Donation & Refund Policy

1. Purpose of Donations and Payments

All donations and payments made to St. Michael Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (“the Church,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) are voluntary contributions intended to support worship services, religious events, outreach programs, facilities, and operational expenses. These contributions are not purchases of goods or services and do not create any contractual or financial entitlement.

2. Payment Processing

Online payments and donations made through our website are processed securely using Stripe, a third-party payment processor. The Church does not store, process, or have access to your full credit or debit card information. Stripe’s handling of payment data is governed by its own privacy and security policies.

3. Non-Refundable Nature of Payments

All payments and donations are generally non-refundable. By submitting a payment or donation, you acknowledge that the contribution is voluntary and made in support of the Church’s mission.

4. Refund Requests and Exceptions

Payments are non-refundable unless a refund request is accompanied by a valid and verifiable reason. Refunds may be considered only under limited circumstances, including:

• Duplicate transactions
• Verified technical or processing errors
• Unauthorized transactions confirmed by the payment processor

All refund requests must be submitted within 7 days of the original transaction date and are subject to review and approval by the Church. Refunds, if approved, will be issued to the original payment method only.

5. Refund Amount and Processing Fees

If a refund request is approved, the refund amount will be equal to the original payment minus any non-refundable processing fees charged by the payment processor. Processing fees collected by Stripe are not refundable and will be deducted from the refunded amount.

6. Refund Processing Time

Approved refunds are typically processed within 7–10 business days. Additional time may be required depending on your bank or card issuer.

7. Tax Considerations

Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. The Church does not provide tax advice. Donors are encouraged to consult a qualified tax professional regarding their individual circumstances.

8. Changes to This Policy

The Church reserves the right to update or modify this Donation & Refund Policy at any time. Changes will become effective immediately upon posting to this page.