under the following circumstances:

• Payment was made in error and no services were used.
• A duplicate payment was made.
• The individual was mistakenly identified as court-ordered and not required to pay the fee.

Refund requests for court-ordered volunteer fees must be submitted within 7 days of payment. Contact info@handsonsandiego.org with your full name, payment date, amount, and reason for the request.

3. Special Event Tickets

All event ticket purchases, registrations, and sponsorships are considered non-refundable, as funds are typically committed in advance to event-related expenses and directly support our charitable work.

Cancellations by Attendees

• If you are unable to attend, your ticket or registration fee may be considered a tax-deductible donation to the extent allowed by law.

• Tickets may be transferable to another guest with prior notice to HandsOn San Diego by 24 hours before the event.

• No refunds will be issued for no-shows.

Event Changes or Cancellation by the Organization

• If an event is cancelled by HandsOn San Diego, registrants will be offered one of the following options:

  • A full refund

  • Transfer of registration to a rescheduled date or future event

  • Conversion of the ticket cost into a tax-deductible donation

• If an event is rescheduled, tickets will automatically be honored for the new date. Refund requests due to rescheduling will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Sponsorships and Donations

• Event sponsorships and donations are non-refundable, as they are treated as charitable contributions.

• Any benefits associated with sponsorships (e.g., tickets, recognition) are not separately refundable.

Exceptional Circumstances

Refund requests due to extraordinary circumstances may be considered at the discretion of HandsOn San Diego. All such requests must be submitted in writing to info@handsonsandiego.org within 7 days of the event.

4. General Policy Notes

• All refund decisions are subject to review and approval by HandsOn San Diego staff and Mission Edge San Diego.
• Donations made more than 15 days ago are not eligible for refund.
• Processing fees from third-party platforms (if applicable) may not be recoverable.

5. Contact Us

For questions regarding this policy or to request a refund, please contact:

HandsOn San Diego
info@handsonsandiego.org

All donations are made to Mission Edge San Diego, a 501(c)(3) public charity, for the benefit of HandsOn San Diego. Refunds, where permitted, are processed by Mission Edge San Diego in accordance with this policy.