Last Updated: November 3, 2026
Welcome to KadoPool. Please read these Terms of Service ("Terms") carefully. By using our website or mobile application, you agree to be bound by these Terms.
Program addenda. Two programs have their own terms, which add to these Terms: the Partner Organization Addendum, for non-profit organizations in the Partner Program, and the KadoPool Connectors Addendum, for organizers in the Connectors program.
KadoPool ("we," "us," or "our") provides a platform that lets users ("Organizers") collect money from other users ("Contributors") for one or more people ("Recipients"), who receive it as gift cards or prepaid cards, with a digital keepsake (the KadoBook).
We are not a bank, broker, or financial institution. Stripe, our payment processor, processes every payment and holds the funds until they are paid out. Funds for gift cards and prepaid cards go from Stripe to a bank account KadoPool keeps only for Pool funds, and from there to the card provider. They never pass through KadoPool's operating account.
Each contribution, less the fees in Section 3, belongs to its Pool and is used only for that Pool: paid out to its Recipients, used for a KadoClip the Organizer adds, or refunded, as Sections 3, 4 and 7 describe. The Organizer never has access to the funds, and KadoPool never uses them for its own purposes. Each Recipient's share is calculated to the cent; the cent or two left over when a Pool is divided, less than one cent per Recipient, is added to KadoPool's fee. When a Recipient accepts their gift, an amount under $1 that no gift card or prepaid card can take is also added to KadoPool's fee; the app shows it before the Recipient confirms. Donations to a Donation Pool, and those made once a gift with a limit is full, work differently: each goes to the beneficiary Partner Organization's own Stripe account as it is made (Section 5).
To foster an inclusive community environment, KadoPool utilizes a "Privacy Shield" feature.
You acknowledge and agree that:
Each contribution carries a Payment Processing Fee (charged by Stripe) and a Platform Fee (charged by KadoPool), which you pay in the way the pool's Organizer chooses when creating the pool: (a) included in your contribution (the default): you are charged the amount you choose, and the pool receives it less the fees; or (b) added on top: you are charged your contribution plus the fees, and the pool receives your whole contribution. The Processing Fee shown is Stripe's standard fee for a card issued in the United States. When Stripe charges more for your card because it was issued in another country, that extra fee is added to your payment and shown before you confirm, whichever option the Organizer chose (see section 10.2). What you will be charged is shown before you confirm payment.
Processing fees collected by Stripe are non-refundable. If a pool is canceled or a refund is issued, the processing fee retained by Stripe will be deducted from the refund amount. KadoPool refunds its own fee in full. A payment made after the pool's closing date is not charged.
When sending the gift, the Organizer may add a KadoClip for each Recipient: one made from the pool's messages, or, where offered, one with photos. KadoClip is optional. Its price, per Recipient, is shown in the app before the Organizer adds it and is taken from the pool when the gift is sent. It can be added only when the pool holds enough to pay for it, and it isn't refundable once the gift is sent.
KadoPool accepts each Contribution through Stripe for the Pool's Recipients or, on a Donation Pool, for its Partner Organization. Once Stripe confirms the payment, the Contributor has nothing more to pay, and can get a refund only as Section 7 allows. If a payout fails, completing it or refunding the Contribution is KadoPool's responsibility, not the Contributor's or the Organizer's.
KadoPool's rights and remedies with respect to payment reversals, chargebacks, disputes, and ACH returns — whether initiated before or after a Pool has closed, been redeemed, or been disbursed — are set out in Section 14.4 (Payment Reversal Indemnity). Contributors and Organizers agree to cooperate with KadoPool in good faith to resolve any chargeback, dispute, or reversal, and acknowledge that KadoPool may take the actions described in Section 14 to recover reversed amounts and associated fees.
Disputes and the Pool. When a Contributor's payment is disputed or charged back, KadoPool does not hold the Pool. The disputed contribution is treated as lost to the Pool from the moment the dispute is opened: it no longer counts toward the Pool, and if the Pool has already closed, the disputed amount is deducted from the payouts of Recipients who have not yet redeemed their gift, in proportion to their share, to the cent. Notwithstanding Section 14.4, KadoPool does not ask a Recipient to return a payout already received because of a dispute opened afterwards, unless KadoPool reasonably believes the Recipient took part in fraud or misuse described in Section 14. If the dispute is later decided in KadoPool's favor and the funds are returned, KadoPool will contact the affected Recipients to pay them the recovered amount, less the dispute fees charged by our payment processor. If a dispute is decided against KadoPool, the account of the Contributor who made the payment may be suspended under Section 14.5.
Disputes on Donation Pools. A Donation Pool is not held either. When a donation is disputed, KadoPool takes the Partner Organization's part of it back from the Partner Organization's Stripe account while it is still there, without charging the Partner Organization the dispute fees, and pays it to the Partner Organization again if the dispute is decided in KadoPool's favor. Once the donation has been paid out to the Partner Organization's bank, KadoPool handles any recovery with the Partner Organization directly, under the Partner Organization Addendum.
Back to questionsKadoPool is designed for maximum flexibility. Once a Pool is closed, the Organizer and then the Recipient may choose how to receive the collected funds. To receive their gift and open their KadoBook, Recipients create a free KadoPool account. The KadoBook stays available to them for 2 years after the gift is sent; we remind them before it is deleted, and they can save it as a PDF in the app.
Users may select from the following options available through our integration with third-party payout providers:
Our gift card providers, and the brands and conditions they offer, may change from time to time, so the brands shown in the app may change. If a card a Recipient chose can no longer be ordered, KadoPool orders the same brand from another provider where it can, or contacts the Recipient to choose again; the gift is not lost.
Payouts to organizations are processed via Stripe. Gift cards and prepaid cards are ordered through our gift card providers, which KadoPool may add or change at any time. By selecting a payout method, you agree to the terms that come with the card and those of the chosen retailer. KadoPool is not responsible for the loss of funds once they have been successfully transferred to a third-party provider or retailer.
Some cards may carry a fee, depending on their provider. Any such fee is shown before the Recipient confirms the redemption and is taken out of the Pool, from that Recipient's gift. KadoPool adds no fee of its own. Refer to our Pricing page for details.
Once the Recipient has chosen how to receive their gift, KadoPool sends the gift cards and prepaid cards together in one e-mail, usually within 5 business days: payments first need a few days to clear.
To claim a pool or initiate a payout, Recipients must complete the following steps:
KadoPool offers a community reinvestment program where 30% of our Platform Fee is shared with verified Partner Organizations: non-profit organizations recognized by the IRS as tax-exempt (e.g., PTA/PTO, non-profit schools, other education-related organizations, or non-profits across various missions). This is a commercial referral fee paid by KadoPool LLC directly to the Partner Organization; it is not a tax-deductible donation from the Contributor.
Donation Pools. Donation Pools are not available in every state. Where KadoPool can't accept a donation or a Partner Organization, the contribution page or the registration form says so before anyone pays or registers. Eligible 501(c)(3) Partner Organizations may also enable Donation Pools — a distinct pool type through which Contributors make charitable contributions remitted directly to the Partner Organization. Only a Partner Organization whose claim is confirmed, whose verification with Stripe and the IRS is complete, and whose Stripe account can receive payments can be chosen for a Donation Pool. Each donation is paid to the Partner Organization's own Stripe account as it is made. Once the pool has closed and its donations have cleared, KadoPool sends them from that account to the Partner Organization's bank in one payout, less Stripe's payout fee. A donation under review for suspected fraud stays in that account until the review ends; the pool's other donations are paid out without it. KadoPool is a software platform and does not solicit donations on behalf of Partner Organizations. On a Donation Pool, everything you pay, fees included, is your donation to the Partner Organization. The Platform Fee and Stripe's fee are the Partner Organization's costs of receiving it, taken from the donation. On Donation Pools, KadoPool donates the same 30% of its Platform Fee to the Partner Organization, in its own name, with each donation. The Partner Organization issues contribution acknowledgments to Contributors. KadoPool provides it with the Contributor information it needs when the pool closes and, at the Partner Organization’s request, may send acknowledgments on its behalf. Acknowledgments are issued after the pool closes, once contributions are final; the payment confirmation email is not a tax receipt.
Donation Pool Organizers. Any registered KadoPool user may create a Donation Pool designating a verified 501(c)(3) Partner Organization as beneficiary. By creating a Donation Pool, you represent and warrant that you are acting as an uncompensated volunteer in support of that organization and are not a professional fundraiser as defined under applicable state law.
Donations once a gift is full. On a pool with a limit for the whole gift and a linked Partner Organization that can receive donations, the Organizer may let people keep giving once the gift is full. Those payments are donations to the Partner Organization in honor of the Recipient: the Donation Pool rules in this Section apply to them, and they are not part of the gift.
Full terms governing the Partner Program — including fee calculation, payout schedule, Donation Pool eligibility and compliance, and termination — are set out in the Partner Organization Addendum, which Partner Organizations agree to upon registration.
Back to questionsKadoPool is a platform for celebration and gratitude. To maintain a safe and positive environment for all users, you agree to the following:
Contributors can request a refund in the app until the pool's closing date. Until the Organizer sends the gift, the Organizer can refund a Contributor or cancel the pool, even after the closing date. Once the gift is sent, contributions can't be refunded. On a Donation Pool, closing the pool takes the place of sending the gift: once the Organizer has closed it, donations can't be refunded.
Stripe's processing fee isn't refunded. A payment KadoPool can't accept, such as one made after the pool's closing date, is not charged. Our Refund Policy gives the full details.
Fraud & Investigation Exception. Notwithstanding the foregoing, KadoPool may (a) refuse a refund request where the underlying contribution is subject to a fraud investigation, chargeback, dispute, or hold under Section 14; and (b) reverse, adjust, or reclassify any contribution that has been reversed by the Contributor's bank — whether via chargeback, ACH return, or other reversal mechanism — without further notice to the Organizer or Recipient. In such cases, the affected contribution ceases to count toward the Pool's balance and cannot be redeemed or disbursed.
Back to questionsThe Service is provided "as is." We do not guarantee that a specific fundraising goal will be met. We are not responsible for the quality, safety, or legality of the goods purchased with the redeemed gift cards.
Back to questionsIf you are organizing a gift for a public employee (e.g., a public school teacher), you are responsible for ensuring the gift complies with local ethics laws and gift limits. KadoPool facilitates the collection of funds but does not offer legal advice regarding gift compliance.
Back to questionsWhen creating an account or a pool, you are required to identify your country of residence and, where applicable, your state, province, or territory ("Home Jurisdiction").
Each Pool operates in a single currency determined by the Organizer’s Home Jurisdiction at the time of pool creation. This currency applies to all contributions, fees, and payouts for that pool and cannot be changed once the pool is created.
Platform Fees include any applicable tax.
For US Users: These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey.
For International Users: These Terms are governed by the laws of New Jersey, except where mandatory local consumer protection laws (such as the UK Consumer Rights Act 2015 or Australian Consumer Law) require the application of your local law. In such cases, the mandatory provisions of your local law shall prevail.
Back to questionsTo the maximum extent permitted by law, KadoPool’s total liability for any claim arising from these Terms is limited to the total Platform Fees paid by the user to KadoPool in the 12 months preceding the claim. This limit does not apply to KadoPool's obligation to pay out the funds collected in a Pool (Section 3.4).
Back to questionsYou agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless KadoPool LLC and its affiliates from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in any way connected with:
You may not use the Service to:
KadoPool may, at any time and in its sole discretion, require any user — including Organizers, Contributors, and Recipients — to verify their identity, source of funds, or the legitimacy of any contribution or Pool. Verification methods may include government-issued photo identification, a live photograph or "selfie," address confirmation, and confirmation of ownership of a payment method or bank account. KadoPool may suspend account access and hold Pool funds pending completion of verification. Failure to provide requested verification within thirty (30) days is grounds for permanent account termination and forfeiture of any Pool funds, subject to KadoPool's refund and reversal policies.
KadoPool may, at any time and without prior notice, suspend any account, freeze any Pool, or place any contribution or payout on hold for up to ninety (90) days (or longer where reasonably necessary in connection with a chargeback, dispute, law-enforcement request, or fraud investigation) while KadoPool investigates suspected fraud, misuse of the Service, or violation of these Terms. During any hold, no interest accrues on held funds and KadoPool has no obligation to disburse them.
If a Contributor's payment is reversed, disputed, charged back, or otherwise refunded by their bank, card issuer, or payment provider — whether before or after the Pool has closed, been redeemed, or been disbursed — KadoPool may (i) deduct the reversed amount from payouts not yet claimed or, on a Donation Pool, take the Partner Organization's part of it back from its Stripe account while it is still there, as Section 3.5 describes, and (ii) recover it, with any associated fees, from the account that made the payment, or from any account KadoPool reasonably believes took part in fraud or misuse under this Section 14.
You authorize KadoPool to debit or offset any of the foregoing to satisfy such recovery, and you agree that this authorization survives closure of the affected Pool and termination of your account.
KadoPool may permanently terminate any account it reasonably believes has been used for fraud, identity theft, or coordinated misuse of the Service, and may permanently prohibit the individual or entity behind that account from re-registering, whether under the same or a different name, email address, or payment method. KadoPool's determination of what constitutes reasonable belief is made in its sole discretion, subject only to obvious bad faith.
You consent to KadoPool sharing information relating to your account, transactions, payment methods, and device fingerprints with (i) our payment processors and their fraud-detection systems, and (ii) law enforcement or regulatory authorities where KadoPool reasonably believes such sharing is necessary to prevent, investigate, or prosecute fraud, or to comply with a lawful request. Information shared under this Section 14.6 may include, without limitation, identifiers relating to bank accounts and payment methods used on the Service.
You agree to promptly cooperate in good faith with KadoPool and its payment processors in responding to any chargeback, dispute, or reversal, including providing verification of identity, proof of authorization for a payment, and any documentation reasonably requested. Failure to cooperate is an independent basis for account termination under Section 14.5.
Back to questionsWe may update these Terms. We will notify you of significant changes by e-mail or in the app.
Back to questionsIf you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at lifeguard@kadopool.com.
KadoPool LLC
PO Box 1
Windsor, NJ 08561-0001