Terms & Conditions

1. Acceptance of These Terms

Effective date: September 30, 2026

These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of www.ucmetroeast.org and any related pages, forms, portals, and online services (together, the "Site") operated by United Congregations of Metro-East ("UCM," "we," "us," or "our").

By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated here by reference. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

2. About UCM and Use of the Site

UCM is a faith-rooted, nonpartisan community organization serving Illinois' Metro-East region through voter engagement, environmental justice, and transformative justice work. The Site shares information about our programs, campaigns, events, and ways to get involved.

You may use the Site for lawful, personal, and noncommercial purposes. You agree not to:

• Use the Site in any way that violates federal, state, or local law

• Attempt to gain unauthorized access to the Site, its servers, or any connected systems

• Introduce viruses, malware, or other harmful code

• Scrape, harvest, or collect information about other users without their consent

• Impersonate UCM, its staff, its leaders, or any other person or organization

• Interfere with the operation or security of the Site

We may suspend or restrict access to all or part of the Site at any time, without notice, for maintenance, security, or any other reason.

3. Donations, Payments, and Refunds

Processing. Online gifts are processed by third-party payment providers. UCM does not store full credit card or bank account numbers on its own systems. Your payment information is handled under the provider's own terms and privacy policy.

Tax deductibility. UCM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 36-4409776. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. You will receive a receipt for your records. Please consult your tax advisor about your specific situation.

Recurring gifts. If you set up a recurring (sustaining) gift, you authorize UCM and its payment provider to charge your chosen payment method on the schedule you select until you cancel. You can update or cancel a recurring gift at any time through the Sustainer Self-Service Portal or by contacting us. Changes take effect before the next scheduled charge when received at least [3] business days in advance.

Use of funds. UCM makes every effort to honor donor designations. When a gift is designated to a specific program or campaign, UCM may redirect those funds to another area of greatest need if the designated purpose is fully funded, changed, or no longer possible.

Refunds. Donations are generally nonrefundable. If you believe a gift was made in error, contact us within [30] days at info@ucmetroeast.org and we will review your request. Approved refunds are returned to the original payment method.

4. Events, Programs, and Volunteering

Registration. When you sign up for an event, training, or action through the Site, you agree to provide accurate information. UCM may change event dates, times, locations, or formats, or cancel events, and will make reasonable efforts to notify registered participants.

Participation. Participation in UCM events and volunteer activities is voluntary. You are responsible for your own conduct and safety and agree to follow reasonable instructions from UCM staff and leaders. UCM may ask anyone who behaves in a disruptive, unsafe, or discriminatory manner to leave.

Photos and recordings. UCM may photograph or record public events and use those images in its communications, website, and social media. If you prefer not to be photographed, please let a staff member know at the event.

Nonpartisan activity. UCM's civic and voter engagement work is nonpartisan. UCM does not endorse or oppose candidates for public office, and nothing on the Site should be read as such an endorsement.

5. Communications and User Submissions

Email and text messages. By subscribing to our newsletter, action alerts, or text messages, you agree to receive communications from UCM. You can unsubscribe from emails at any time using the link in any message, and opt out of texts by replying STOP. Message and data rates may apply.

Your submissions. If you send us stories, comments, photos, petition signatures, survey responses, or other content, you confirm that you have the right to share it. You grant UCM a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, edit, and share that content in connection with our mission, with attribution where appropriate. We will not publish your full name alongside a personal story without your permission.

Prohibited content. You agree not to submit content that is unlawful, threatening, harassing, hateful, defamatory, obscene, or that infringes on anyone else's rights. UCM may remove any submission at its discretion.

6. Intellectual Property

The Site and its content, including text, graphics, logos, photographs, videos, reports, toolkits, and the UCM name, are owned by or licensed to UCM and are protected by copyright and trademark laws.

You may view, download, and share Site content for personal, educational, and noncommercial advocacy purposes, provided you credit UCM and do not alter the content in a misleading way. You may not use UCM's name or logo to suggest endorsement, sponsorship, or affiliation without our written permission. For other uses, contact us at info@ucmetroeast.org.

7. Privacy, Third-Party Links, and Disclaimers

Privacy. Our collection and use of personal information is described in our Privacy Policy. By using the Site, you consent to those practices.

Third-party links and services. The Site may link to or use services operated by others, such as donation platforms, event registration tools, petition tools, social media, and partner organizations. UCM does not control and is not responsible for their content, terms, or privacy practices. A link does not mean UCM endorses that site.

Information only. Content on the Site is provided for general information and advocacy purposes. It is not legal, financial, medical, or voting advice. For official voter registration, polling place, and ballot information, please confirm with your local election authority.

No warranties. The Site is provided "as is" and "as available." To the fullest extent permitted by law, UCM makes no warranties, express or implied, that the Site will be accurate, complete, uninterrupted, or free of errors or harmful components.

Limitation of liability. To the fullest extent permitted by law, UCM and its board, staff, volunteers, member congregations, and partners will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, the Site.

Indemnification. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless UCM and its board, staff, and volunteers from any claims, losses, or expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees, arising from your violation of these Terms or misuse of the Site.

8. Governing Law, Changes, and Contact

Governing law. These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any dispute will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in [Madison or St. Clair] County, Illinois.

Severability. If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest will remain in effect.

Changes to these Terms. UCM may update these Terms from time to time. We will post the revised version on this page with a new effective date. Your continued use of the Site after changes are posted means you accept the updated Terms.

Contact us. Questions about these Terms can be sent to:

United Congregations of Metro-East
8710 State Street East St. Louis, IL 62203 | info@ucmetroeast.org | (618) 213-6825