Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using Shteig, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you must not use the Platform. We may update these Terms from time to time, and your continued use constitutes acceptance of any changes.

You represent that you are at least 18 years of age, or that you are at least 13 years of age and have obtained parental or guardian consent to use the Platform. If you are using the Platform on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. Organizational Mission and Structure

The Shteig Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization whose mission is to advance Jewish education by facilitating accessible, high-quality, one-on-one Torah learning. The Foundation accomplishes this mission by maintaining the Shteig Platform, which connects donors and participants ("Learners") with qualified Torah educators ("Educators") who receive stipends and grants from the Foundation to teach Torah.

The Shteig Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors in accordance with its Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws under the laws of the State of Delaware. All organizational activities, programs, and expenditures are conducted in furtherance of the Foundation's tax-exempt charitable and educational purposes.

Important: The Shteig Foundation does not sell goods or services. Donations and contributions made through the Platform support the Foundation's educational mission and charitable programs. Learners participate in Torah learning sessions as beneficiaries of the Foundation's charitable programs, not as purchasers of services.

3. User Accounts

3.1 Registration. To access certain features of the Platform, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to keep your account information up to date.

3.2 Account Accuracy. You are responsible for the accuracy of all information associated with your account, including your name, email address, qualifications (for Educators), and any other information you provide. Providing false or misleading information is grounds for immediate termination of your account.

3.3 Account Security. You are solely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. You agree to notify us immediately at legal@shteig.org if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account. The Shteig Foundation shall not be liable for any loss arising from unauthorized access to your account.

3.4 One Account Per Person. Each individual may maintain only one account. Creating multiple accounts may result in termination of all associated accounts.

4. Educator Terms

4.1 Qualifications. Educators represent and warrant that they possess the knowledge, training, and qualifications necessary to teach the subjects they offer through the Foundation's programs. The Shteig Foundation reserves the right to verify qualifications and to remove any Educator who misrepresents their credentials.

4.2 Conduct. Educators agree to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and conduct befitting Torah education. Educators shall treat all Learners with respect, maintain appropriate boundaries, and adhere to all applicable laws and regulations.

4.3 Stipend Recipients. Educators participate in the Foundation's programs as independent stipend recipients. Educators are not employees, agents, or representatives of the Shteig Foundation. The Foundation provides stipends and grants to Educators in furtherance of its charitable and educational mission. Nothing in these Terms creates an employment, partnership, or agency relationship between Educators and the Foundation. Educators are solely responsible for their own tax obligations, insurance, and compliance with applicable laws.

4.4 Stipend Terms. The amount, frequency, and terms of Educator stipends are determined by the Foundation in its sole discretion, in accordance with its charitable purposes and available funding. The Foundation reserves the right to modify stipend levels, criteria, and disbursement schedules at any time. Stipends are grants in support of Torah education, not compensation for services rendered to donors.

4.5 Background Checks. The Shteig Foundation reserves the right, but is not obligated, to conduct background checks on Educators. Completion or non-completion of a background check does not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of any Educator.

5. Learner Terms

5.1 Conduct. Learners agree to engage respectfully with Educators and other users of the Platform. Disruptive, abusive, or inappropriate behavior may result in suspension or termination of your account and removal from the Foundation's programs.

5.2 Attendance. Learners are expected to attend scheduled sessions on time. Repeated no-shows or late cancellations may affect your standing on the Platform and your ability to participate in future learning sessions.

5.3 Learning Environment. Learners are responsible for ensuring they have a suitable environment and equipment (including a stable internet connection, camera, and microphone) for video-based learning sessions.

5.4 Charitable Program Participation. Learners understand and acknowledge that Torah learning sessions facilitated through the Platform are provided as part of the Foundation's charitable educational programs. Participation in these programs is a privilege extended by the Foundation, not a contractual right purchased through donation.

6. Donations and Contributions

6.1 Nature of Donations. All financial contributions made through the Shteig Platform are charitable donations to the Shteig Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Donations support the Foundation's overall mission of advancing Torah education and are not payments for goods or services. The Foundation allocates donated funds across its programs, including Educator stipends, platform operations, and program development, in its sole discretion.

6.2 Minimum Contribution Levels. The Foundation may establish minimum suggested donation levels for participation in its learning programs. These levels are set by the Foundation's Board of Directors and may be adjusted from time to time. Minimum contribution levels reflect the cost of sustaining the Foundation's educational programs and do not represent the price of a service.

6.3 Scholarship and Hardship Provisions. The Shteig Foundation is committed to the principle that no sincere individual should be turned away from Torah learning due to financial hardship. Learners who are unable to meet minimum contribution levels may apply for scholarship consideration by contacting scholarships@shteig.org. Scholarship applications are reviewed confidentially by the Foundation and granted at its sole discretion based on demonstrated need and available resources.

6.4 Tax Deductibility. Donations to the Shteig Foundation are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. No goods or services are provided in exchange for your contribution. The Foundation will provide annual donation receipts and acknowledgment letters for tax purposes in compliance with IRS requirements. It is the donor's responsibility to consult with a qualified tax advisor regarding the deductibility of any contribution.

6.5 Donation Processing. Donations are processed securely through our third-party payment processor. The Foundation does not store credit card numbers or bank account details on its servers. By submitting a donation, you authorize the Foundation to process your contribution through our designated payment processor.

6.6 Recurring Donations. The Foundation may offer the option to make recurring donations on a monthly or other periodic basis. You may modify or cancel recurring donations at any time through your account settings or by contacting donations@shteig.org. Cancellation of recurring donations takes effect at the end of the current donation period.

7. Donation Refund Policy

7.1 General Policy. As charitable contributions to a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, donations to the Shteig Foundation are generally non-refundable. Donors are encouraged to give thoughtfully, understanding that contributions support the Foundation's ongoing charitable mission and may be allocated to programs and expenses immediately upon receipt.

7.2 Discretionary Credits. In exceptional circumstances, the Foundation may, at its sole discretion, issue a credit toward future program participation or a partial or full refund. Such exceptions may include, but are not limited to: (a) documented processing errors or duplicate transactions; (b) circumstances in which the Foundation determines that a credit or refund is consistent with its charitable purposes and donor relations.

7.3 Refund Requests. To request consideration for a credit or refund, please contact us at donations@shteig.org. Requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If a refund is issued for a donation for which a tax receipt was previously provided, the donor is responsible for adjusting their tax records accordingly.

7.4 Cooling-Off Period. In jurisdictions where a statutory cooling-off period applies to charitable solicitations, the Foundation will honor applicable refund rights within the legally required period.

8. Session Policies

8.1 Scheduling. Learning sessions are scheduled through the Platform's booking system. Both Educators and Learners are responsible for managing their availability accurately.

8.2 No-Shows. If a Learner fails to appear for a scheduled session without prior notice, the session may be marked as completed. If an Educator fails to appear, the Foundation will make reasonable efforts to reschedule the session or arrange an alternative Educator.

8.3 Rescheduling. Sessions may be rescheduled with at least 24 hours' notice. Rescheduling requests made less than 24 hours before the session are subject to the Educator's discretion and the Foundation's policies.

8.4 Session Recording. Sessions are not recorded by the Platform unless both parties explicitly consent. Any unauthorized recording of sessions is strictly prohibited.

9. Intellectual Property

9.1 Platform Content. All content, design, code, trademarks, and other intellectual property associated with the Shteig Platform are owned by or licensed to the Shteig Foundation. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any Platform content without our prior written consent.

9.2 Session Materials. Any materials created or shared by Educators during sessions (including but not limited to source sheets, notes, and presentations) remain the intellectual property of the respective Educator unless otherwise agreed in writing.

9.3 Feedback. If you provide suggestions, ideas, or feedback about the Platform, you grant the Shteig Foundation a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to use such feedback for any purpose in furtherance of its charitable mission without compensation to you.

10. User Content

10.1 Reviews and Feedback. Users may post reviews, ratings, and feedback about Educators and sessions. You represent that any content you submit is truthful, not misleading, and does not violate the rights of any third party.

10.2 License to User Content. By submitting content to the Platform, you grant the Shteig Foundation a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute such content in connection with operating and promoting the Platform and its charitable programs.

10.3 Content Moderation. The Shteig Foundation reserves the right to remove or modify any user content that violates these Terms or that we deem inappropriate, at our sole discretion and without prior notice.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which describes how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information, including donor information. By using Shteig, you consent to the practices described in the Privacy Policy.

12. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to:

1. Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable law or regulation;
2. Harass, abuse, threaten, or intimidate any other user;
3. Impersonate any person or entity, or misrepresent your affiliation with any person or entity;
4. Interfere with or disrupt the integrity or performance of the Platform;
5. Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any systems or networks connected to the Platform;
6. Use automated systems (bots, scrapers, etc.) to access or interact with the Platform without our express permission;
7. Circumvent, disable, or otherwise interfere with any security features of the Platform;
8. Solicit Educators or Learners to arrange sessions or exchange donations outside the Platform;
9. Upload or transmit viruses, malware, or other harmful code;
10. Use the Platform to promote or engage in any form of discrimination, hatred, or violence;
11. Misrepresent the tax-deductible nature of donations or provide false information in connection with charitable contributions.

13. Dispute Resolution

13.1 Informal Resolution. Before initiating any formal dispute resolution proceeding, you agree to first contact us at legal@shteig.org and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

13.2 Mediation. If informal resolution is unsuccessful, either party may initiate mediation administered by a mutually agreed-upon mediator. The costs of mediation shall be shared equally between the parties.

13.3 Binding Arbitration. If mediation is unsuccessful, any remaining dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Commercial Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall take place in the State of Delaware. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding.

13.4 Class Action Waiver. You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action. You waive any right to participate in a class action lawsuit or class-wide arbitration.

13.5 Exceptions. Either party may seek injunctive or other equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to prevent the actual or threatened infringement of intellectual property rights.

14. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE SHTEIG FOUNDATION, ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, VOLUNTEERS, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR PARTICIPATION IN THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAMS, WHETHER BASED ON WARRANTY, CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), OR ANY OTHER LEGAL THEORY.

IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SHTEIG FOUNDATION'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU HAVE DONATED TO THE FOUNDATION IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO THE LIABILITY, OR ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

THE PLATFORM AND ALL CHARITABLE PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, NOR DOES IT GUARANTEE THE QUALITY, SUITABILITY, OR AVAILABILITY OF ANY EDUCATOR.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the Shteig Foundation, its Board of Directors, officers, employees, volunteers, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any rights of any third party; or (d) any content you submit to the Platform.

16. Termination

16.1 By You. You may terminate your account at any time by contacting us or using the account deletion feature in your settings. Termination does not entitle you to a refund of any donations previously made, except as expressly provided in Section 7.

16.2 By the Foundation. We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without cause and with or without notice, if we believe you have violated these Terms or if your conduct may harm other users, Educators, or the Foundation's mission. We may also terminate accounts that have been inactive for an extended period.

16.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform and participate in the Foundation's programs ceases immediately. Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination (including but not limited to Sections 9, 13, 14, 15, and 18) shall survive.

17. Modifications to Terms

The Shteig Foundation reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will provide notice of material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Platform and updating the "Effective Date" above. For material changes, we will also notify you by email or through the Platform at least 30 days before the changes take effect. Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.

18. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any legal action or proceeding not subject to arbitration under Section 13 shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of Delaware.

19. 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 modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable, or if modification is not possible, shall be severed from these Terms. The remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

20. Tax-Exempt Status

The Shteig Foundation is recognized as exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The Foundation's Employer Identification Number (EIN) is available upon request. The Foundation is required to make its annual Form 990 available for public inspection, and copies may be obtained by contacting legal@shteig.org.

The Foundation operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3). No part of the net earnings of the Foundation inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

21. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us at:

The Shteig Foundation
A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
Email: legal@shteig.org
Donations: donations@shteig.org
Scholarships: scholarships@shteig.org
Website: shteig.org