Terms of Service
Effective date: July 1, 2024
These Terms of Service govern your access to and use of echousing.org and other websites, donation pages, forms, portals, email programs, and text messaging programs operated by Eastern Carolina Homelessness Organization, Inc., doing business as Eastern Carolina Housing Organization and ECHO.
In these Terms, “ECHO,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Eastern Carolina Homelessness Organization, Inc. “You” and “your” refer to any website visitor, donor, subscriber, applicant, volunteer, landlord, partner, or other person who uses our services.
By accessing our website, submitting a form, making a donation, or enrolling in an email or text messaging program, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy. Do not use these services if you disagree with these Terms.
1. About ECHO
ECHO is a South Carolina nonprofit organization that works to address homelessness and housing instability through housing programs, supportive services, community partnerships, and related charitable activities.
Our website provides information about ECHO’s programs, charitable work, donation opportunities, events, volunteer opportunities, landlord partnerships, and community resources.
Website content does not constitute legal, medical, financial, housing, or emergency advice.
2. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old to make a donation, create an account, or provide marketing consent.
If you use the website on behalf of an organization, you represent that you have authority to accept these Terms for that organization.
3. Permitted website use
You may use the website for lawful, personal, charitable, or organizational purposes consistent with ECHO’s mission.
You may not:
- Violate any applicable law
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the website or its systems
- Introduce malicious software or interfere with website operation
- Submit false, misleading, fraudulent, or unlawful information
- Impersonate another person or organization
- Scrape, harvest, or collect personal information without authorization
- Use ECHO’s name, logo, content, or trademarks without permission
- Use the website to threaten, harass, exploit, or harm another person
We may restrict or terminate access when we reasonably believe someone has violated these Terms or created a security, legal, or operational risk.
4. Requests for assistance
Submitting a form, application, or request for assistance does not guarantee eligibility, enrollment, financial assistance, housing placement, or any specific service.
Program eligibility depends on available funding, applicable program rules, documentation, service-area requirements, and other factors. ECHO may refer requests to partner organizations when appropriate.
The website is not an emergency service. Call 911 if you or another person faces an immediate threat to health or safety.
5. Donations
Donation authorization
When you submit a donation, you authorize ECHO and its payment processors to charge the payment method you provide for the amount shown.
You represent that:
- The payment information is accurate
- You are authorized to use the payment method
- The donation does not involve fraud or unlawful funds
Donations are processed in United States dollars unless the donation page states otherwise.
Charitable deductibility
ECHO is recognized as a tax-exempt charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
ECHO does not provide tax, accounting, or legal advice. Consult your professional adviser about your individual circumstances.
If ECHO provides goods or services in exchange for a payment, only the amount exceeding the fair value of those goods or services may qualify as a charitable contribution. ECHO will provide required acknowledgments and disclosures. The Internal Revenue Service requires additional written substantiation for certain contributions, including contributions of $250 or more and qualifying quid pro quo payments. IRS charitable-contribution guidance
Donation designations
ECHO will make reasonable efforts to use a designated donation for its stated charitable purpose. All donations remain subject to applicable law, gift restrictions accepted by ECHO, and ECHO’s fiduciary responsibilities.
Unless ECHO agrees otherwise in writing, a donor may not direct a charitable donation for the exclusive benefit of a specific individual.
ECHO may decline or return a donation that conflicts with its mission, policies, legal obligations, or charitable status.
Recurring donations
If you select a recurring donation, you authorize ECHO and its payment processor to charge the selected amount at the frequency shown during checkout.
Recurring donations continue until canceled. You may cancel through any cancellation option in your donor account or by contacting ECHO. Cancellation applies to future charges and may not reverse a charge already submitted for processing.
Refunds and payment errors
Charitable donations are ordinarily final. ECHO may review refund requests involving duplicate charges, incorrect amounts, unauthorized transactions, technical errors, or other exceptional circumstances.
Contact ECHO promptly after discovering an error. Approval of a refund is not guaranteed except where required by law.
If you believe a payment was unauthorized, contact your financial institution and ECHO.
Payment processors
ECHO may use third-party payment processors. Those providers may apply their own terms and privacy policies.
ECHO does not directly control a payment processor’s systems, availability, or security practices. Your use of those services is also subject to the processor’s applicable terms.
6. Text message terms
Consent to receive texts
When you provide your mobile number and affirmatively opt in, you consent to receive text messages from ECHO at that number. Messages may include:
- Donation and receipt information
- Event announcements
- Volunteer opportunities
- Fundraising appeals
- Program and community updates
- Landlord or housing-partner communications
- Responses to inquiries
- Other messages described when you provide consent
Marketing texts may be sent using automated technology. Consent to marketing texts is not a condition of making a donation, receiving services, applying for assistance, or working with ECHO.
Message frequency and charges
Message frequency varies based on your relationship with ECHO and the programs you select.
Message and data rates may apply. Your mobile carrier determines those charges. ECHO is not responsible for carrier fees.
Stopping text messages
Reply STOP to stop ECHO text messages. ECHO will treat other reasonable opt-out language as a request to stop messages when required by law.
You may receive one confirmation message after opting out. After processing your request, ECHO will stop marketing texts unless you provide new consent.
Reply START to opt in again when supported. Reply HELP for assistance, or call ECHO at 843-213-1798.
Federal Communications Commission rules recognize STOP and similar language as reasonable methods for withdrawing text-message consent. FCC consent-revocation guidance
Mobile number responsibilities
You represent that you own the mobile number you provide or have authority to consent to messages at that number.
Notify ECHO if you stop using or controlling the number. Mobile numbers may be reassigned, and ECHO is not responsible for messages received by a later number holder when we were not informed of the change.
Delivery is subject to carrier availability and network conditions. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
7. Email communications
You may subscribe to newsletters, fundraising appeals, event notices, program updates, and other marketing emails.
You may unsubscribe using the link in a marketing email or by contacting ECHO. We will process unsubscribe requests as required by law.
Opting out of marketing email does not prevent ECHO from sending necessary transactional or relationship communications, such as:
- Donation receipts
- Account or security notices
- Responses to your inquiries
- Information you requested
- Service-related or application-related notices
ECHO will not use deceptive subject lines or sender information. Marketing messages will identify ECHO, include a valid postal address, and provide an unsubscribe method consistent with the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, commonly called the CAN-SPAM Act. Federal Trade Commission CAN-SPAM guidance
8. Privacy
Our Privacy Policy explains how ECHO collects, uses, retains, and shares personal information.
Do not submit sensitive personal information through a general website form unless the form specifically requests it and is intended to collect it.
ECHO does not guarantee that ordinary email or text messaging is encrypted. Do not send Social Security numbers, financial account credentials, medical records, or other highly sensitive information by text or unsecured email.
9. Accounts and donor portals
You are responsible for protecting your account credentials and for activity conducted through your account.
Notify ECHO promptly if you believe someone accessed your account without authorization. ECHO may suspend access to protect you, ECHO, or another person.
10. Intellectual property
ECHO or its licensors own the website’s text, graphics, photographs, logos, trademarks, videos, software, and other content unless otherwise stated.
You may view and print website content for personal, educational, or noncommercial charitable use. You may not reproduce, modify, sell, license, publish, or commercially exploit website content without written permission.
“ECHO,” “Eastern Carolina Housing Organization,” and associated logos may be protected names or marks. These Terms do not grant permission to use them.
11. Information you submit
You retain ownership of content you submit, such as messages, testimonials, photographs, or comments.
When you voluntarily submit content for publication or promotional use, you grant ECHO a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, edit, and display that content for the purpose described when it was submitted.
Do not submit content you lack permission to share. ECHO may remove submitted content that violates these Terms or creates privacy, safety, or legal concerns.
A separate release may apply to photographs, videos, testimonials, or stories involving identifiable individuals.
12. Third-party websites and services
The website may link to third-party websites, social networks, payment processors, donor portals, application systems, or partner resources.
ECHO does not control those services and does not endorse every statement, product, or practice found on them. Review the third party’s terms and privacy policy before using its service.
13. Website availability and disclaimers
ECHO strives to keep website information accurate and available, but does not warrant that:
- Every page is complete, current, or error-free
- The website will operate without interruption
- Every link or third-party service will remain available
- Website content will meet a particular need
- A submitted request will result in assistance or eligibility
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the website and its content are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, noninfringement, or uninterrupted operation.
Nothing in these Terms limits rights or warranties that cannot lawfully be excluded.
14. Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, ECHO and its directors, officers, employees, volunteers, and agents will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages arising from your use of the website.
This limitation does not apply where prohibited by law or to liability that cannot lawfully be limited.
15. Indemnification
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to defend and indemnify ECHO from claims, liabilities, damages, and reasonable expenses arising from:
- Your unlawful or unauthorized website use
- Your violation of these Terms
- Content you submit
- Your infringement of another person’s rights
This section does not apply to claims caused by ECHO’s own unlawful conduct.
16. Changes to these Terms
ECHO may update these Terms to reflect changes in its services, practices, or legal obligations.
The revised Terms will state a new effective date. Continued website use after the revised Terms take effect constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.
Material changes to an existing text or email subscription will not replace any consent required by law.
17. Governing law and venue
South Carolina law governs these Terms, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Any legal proceeding relating to these Terms must be brought in a state or federal court with jurisdiction over Horry County, South Carolina, unless applicable law requires another location.
18. Severability and waiver
If a court finds part of these Terms unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect.
ECHO’s failure to enforce a provision does not waive its right to enforce that provision later.
19. Contact ECHO
Contact ECHO with questions about these Terms, donations, or communications:
Eastern Carolina Homelessness Organization, Inc.
d/b/a Eastern Carolina Housing Organization
4033 Belle Terre Boulevard
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
Phone: 843-213-1798
Contact ECHO