PicturePledge — Terms of Service

Effective Date: May 15, 2026 Last Updated: May 15, 2026

Plain-English Summary (not legally binding)

PicturePledge is a for-profit website that helps people raise money for personal causes through visual storytelling. Anyone can start a campaign and ask for pledges; anyone can pledge to support one. We use Stripe to move money directly from the donor to the organizer — we never hold your funds.

A few things to know up front:

We are not a charity. Pledges to personal campaigns are generally not tax-deductible.
Pledges are gifts, not investments. You will not receive equity, profit share, or financial returns of any kind.
Once a pledge is sent and payouts begin, all pledges are final. If you have a dispute, contact the organizer first; bank chargebacks are a last resort.
Organizers must use funds for the purpose they describe. We can suspend campaigns, hold funds, or refund donors if we discover fraud or misuse.
We don't provide tax, legal, or financial advice. If you receive significant funds, talk to a tax professional.

The full Terms below govern your use of the PicturePledge platform. By creating an account, starting a campaign, or making a pledge, you agree to all of it.

1. ACCEPTANCE AND ELIGIBILITY

1.1 Agreement. These Terms of Service (the "Terms") form a legally binding agreement between you and Ridgework Studio LLC, a Colorado limited liability company doing business as PicturePledge ("PicturePledge," "we," "us," or "our").

1.2 Acceptance. By accessing or using the PicturePledge website, mobile applications, or related services (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, do not use the Service.

1.3 Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years old and legally capable of entering into binding contracts in your jurisdiction. The Service is currently available to users in the United States only.

1.4 Account Types.

An "Organizer" creates and runs a Campaign to receive Pledges.
A "Donor" makes a Pledge to a Campaign.
A single user may act as both Organizer and Donor in different contexts.

2. DEFINITIONS

"Campaign" — a fundraising effort created by an Organizer on the Service, including all associated content, photos, descriptions, and goals.
"Pledge" — a payment made by a Donor to an Organizer through the Service. Pledges are gifts, not investments, loans, or purchases.
"Organizer Funds" — money received from Donors and routed via Stripe Connect to the Organizer's connected account.
"Launch Fee" — a flat one-time fee charged to an Organizer when they publish a Campaign. Currently $5.00 USD.
"Tile Picker Tip" — an optional flat fee paid by a Donor at pledge time. Currently $5.00 USD. Donors who pay the Tile Picker Tip may select which tiles of the Photo their Pledge reveals; Donors who do not pay the tip have their Pledge applied to tiles in the default order set by the Service.
"Payment Processor" — Stripe, Inc. and any other third-party payment service provider used by the Service.
"Photo" — the image uploaded by an Organizer that is gradually revealed to Donors as Pledges accumulate.
"Reveal" — the visual mechanic by which the Photo gradually becomes visible as cumulative Pledges approach the goal amount. The state of revelation at any time is determined by the proportion of the goal reached.

Note on UI vs. legal terminology. The Service's user interface uses the words "Donate," "Donation," and "Donor" because those words are familiar to most users. As used in these Terms, those interface words have the following legal meanings:

A "Donation" displayed in the user interface is a "Pledge" as defined above
The action of clicking "Donate" on the Service constitutes the making of a Pledge
A "Donor" referenced in the user interface is a person making a Pledge

This does not change the legal nature of the transaction: Pledges are gifts, not investments, are generally not tax-deductible, and are subject to all the terms below.

3. THE SERVICE

3.1 What We Are. PicturePledge is a for-profit technology platform that enables individuals to create visual fundraising campaigns and receive financial pledges from supporters. We facilitate the technology and the introduction; we are not a party to the transaction between Organizer and Donor.

3.2 What We Are Not. PicturePledge is not:

A 501(c)(3) charitable organization
A registered charity in any jurisdiction
A bank, broker, custodian, or money transmitter
An investment platform, securities issuer, or registered funding portal
An escrow service or fiduciary
A provider of tax, legal, financial, or investment advice

3.3 Pledges Are Gifts, Not Investments. Pledges made through the Service are personal gifts from Donors to Organizers. Donors will not receive any financial return, equity, debt instrument, profit share, revenue share, or other security in exchange for a Pledge. Any Campaign that offers or implies financial returns is prohibited and will be removed.

3.4 Tax Treatment Disclosure. Pledges to personal Campaigns are generally not tax-deductible to the Donor. Funds received by an Organizer may or may not be taxable income depending on the circumstances of the Campaign and the Organizer's individual situation. PicturePledge does not provide tax advice. Both Donors and Organizers are solely responsible for understanding their own tax obligations and should consult a qualified tax advisor.

3.5 Stripe Connect Architecture. All payments are processed by Stripe, Inc. through Stripe Connect. Funds flow directly from Donor to the Organizer's connected Stripe account. PicturePledge does not at any time take possession or control of Donor funds. Use of the Service is also subject to the Stripe Connected Account Agreement and Stripe Services Agreement.

4. ACCOUNTS

4.1 Registration. To create a Campaign, you must register an account with accurate, complete, and current information. Donors are not required to register an account to make a Pledge — Donor identity is collected at pledge time and verified by the Payment Processor.

4.2 Identity Verification. Organizers must complete identity verification (email and phone minimum; government ID via Stripe Connect for payouts) before a Campaign can receive Pledges. We may require additional verification at our discretion.

4.3 Account Security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account. Notify us immediately at security@picturepledge.com of any unauthorized use.

4.4 One Person, One Account. Each individual may maintain only one Organizer account. Creating multiple accounts to evade enforcement, inflate metrics, or commit fraud is grounds for immediate termination.

5. CAMPAIGNS

5.1 Creating a Campaign. Organizers may create Campaigns for personal purposes (e.g., medical needs, life events, personal projects, community initiatives). Campaigns must include accurate descriptions, authentic photos, and a clear statement of the intended use of funds.

5.2 Organizer Representations and Warranties. By creating a Campaign, the Organizer represents and warrants that:

All information provided is truthful, accurate, and not misleading
They have the right to use all photos, video, and content posted to the Campaign
They will use Pledged funds for the purpose described in the Campaign
They will comply with all applicable laws, including tax, anti-fraud, anti-money laundering, and consumer protection laws
They are not subject to any sanctions that would prohibit their receipt of funds
They are not offering any equity, debt, profit share, revenue share, or other financial return
They own, or have the necessary rights, licenses, and permissions to use, the Photo and any other content uploaded to the Campaign
The Photo does not infringe any copyright, trademark, right of publicity, right of privacy, or other right of any third party
If the Photo includes identifiable individuals, the Organizer has obtained consent from each identifiable individual (or a parent/guardian if a minor) to use the image for the public Campaign

5.3 Use of Funds. If an Organizer fails to use Pledged funds substantially for the purpose described, PicturePledge reserves the right to: (a) suspend the Campaign; (b) refund Donors; (c) terminate the Organizer's account; and (d) report the conduct to relevant authorities.

5.4 Updates. Organizers are encouraged to post updates to keep Donors informed about how funds are being used.

6. PROHIBITED CAMPAIGNS AND CONDUCT

The following are prohibited on the Service. PicturePledge may remove any Campaign and terminate any account in violation of this section, at our sole discretion and without prior notice:

Illegal activity of any kind, in any jurisdiction
Securities, equity offerings, debt instruments, profit-sharing, or revenue-sharing of any kind
Investment-like rewards (e.g., promised returns, future payments, "shares" of any kind)
Election-related fundraising (campaigns for candidates, political action committees, ballot initiatives, or related political activity)
Cryptocurrency offerings, token sales, or speculative investments
Hate speech, harassment, doxxing, or content targeting individuals or groups based on protected characteristics
Threats, glorification of violence, or incitement
Content related to weapons, ammunition, or explosives beyond what is legal and customary
Drug-related content beyond legally compliant medical needs
Adult content, escort services, or sexually explicit material
Gambling, sweepstakes, lotteries, or games of chance
Misappropriation of identity (impersonating real people, organizations, or events)
Deepfakes or AI-generated impersonation of real individuals
Photos depicting children in any commercial, exploitative, or unconsented context, or any photo of a minor used without verifiable parental/guardian consent
Nudity, sexually explicit content, or graphic violence in the Photo or any Campaign imagery
Photos the Organizer does not own or have rights to use (stock photos without license, copyrighted images, others' photos posted without permission)
Photos used as bait-and-switch — i.e., a Photo that misrepresents the cause or beneficiary of the Campaign
Animal abuse, endangered species trade, or related cruelty
Misleading medical claims or fundraising for unproven treatments
Fundraising for specific litigation without disclosure to all relevant parties (case-by-case review)

This list is not exhaustive. PicturePledge reserves the right to remove Campaigns and terminate accounts for any reason that, in our sole judgment, harms the integrity of the platform.

7. PLEDGES AND PAYMENTS

7.1 Making a Pledge. Donors may pledge any amount from $3.00 to $5,000.00 per transaction, subject to limits imposed by Stripe and applicable law. All Pledges are charged in U.S. dollars.

7.2 Fees. PicturePledge charges only flat fees and does not take any percentage of Pledges. Specifically:

Launch Fee — paid by Organizers. PicturePledge charges Organizers a $5.00 Launch Fee when they publish a Campaign. The Launch Fee is a one-time, non-refundable platform fee for hosting and operating the Campaign.
Tile Picker Tip — optional, paid by Donors. Donors may pay an optional $5.00 Tile Picker Tip at pledge time. The Tile Picker Tip allows the Donor to select which tiles of the Photo their Pledge reveals. Donors who do not pay the tip make a Pledge in the ordinary course; their Pledge still applies to the Reveal in the Service's default order.
No percentage of Pledges. PicturePledge does not take any percentage of Pledged amounts. The full Pledge amount, less Stripe processing fees, is routed to the Organizer's connected Stripe account.
Payment processing fees pass through. The standard payment processing fee charged by Stripe (currently 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, subject to change by Stripe) is deducted by Stripe from the Pledge before the remainder is routed to the Organizer. PicturePledge does not control Stripe's fees.

All fees are disclosed at checkout (for Donors) or at Campaign publication (for Organizers) before the user confirms the transaction. PicturePledge may change the Launch Fee or Tile Picker Tip amount with 30 days' notice; existing published Campaigns are not retroactively affected by fee changes.

7.3 Authorization. When you submit a Pledge or pay a Launch Fee, you authorize Stripe to charge your payment method for the full amount including any applicable fees and tips. You also authorize PicturePledge to facilitate the payment routing through Stripe Connect to the Organizer's account (in the case of a Pledge) or to PicturePledge (in the case of a Launch Fee or Tile Picker Tip).

7.4 No Reversals After Payout. Once funds have been disbursed to the Organizer, PicturePledge cannot reverse or recall the Pledge. Disputes after payout are between the Donor and the Organizer.

7.5 Currency and Conversion. All transactions are in U.S. dollars. Donors using non-U.S. payment methods are responsible for any conversion fees imposed by their bank or card issuer.

8. REFUNDS AND CHARGEBACKS

8.1 General Rule. All Pledges are final. PicturePledge does not offer a general refund right.

8.2 PicturePledge Discretionary Refunds. We may, at our sole discretion, refund a Pledge if (a) the Campaign is removed for fraud or violation of these Terms before payout; (b) the Donor was charged in error due to a technical malfunction; or (c) we determine a refund is appropriate to maintain platform integrity.

8.3 Donor Disputes. If you believe a Pledge was unauthorized, the Campaign was fraudulent, or the Organizer materially misrepresented the Campaign:

Contact the Organizer first. Many disputes can be resolved directly.
Contact PicturePledge Support at support@picturepledge.com within 30 days of the Pledge. We will review and may, at our discretion, intervene.
Bank chargeback is a last resort. Filing a chargeback may result in fees being assessed to the Organizer and may limit your future use of the Service.

8.4 Chargeback Liability. If a Donor successfully charges back a Pledge after payout to the Organizer, the chargeback amount and any associated fees will be deducted from the Organizer's connected Stripe account. PicturePledge is not responsible for making donors whole from platform funds.

8.5 Launch Fees and Tile Picker Tips on Refunds. Launch Fees paid by Organizers and Tile Picker Tips paid by Donors are non-refundable except where PicturePledge initiates a refund due to platform error or platform-determined fraud.

8.6 No Donor Protection Guarantee. PicturePledge does not guarantee that Pledges will be used as represented or that Campaigns will deliver any outcome. Donors pledge at their own risk.

8.7 Unmet Goals (Keep-What-You-Raise). PicturePledge operates on a keep-what-you-raise model. If a Campaign does not reach its goal by its end date:

Pledged funds remain with the Organizer (less applicable fees) — pledges are not automatically refunded
The Photo will remain in whatever state of Reveal corresponds to the cumulative Pledges received
The Campaign will be marked as ended; the Photo and reveal state may remain publicly viewable per Section 9.5
Donors who object to the keep-what-you-raise outcome may dispute under Section 8.3, but final disposition is at PicturePledge's discretion

8.8 Photo Display After Campaign Ends. When a Campaign ends (whether by reaching its goal, expiring, or being closed by the Organizer), the Reveal state is locked. The Photo will be displayed at its final revealed state. Organizers and Donors should not assume the Photo will be fully revealed unless the goal was met in full.

9. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

9.1 Your Content. Organizers and Donors retain ownership of content they post to the Service ("User Content"), including photos, video, descriptions, and updates.

9.2 License to PicturePledge. By posting User Content (including Photos), you grant PicturePledge a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, sublicensable license to use, reproduce, display, distribute, modify, and create derivative works of the User Content solely for the purposes of (a) operating, promoting, and improving the Service; and (b) showcasing successful Campaigns in marketing materials. This license includes the right to apply the Reveal mechanic (e.g., blur, pixelation, tile overlay) to the Photo and to display the Photo at any state of Reveal as the mechanic requires. This license survives termination of your account for content displayed on completed Campaigns.

9.3 Your Representations. You represent that you have all necessary rights to grant this license and that your User Content does not infringe any third party's intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights.

9.4 PicturePledge IP. The Service, including all software, designs, logos, and trademarks, is owned by Ridgework Studio LLC. You may not copy, modify, reverse engineer, or create derivative works without our written permission.

9.5 Photo Retention. Photos uploaded to Campaigns are retained as follows:

During an active Campaign: Photo is available to the Organizer and visible at its current Reveal state
After a Campaign ends: Photo and final Reveal state remain accessible for a public archive page for up to 180 days, then removed from public view
Organizer-initiated removal: Organizer may request removal of the Photo at any time via account settings or support@picturepledge.com. The Photo is removed from public display within 7 days; backups are purged within 30 days
Required removal: PicturePledge may remove a Photo at any time if it violates these Terms, applicable law, or a valid takedown request

10. COPYRIGHT POLICY (DMCA)

PicturePledge complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). If you believe content on the Service infringes your copyright, send a written notice to our designated agent containing:

A physical or electronic signature of the copyright owner or authorized agent
Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to be infringed
Identification of the allegedly infringing material and its location on the Service (URL)
Your contact information (address, phone, email)
A statement that you have a good faith belief the use is unauthorized
A statement, under penalty of perjury, that the information is accurate and you are authorized to act

Designated DMCA Agent: Luis Eduardo Bielich PicturePledge / Ridgework Studio LLC 2205 W 136th Ave Ste 106 PMB 7871, Broomfield CO 80023 legal@picturepledge.com

We will respond to valid notices in accordance with DMCA procedures. Repeat infringers will have accounts terminated.

11. PRIVACY

Your use of the Service is subject to our Privacy Policy, which describes what data we collect, how we use it, and what rights you have. By using the Service, you consent to the practices described in the Privacy Policy.

12. DISCLAIMERS AND WARRANTIES

12.1 "AS IS" Service. THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED. PICTUREPLEDGE DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.

12.2 No Guarantees. PICTUREPLEDGE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT (A) CAMPAIGNS WILL ACHIEVE THEIR GOALS; (B) ORGANIZERS WILL USE FUNDS AS REPRESENTED; (C) THE SERVICE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE; OR (D) THE INFORMATION POSTED BY USERS IS ACCURATE OR RELIABLE.

12.3 Third-Party Services. The Service relies on third parties including Stripe. PicturePledge is not responsible for the actions, omissions, or performance of any third-party service.

12.4 No Tax, Legal, or Financial Advice. Nothing on the Service constitutes tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult qualified professionals for advice specific to your situation.

13. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

13.1 Cap. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, PICTUREPLEDGE'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE SERVICE OR THESE TERMS WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE TOTAL FEES (LAUNCH FEES AND TILE PICKER TIPS) YOU PAID TO PICTUREPLEDGE IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED U.S. DOLLARS ($100).

13.2 Excluded Damages. IN NO EVENT WILL PICTUREPLEDGE BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOST PROFITS, LOST FUNDS, LOST DATA, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, OR REPUTATIONAL HARM, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

13.3 Application. THIS LIMITATION APPLIES REGARDLESS OF THE LEGAL THEORY ASSERTED (CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE) AND SURVIVES ANY FAILURE OF ESSENTIAL PURPOSE OF ANY REMEDY. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES; IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED.

14. INDEMNIFICATION

14.1 By Organizer. Each Organizer agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless PicturePledge, Ridgework Studio LLC, and their officers, employees, and agents from any claim, demand, loss, or damages, including reasonable attorney fees, arising out of or related to (a) the Campaign content; (b) misrepresentations regarding the Campaign or use of funds; (c) the Organizer's violation of these Terms or any law; or (d) the Organizer's tax obligations on funds received.

14.2 By Donor. Each Donor agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless PicturePledge from any claim arising from the Donor's use of the Service in violation of these Terms or any law.

14.3 By All Users. All users agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless PicturePledge from any claim arising from the user's User Content, including claims of intellectual property infringement, defamation, or privacy violation.

14.4 Procedure. PicturePledge will give prompt notice of any claim and may, at our option, control the defense. The indemnifying party will not settle any claim without PicturePledge's prior written consent.

15. TERMINATION

15.1 By You. You may close your account at any time by contacting support@picturepledge.com. Closing an account does not entitle you to a refund of Launch Fees, Tile Picker Tips, or any other fees previously paid, and does not affect rights or obligations that arose before closure.

15.2 By PicturePledge. We may suspend or terminate your account at any time, with or without notice, for any reason, including but not limited to violation of these Terms, fraud, abuse, or risk to the Service or other users.

15.3 Effect of Termination. Upon termination: (a) your right to access the Service ends; (b) Pledges already disbursed are not reversed; (c) Pledges not yet disbursed may be refunded to Donors at our discretion; (d) provisions intended to survive (Sections 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.3, 16, and 17) remain in effect.

16. DISPUTE RESOLUTION; ARBITRATION; CLASS ACTION WAIVER

Please read this section carefully. It affects your legal rights.

16.1 Informal Resolution. Before initiating arbitration, you agree to first contact PicturePledge at legal@picturepledge.com and attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute informally for at least sixty (60) days.

16.2 Binding Arbitration. If informal resolution fails, you and PicturePledge agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to the Service or these Terms will be resolved by binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. Arbitration will be conducted in Broomfield County, Colorado, or remotely if agreed by both parties.

16.3 Class Action Waiver. YOU AND PICTUREPLEDGE AGREE TO BRING CLAIMS ONLY IN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION. The arbitrator may not consolidate claims or preside over any form of representative proceeding.

16.4 Exceptions. Either party may bring claims in small claims court if eligible. Either party may seek injunctive or equitable relief in court for intellectual property infringement.

16.5 Opt-Out. You may opt out of this arbitration provision by sending written notice to legal@picturepledge.com within thirty (30) days of first accepting these Terms. Opting out will not affect any other portion of these Terms.

16.6 30-Day Limitation. Any claim must be brought within one (1) year after the cause of action arose, except as prohibited by applicable law.

17. GOVERNING LAW AND VENUE

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflicts of law principles. To the extent a claim is not subject to arbitration under Section 16, the parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Broomfield County, Colorado.

18. CHANGES TO THESE TERMS

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date and, for material changes, provide notice via email or in-Service notification at least thirty (30) days before the changes take effect. Continued use of the Service after the effective date constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using the Service.

19. MISCELLANEOUS

19.1 Entire Agreement. These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy and any other documents incorporated by reference, are the entire agreement between you and PicturePledge regarding the Service.

19.2 Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in full effect, and the unenforceable provision will be modified only to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable.

19.3 No Waiver. Failure to enforce any provision is not a waiver of the right to enforce it later.

19.4 Assignment. You may not assign these Terms without our written consent. We may assign these Terms at our sole discretion, including to a successor in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

19.5 Force Majeure. PicturePledge is not liable for any delay or failure to perform due to causes beyond our reasonable control.

19.6 Headings. Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

19.7 Notices. Notices to you may be sent by email to the address on your account or by posting on the Service. Notices to PicturePledge must be sent to:

Ridgework Studio LLC d/b/a PicturePledge 2205 W 136th Ave Ste 106 PMB 7871, Broomfield CO 80023 legal@picturepledge.com

20. CONTACT

For questions about these Terms or the Service: Email: support@picturepledge.com Legal notices: legal@picturepledge.com Mailing address: Ridgework Studio LLC d/b/a PicturePledge, 2205 W 136th Ave Ste 106 PMB 7871, Broomfield CO 80023

By creating an account, starting a Campaign, or making a Pledge, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms of Service.