Terms and Conditions

Effective Date: February 27, 2025

Thank you for supporting the American Folk Institute (“AFI”). By making a contribution to AFI, you acknowledge and agree to the following terms and conditions.

1. Nature of Contributions

All contributions to AFI, including those related to tour participation and Friends of the Ensemble (FOTE) memberships, are charitable donations made in support of AFI’s mission.

These donations help further AFI’s efforts to share a love for America and American folk traditions through cultural exchange, education, and performance. Contributions are not a payment for goods or services and do not entitle donors to specific benefits, products, or experiences.

While donors may indicate a preference for supporting a specific AFE member, all donations are made to AFI and will be used at its sole discretion to fulfill its nonprofit objectives.

2. Non-Refundable Donations

All donations to AFI are non-refundable. Once a contribution has been made, it cannot be canceled, refunded, or transferred under any circumstances.

For FOTE monthly donors, contributions already processed cannot be canceled or refunded. However, future monthly contributions can be canceled at any time by:

Logging into their donor account and adjusting their settings.
Contacting admin@americanfolkensemble.org to request cancellation.

Cancellation requests must be made before the next scheduled payment to take effect.

3. Types of Contributions

AFI receives donations in various forms, including:

Tour-Related Contributions: Donations made in connection with an AFE member’s participation in a tour help support AFI’s mission of cultural exchange and international performance. These contributions do not constitute payment for a tour, travel accommodations, or any other services.
Friends of the Ensemble (FOTE) Contributions: Ongoing or one-time donations that sustain AFI’s initiatives, outreach, and international programming. While donors may request that their FOTE contributions support a specific AFE member, all funds are donated to AFI and allocated at its discretion.
One-Time and General Donations: Contributions made to AFI that support its nonprofit objectives, including artist development, outreach programs, and educational initiatives.

All contributions are donated to AFI, and while donors may express a preference to support a specific ensemble member, AFI retains full discretion over how funds are allocated to support its mission.

4. Scholarships and Referral Credits

General Scholarships

AFI’s long-term goal is to provide additional scholarship opportunities as sponsorships and fundraising expand. These may include merit-based, talent-based, or need-based scholarships, awarded at the discretion of AFI leadership. Scholarships are contingent on available funding and may be modified or discontinued at any time.

AFI and AFE retain the full right to determine how any scholarship funds are used, allocated, or applied in whatever manner the organization deems necessary to further its mission.

Referral Scholarship Credit Policy
The American Folk Ensemble (AFE) and American Folk Institute (AFI) may, at their discretion, award a $500 scholarship credit toward a member’s tour contribution for each eligible new member they recruit who is cast and successfully travels on tour.

To qualify:

The referred member must be a first-time touring member of AFE. Past members returning to the ensemble are not considered new members for the purposes of this credit.
The referred member must list the referring member’s name on their casting form at the time of submission. Credits cannot be retroactively applied if the referral is not properly documented.
The referred member must be cast and must successfully travel on their first international tour with AFE. If the referred member withdraws, is dismissed, or otherwise does not travel, no scholarship credit will be awarded.
Scholarship credits are valid only for the referring member’s contribution for the same year in which the referred member travels. They cannot be applied to past years, deferred to future tours, or transferred between members.
Scholarship credits are applied only to the final due date(s) of the referring member’s contribution.

Right of Refusal
AFI and AFE retain the sole discretion to refuse, revoke, or deny any scholarship credit for referrals or for any other reason, including but not limited to suspected misuse, incomplete information, or any circumstance deemed inconsistent with the mission or policies of the organization.

5. Friends of the Ensemble (FOTE) Contributions

FOTE donors may designate an AFE member they wish to support, and AFI will allocate funds toward that member’s tour expenses starting from the first payment until their tour departure date.

Cancellation Policy: FOTE donors may cancel future monthly donations at any time by logging into their account or by emailing admin@americanfolkensemble.org. However, once a payment has been processed, it cannot be canceled or refunded.
Annual Reset: FOTE contributions reset annually on December 31. Any unused funds do not roll over and will be retained by AFI to support its general mission, operations, and cultural initiatives.
Fair Use Policy: Donations made to FOTE cannot be accrued over multiple years for future tours. Contributions must be used within the designated timeframe, or they will remain with AFI to ensure fairness and financial integrity.
Application of Funds: While donations may be made in support of a specific individual, they are contributions to AFI and will be used at AFI’s discretion to further its nonprofit objectives.

6. Use of Funds

AFI retains full discretion over how donations are used to support its mission. Contributions sustain various programs, performances, and outreach initiatives that align with AFI’s goals. AFI determines the best use of funds to further its activities, and specific allocation of resources is at the sole discretion of the organization.

7. Donation Processing & Tax Information

AFI is a registered nonprofit organization. Contributions may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Donors should consult their tax advisor for specific guidance. Receipts are available upon request.

All transactions are securely processed. By making a donation, you confirm that:

You are authorized to use the payment method provided.
The information submitted is accurate.
AFI is not responsible for errors in processing due to incorrect information provided by the donor.

8. Privacy & Policy Updates

AFI values donor privacy and protects personal information. When making a contribution, we may collect details such as name, email, mailing address, and payment information. This information is used only for processing donations and providing receipts. AFI does not sell or share donor information.

AFI reserves the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Any changes will be posted on our website with the revised effective date.

9. Contact Us

If you have any questions regarding these Terms and Conditions, please contact us at: admin@americanfolkensemble.org