> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://earthlinc.gitbook.io/protocol/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://earthlinc.gitbook.io/protocol/legal-and-policies/donation-terms-and-charitable-disclosures.md).

# Donation Terms & Charitable Disclosures

*Version 1.2 · Effective July 4, 2026 · `earthlinc.earth`*

These Donation Terms govern the **Drop** — the charitable contribution made when a station is **minted carrying a YuCROWN mission** on the Earth LinC Service. Drops are received by **YuCROWN Corporation**, a New Jersey nonprofit corporation recognized as tax-exempt under **Section 501(c)(3)** of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code (EIN **99-3649964**) ("**YuCROWN**"). The commercial Service — composing, plain mints, and every Cast — is operated by **Kong Group**, a separate commercial entity; those payments are not contributions and are governed by the Payment & Refund Policy. These Terms govern only the charitable Drop, which is YuCROWN's alone.

Capitalized terms follow the Terms of Service and the Earth LinC Protocol Specification.

***

## 1. What a Drop is

At the mint, you choose what your station carries. If you choose a **YuCROWN mission** — a real, verified action for this earth — your mint payment is a **Drop**: a charitable contribution to YuCROWN, **in full**. One payment, one destination: the entire amount goes to the 501(c)(3); no portion of a Drop goes to Kong Group or pays for commercial services, and charitable funds are never commingled with commercial revenue.

If you mint plain, no contribution is made, and these Terms do not apply.

## 2. Deductibility — what we can and cannot tell you

Whether and to what extent a Drop is tax-deductible depends on U.S. tax law and on your own situation. Two things stated plainly:

* Where a contribution comes with something received in return, U.S. law treats it as a **quid-pro-quo contribution**: the deductible portion is limited to the amount that **exceeds the fair-market value of what is received**. The minted station and its associated digital record/private imprint are provided solely as an honorary, non-commercial acknowledgment of your support and carry **no commercial or fair-market value ($0.00)**. Consequently, no goods or services of value are provided to you in exchange for your Drop.
* **We never claim a Drop is "fully deductible."** Your acknowledgment states the figures that apply; what you may actually deduct depends on your own tax position. **Nothing here is tax advice — consult your own tax advisor.**

For any quid-pro-quo contribution over **$75**, YuCROWN provides the written disclosure the law requires.

## 3. Acknowledgments

For every Drop, YuCROWN issues a contemporaneous written acknowledgment by email stating: the amount contributed, the date, the disclosures the law requires (including any description and good-faith estimate of value received in return), and YuCROWN's name and EIN. Keep it for your records; for contributions of **$250 or more**, U.S. law requires this acknowledgment to claim a deduction.

## 4. How Drops are used

* Drops fund YuCROWN's charitable mission: **verified ecological action** — real work for the earth confirmed by an independent, accountable source before it is recorded (Protocol Specification, Part C).
* At the mint you choose the mission your station carries. YuCROWN applies contributions to the chosen mission wherever possible; where a mission is fully funded or becomes infeasible, YuCROWN may redirect funds to substantially similar charitable purposes, as nonprofit law permits. **Variance power of this kind is standard and is disclosed here so it never surprises you.**
* YuCROWN publishes what is verified and what is reported back (see *Transparency & impact* in the docs).

## 5. Refunds of Drops

Charitable contributions are, by their nature, **not refundable**. A completed Drop can be returned only in narrow cases:

* **Processing error** — duplicate charge or technical fault: contact **<support@yucrown.earth>** within **30** days and YuCROWN will correct it.
* **Mistaken amount** — clear, promptly reported entry mistakes (for example, an obvious extra digit) are reviewed in good faith.
* **No mint, no Drop** — if the mint fails entirely (no station is minted and nothing is delivered), the full payment is reversed.

Once the station has minted, the on-chain record is permanent; a returned contribution (where one occurs) does not and cannot un-mint it. If a contribution is returned, any tax acknowledgment for it is void.

## 6. Eligibility and payment

* Drops are accepted in **U.S. dollars** and in **USDC stablecoin** through the Service's payment flow, routed whole to YuCROWN's own account. For contributions made in USDC, YuCROWN will acknowledge the receipt of the specific asset and quantity delivered on-chain, alongside the timestamped date. For tax purposes, cryptocurrency contributions are treated as property; YuCROWN receipts these at the prevailing USD fair-market value at the exact time of transfer, but donors are solely responsible for calculating and establishing value under IRS guidelines. Tax treatment of crypto contributions carries strict reporting rules (including IRS Form 8283 for substantial valuations) — consult your advisor.
* You must have the legal right to use the payment method. Contributions may be declined or returned where acceptance would violate law, including sanctions law.
* YuCROWN does not accept contributions conditioned on benefits that would violate its exempt purposes or these Terms.

## 7. Matching, employers, and institutional giving

Some employers match charitable contributions. The figures stated on your acknowledgment are the ones to use. Institutional or large gifts outside the mint flow can be arranged directly: **<support@yucrown.earth>**.

## 8. Donor information

YuCROWN keeps the donor records the law requires (name, contact, amount, date, acknowledgment). Its handling of donor information is described in the Privacy Policy (§6). YuCROWN does not sell donor lists.

## 9. State charitable-solicitation disclosures (U.S.)

YuCROWN is a New Jersey nonprofit corporation. Where state law requires charitable-solicitation registration, YuCROWN registers or relies on available exemptions as its solicitation activity requires; state-specific disclosure statements will appear here as registrations are made. Registration or licensing with a state agency does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by that state. A copy of YuCROWN's latest financial report is available on request: **<support@yucrown.earth>**.

## 10. International donors

Drops from outside the United States are welcome, but tax relief for cross-border charitable giving is rare; a U.S. 501(c)(3) acknowledgment generally does not create deductibility in other countries. Consult your local advisor.

## 11. Changes

YuCROWN may update these Terms; the version in effect when you mint governs that Drop. Material changes are posted with a new "Last updated" date.

## 12. Contact

YuCROWN Corporation · Holmdel, New Jersey · EIN 99-3649964 **<support@yucrown.earth>**

***

*Part of the Earth LinC legal set: Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Digital Asset Terms · Acceptable Use & Content Policy · Payment & Refund Policy · IP & DMCA Policy.*


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