Terms of Service

These Terms of Service govern your use of The Black Trust Fund platform. By enrolling as a member, you accept these terms in full.

1. What BTF Is

The Black Trust Fund (BTF) is a private membership technology platform that facilitates mutual aid between members of a trusted community. BTF is not a charity, lender, bank, insurance provider, or financial institution. BTF provides software infrastructure that enables members to support one another through structured, rules-based coordination.

2. Membership Eligibility

Membership in The Black Trust Fund is open to individuals 18 years of age or older. By enrolling, you represent that you meet this age requirement.

3. Membership Fees

Members pay a monthly membership fee of $27/month or an annual fee of $247/year. This fee grants access to the platform, the 8 Irrevocable Pillars of Community journey, and participation in the mutual aid network. Membership fees are separate from and in addition to any amounts you choose to contribute through your giving wallet.

4. Coordination Fee

When your case is approved and funded, BTF charges a coordination fee based on the amount raised ($25–$150 depending on tier). This is an administrative platform fee for processing, compliance monitoring, and operational costs. The coordination fee is not a loan origination fee, insurance premium, or pledge. It is non-refundable once your round is scheduled, regardless of the final amount raised.

5. Giving Wallet

Your giving wallet holds funds you have chosen to contribute to the mutual aid network. BTF never takes custody of these funds—you direct how and when they are used. Contributions are processed through Stripe and allocated to active rounds based on your choices. Once contributed to a round, funds are non-refundable.

6. Proof of Need and Proof of Fund Use

All members who receive funding must submit proof of need before funding and proof of fund use after disbursement. Deadlines are strict: Category A members have 3 days; Category B members have 7 days. Failure to submit proof on time results in compliance violations and may lead to suspension.

7. Tax Notice

Recipients are solely responsible for determining any tax obligations arising from funds received through BTF community rounds. BTF does not provide tax advice, does not represent that any payment is taxable or nontaxable, and makes no guarantee regarding tax treatment. Members should consult a qualified tax advisor regarding their individual circumstances.

8. Suspension and Termination

BTF reserves the right to suspend or terminate your membership for: repeated proof non-compliance, fraudulent case submissions, chargebacks, harassment, or violation of community guidelines. The founder makes all final suspension decisions. Suspended members may appeal only if explicitly permitted.

9. Community Reserve

BTF may allocate a portion of certain coordination fees to an internal Community Reserve. The Community Reserve is a discretionary internal reserve of BTF and not a segregated member account, deposit account, trust account, or charitable fund. BTF may, in its sole discretion, use the Community Reserve to support select funding rounds, including by supplementing underperforming rounds or seeding future platform programs such as Legacy Rounds. No member has any ownership interest in, or entitlement to, the Community Reserve or any reserve contribution. BTF may change the reserve percentage, reserve policy, or reserve uses at any time, subject to applicable law and any express written commitments made by BTF.

10. Cancellation and Grace Period

A member may cancel a paid subscription at any time through the member dashboard or other cancellation method made available by BTF. Unless BTF states otherwise in writing, cancellation becomes effective at the end of the then-current billing period, and the member retains access through that date.

After a cancellation request, BTF may, in its sole discretion, offer the member an optional 90-day complimentary grace period before full deactivation. If the member accepts the grace period, the member may retain access to the platform for up to 90 days at no charge, subject to these Terms and any applicable platform limitations. BTF may modify or discontinue the grace-period feature prospectively, but any grace period already accepted by a member will continue for the stated period unless the member violates these Terms or BTF is required to restrict access by law or for security reasons.

During any grace period, the member may continue to participate as permitted by BTF, but may not submit a new case for funding unless BTF expressly permits otherwise. Cases submitted before cancellation may continue to be processed according to BTF policy.

11. Founding Legacy Members

Founding Legacy memberships are one-time, non-recurring memberships purchased on the terms disclosed at the time of purchase. Because no recurring subscription exists, the ordinary cancellation and grace-period flow does not apply. A Founding Legacy member may request account closure by contacting BTF directly, and BTF will process the request consistent with the original purchase terms and applicable law.

12. Exit Survey

If a member cancels, BTF may present an optional exit survey asking why the member is leaving. Responses may be used for product improvement, customer support, churn analysis, and retention outreach, as described in BTF's Privacy Policy. Providing exit survey responses is voluntary.

13. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration as described in our Arbitration and Dispute Resolution policy.

14. Changes to Terms

BTF may update these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

15. Contact

Questions about these Terms? Email legal@theblacktrustfund.com.