Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy – Swiss American Giving GmbH (SAGG)

Effective Date: July 3, 2025

Swiss American Giving GmbH (“SAGG,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting your privacy. We understand the importance of your personal information and handle it with care and respect. Because SAGG is a Swiss-based organization serving donors internationally, we comply with Swiss data protection law (including the revised Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection, FADP), the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and applicable United States privacy laws (including the California Consumer Privacy Act, CCPA, for California residents). By using our services or website, you acknowledge and consent to this Privacy Policy. This Policy applies to all individuals who interact with SAGG both online and offline, including donors, fund advisors, grantees, and newsletter subscribers.

Collection and Use of Personal Information

Personal Information We Collect: When you interact with SAGG – whether by visiting our website, contacting us by phone or email, or through other offline means – you may entrust us with personally identifiable information (“personal information”). This information can be sensitive or confidential, such as financial details, payment information, or government-issued identification numbers (for example, U.S. Social Security Numbers for tax purposes), as well as less sensitive details like your name, date of birth, postal address, email address, and telephone number. In many cases, personal information is collected when you:

Establish or administer a donor-advised fund or charitable fund with SAGG

Make a donation or grant recommendation

We may also collect certain information about your family members or related persons if you choose to share it with us – for example, the names of a spouse or children, especially in contexts like legacy gifts or joint giving. In limited cases, to comply with laws (such as Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing regulations for international grants), we might collect a government identification number or similar information about key individuals associated with an organization you recommend for a grant. Any such information is used only for compliance checks and is not stored in our databases beyond what is necessary for that purpose.

How We Use Personal Information: SAGG’s primary purpose in collecting personal information is to serve you better and carry out our charitable mission. We use the information you provide for purposes including:

Providing and managing services: Fulfilling your grant recommendations and donation requests, administering your donor-advised fund or other accounts, and processing transactions you initiate.

Communication: Responding to your inquiries, sending confirmations and receipts for your donations, and providing customer support.

Personalized experience: Sending you relevant updates such as reports on the impact of your grants, project updates, or tailored marketing and educational materials that match your interests (only if you have agreed to receive such communications).

Verification and security: Verifying your identity when you establish a fund or access our systems, and protecting against fraud or unauthorized account access.

Improving our services: Analyzing how donors use our website or programs so we can improve user experience and SAGG’s offerings for the charitable community.

Legal and compliance: Maintaining accurate records for accounting, auditing, and regulatory purposes, and complying with any legal obligations or reporting requirements.

We collect only the personal information that is necessary for these purposes, and we collect it in a fair and lawful manner. SAGG will not ask for or retain personal data that is irrelevant or excessive in relation to the purposes described above.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

No Sale of Personal Data: SAGG does not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties for their own marketing or commercial purposes. We value your trust and will never monetize your data.

Sharing with Service Providers and Partners: We may share personal information with a limited number of trusted third-party service providers and affiliated organizations, but only for the purposes described in this Policy or with your consent. For example:

We use service providers to help with operational tasks such as data hosting, cloud storage, secure payment processing, email distribution, website analytics, auditing, or survey collection. These providers are given only the information necessary to perform their specific services, and they are contractually obligated to safeguard your data and not use it for their own purposes

Because SAGG works within a global network of charitable foundations to facilitate cross-border giving, we may share your information with our network members or partners (such as TrustBridge Global Foundation) when necessary to process your donation or issue required tax receipts in multiple jurisdictions. In all such cases, the recipients of your data are bound to protect it and use it only in line with providing the services or as required by law.

Legal Compliance and Protection: SAGG may disclose personal information if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to:

Comply with any applicable law, regulation, legal process, or enforceable governmental request (including requests by authorities outside of your country of residence, if we have a legal obligation to respond)

Enforce or apply our terms of service or other agreements, or protect the rights, property, or safety of SAGG, our supporters, or others (for example, to prevent fraud or address security or technical issues)

Fulfill mandatory reporting obligations to regulators or government bodies (for instance, reporting to tax authorities as required for charitable donations)

In the event we are required by law to disclose your information to authorities or third parties, we will, if legally permissible and practical, attempt to notify you of the disclosure.

Audits and Organizational Transfers: On occasion, personal information may be shared as part of financial audits (for example, an external auditor reviewing records may see donor transaction details). Auditors and similar professionals are also bound to confidentiality. In the unlikely event of a reorganization or transfer involving SAGG (such as a merger, creation of a successor charitable entity, or transfer of SAGG’s assets to another charitable organization), your personal information may be transferred to the new entity as part of that process, under the same privacy protections described here.

Identity and Confidentiality: The identity of all individuals who contact SAGG or participate in our programs will be kept confidential within our organization and network. Within SAGG (and our partners and service providers acting on our behalf), access to personal data is restricted to personnel who need it in order to communicate with you, provide SAGG’s services or information you have requested, maintain our records, conduct analysis to better serve our community, or fulfill legal and reporting obligations. Everyone who handles your data is trained to treat it with care and confidentiality.

Mailing and Communications: SAGG will not share your personal information with other organizations for their own mailing or marketing purposes without your express permission. We do not send mass communications on behalf of other organizations. However, we may use third-party companies to distribute our own communications (for example, an email service provider to send our email updates) or to collect feedback (for example, a research firm to run donor satisfaction surveys). In these cases, the third parties act under our direction and can only use your information to send the specific SAGG communication or compile survey results, not for any unrelated purposes.

Data Security and Retention

Protection of Your Information: SAGG takes appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. We utilize industry-standard security protocols. For example, if you provide sensitive personal information through our website (such as financial information or identification numbers), we encrypt that data during transmission and in storage using secure technologies. We also employ firewalls, secure data centers, and access controls to safeguard electronic data. For physical records, we maintain secure facilities and limit access to authorized staff.

Online Account Security: If you use our online donor portal or any web-based platform, it is protected via HTTPS encryption and requires login credentials. We strongly encourage you to keep your username, password, and any other authentication details confidential. SAGG personnel will never ask you for your password. Please notify us immediately if you suspect any unauthorized access to your account.

Retention of Data: We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or to satisfy legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. For example, we may keep donation records for a number of years to comply with tax and audit regulations. When we no longer need personal data for our operations or legal obligations, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

No Guarantee of Absolute Security: While we strive to protect your information, please note that no security measure or method of data transmission is 100% infallible. Thus, we cannot guarantee absolute security of information, especially for data transmitted via the internet or email. You transmit personal information to us at your own risk, and we encourage you to take precautions as well (such as using strong passwords and logging out of accounts on shared devices). If SAGG ever has reason to believe that your data was involved in a security breach that poses a high risk to your rights or security, we will notify you and the appropriate authorities as required by law.

Online Use, Cookies, and Web Analytics

Privacy in our online services is just as important to us as in our offline operations. Below is how we handle data when you use our website or online portals:

Anonymous Browsing: You are welcome to visit SAGG’s public website without revealing your identity. If you are simply browsing informational pages, we do not know who you are. Our web servers do, however, automatically log certain information about your visit in server logs, including your device’s IP address, the type of web browser or operating system you are using, and the date/time of access. This data is used in aggregate to help us monitor site performance, ensure security, and improve our website. We do not use it to identify individual visitors unless necessary to investigate security incidents or abuse.

Cookies: Like most websites, SAGG’s site uses cookies to enhance your experience and gather analytics. A cookie is a small text file that our website’s server places on your computer or device when you visit. It functions as an identification tag, allowing our site to remember your preferences or recognize you on return visits. For example, cookies might remember your language preference or keep you logged into a donor portal (if you choose such an option). Cookies are passive files – they cannot run programs or deliver viruses to your device.

We use both session cookies (which expire when you close your browser) and persistent cookies (which remain for a period of time or until you delete them) for purposes such as:

Keeping you logged in or preserving your settings on our site

Understanding how visitors navigate through our pages (so we can optimize design and content)

Tracking aggregate metrics about site usage and response rates to our communications

Cookie Choices: You have control over cookies. Most web browsers are initially set up to accept cookies by default, but you can adjust your browser settings to notify you when a cookie is being set or to reject cookies altogether. Please note: If you disable or decline certain cookies, some parts of SAGG’s website (especially any secure account areas or forms) may not function properly. For instance, you might not be able to log in or some preferences may not be saved. Where our site requires cookies for an intended function, we will endeavor to inform you (for example, via a cookie consent banner) and obtain any legally required consent.

Web Analytics: SAGG may use third-party web analytics services (such as Google Analytics or similar tools) to help us understand how users engage with our website. These analytics services use cookies and similar technologies to collect data about website usage (e.g. pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, and general geographic location of visits). We use this information in aggregate form to analyze trends, measure the effectiveness of our outreach, and improve the site’s content and layout. These analytics providers may use their own cookies or identifiers. However, they only receive de-identified, aggregate information – we do not provide them with your personal details like name or email.

Opt-Out of Analytics: If you do not wish to be tracked by Google Analytics, Google offers a Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on you can install. Additionally, you can disable JavaScript or cookies in your browser, but note that doing so might affect functionality of not only our site but others as well. Some analytics services also honor the “Do Not Track” header if your browser sends it. SAGG honors opt-out preferences to the extent feasible. For more information on controlling targeted advertising or analytics cookies, you can visit industry sites like the Network Advertising Initiative or Digital Advertising Alliance for opt-out tools. (Keep in mind SAGG’s use of cookies is primarily for functional and analytical purposes; we do not serve third-party ads on our site.)

Your Rights Under GDPR and Swiss Law

As a supporter of SAGG, you have certain rights regarding your personal data under the GDPR (for EU residents) and the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (for individuals in Switzerland). We are committed to honoring these rights. In plain language, you have the right to:

Access Your Information: You can request confirmation of whether we are processing your personal data, and if so, ask for a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will also provide supplemental information about how we use your data, who we share it with, and how long we anticipate retaining it, as required by law.

Correct/Rectify Your Information: If any of your personal details with SAGG are inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request that we correct or update them. We strive to keep our records up to date and encourage you to let us know if you spot any inaccuracies.

Delete Your Information: You can ask us to delete or erase your personal data. We will honor this “right to be forgotten” in applicable cases – for example, if the data is no longer needed for the purposes it was collected, or if you withdraw consent and no other legal basis for processing applies. Please note there are some exceptions; for instance, we might retain certain donation records if required for legal compliance (such as charity regulations or tax laws), but we will inform you if such an exception is relevant.

Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict or limit the processing of your personal information under certain circumstances. For example, if you contest the accuracy of data, you can ask us to suspend processing until the accuracy is verified. Or if you object to our use of data based on legitimate interests, you can request restriction while the objection is under review. During a restriction, we can store your data but not actively use it (unless for legal reasons) without your consent.

Data Portability: To the extent applicable law requires, you may request to receive certain personal data that you have provided to us in a commonly used, machine-readable format (for example, a CSV file), and you have the right to transmit that data to another data controller (for instance, if you wanted to transfer to a different donor-advised fund provider). Where technically feasible, you can also ask that we directly transfer the data to your new chosen organization. This right applies when our processing is based on your consent or a contract with you and is carried out by automated means.

Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information in some situations. In particular, you can always object to the use of your data for direct marketing purposes – if you do so, we will stop using your data for marketing immediately. You can also object when we are processing your data based on a legitimate interest (or that of a third party); we will then re-evaluate our reasons for processing and may be required to stop processing or demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds to continue.

Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent for any part of our data processing (for example, if you opted in to receive a newsletter or agreed to a specific use of your data), you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawing consent will not affect the legality of any processing we conducted prior to your withdrawal, and it won’t affect processing of your personal data done in reliance on other lawful grounds (e.g., processing necessary for performing a contract or fulfilling a legal obligation). However, it may mean we can no longer provide you certain services (for instance, if receiving our newsletter was contingent on consent, we will stop sending it upon withdrawal).

How to Exercise Your Rights: Exercising these rights is free of charge (except in rare cases of excessive or unfounded requests). To make any request regarding your personal data, please contact us using the contact information in the section below. For your security, we may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests (for example, ask you to confirm some details we have on file). We will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible, and no later than the timeframe required by applicable law (which is generally within 30 days under GDPR/Swiss law, with extensions if necessary and permitted). If we cannot fulfill your request (due to a legal exception or conflicting right), we will explain the reasoning to you.

Your Right to Complain: If you believe SAGG has not handled your personal data properly or you have unresolved concerns, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a data protection authority. Swiss residents can contact the Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner (FDPIC). If you are in the European Union, you may reach out to the supervisory authority in your country of residence. Of course, we would appreciate the chance to address your concerns directly first, and we welcome you to contact us with any issues.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a resident of California, you are entitled to additional privacy disclosures and rights under California law. SAGG’s policy is to extend appropriate privacy protections to our U.S.-based supporters, including compliance with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) where applicable. Below is a summary of California privacy rights:

Right to Know (Transparency): California residents can request information about the categories of personal information we have collected about them, the categories of sources of that information, the business or commercial purpose for collecting it, and the categories of third parties with whom we share personal information. You may also request the specific pieces of personal information we hold about you. (Unless you request it, we typically do not collect highly sensitive pieces of information for California consumers beyond what is described in this Policy.)

Right to Delete: You may request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you. Upon a verified request, we will delete your personal data from our records and direct any service providers to do the same, unless retaining the information is necessary for us or our service providers to complete a transaction or service you requested, detect or prevent fraud, exercise legal rights, comply with a legal obligation, or one of the other CCPA-recognized exceptions.

Right to Opt-Out of Sale of Personal Information: The CCPA gives you the right to opt out of the “sale” of your personal information. However, as stated above, SAGG does not sell personal information to any third parties. We also do not share your data for cross-context behavioral advertising. Therefore, there is no need for you to submit a request to opt-out of data sales – we have already opted you out by policy.

Right to Non-Discrimination: SAGG will not discriminate against you in any way for exercising your privacy rights. This means we will not deny you services, charge you a different price, or provide a different level of service because you made a privacy request or exercised any of your rights under CCPA. (In certain cases, if deletion of data means we cannot provide a service, we will inform you of that consequence, but that is not “discrimination” – it’s a result of your request.)

“Shine the Light” Law: California Civil Code §§ 1798.83–1798.84 (often called the “Shine the Light” law) allows California residents with whom we have an established business relationship to request, once a year, a notice detailing what categories of personal information (if any) we shared with third parties in the prior calendar year for the third parties’ direct marketing purposes, and the names and addresses of those third parties. As a matter of policy, SAGG does not disclose personal information to third parties for direct marketing without your explicit consent. If you would like to make a request under this law or under CCPA, you can do so by contacting us as described below.

Submitting California Requests: If you are a California resident and wish to exercise any of the above rights, you (or an authorized agent acting on your behalf) can contact us via the contact information below. For CCPA requests, we will need to verify your identity (and, if you use an agent, we will require proof of authorization) consistent with California law before responding. We aim to respond to verifiable requests within 45 days, as required by the CCPA, or inform you if we need an extension. The “Shine the Light” requests (regarding direct marketing disclosures) may be sent to our mailing address, and we will reply within 30 days as the law requires.

Contacting SAGG and Managing Your Information

We welcome your questions, concerns, and requests regarding your personal data or this Privacy Policy. If you would like to access, update, or correct your information, or exercise any of your rights described above, or if you have any inquiries or complaints about our privacy practices, please contact us:

Email: admin@trustbridgeglobal.com

Mailing Address: Swiss American Giving GmbH, c/o Invethos AG, Taubenstrasse 8, 3011 Bern, Switzerland.

For security and record-keeping, certain requests (such as requests to delete or provide a copy of your data) may need to be in writing. If you contact us by email with a privacy-related request, we may ask you to verify your identity or provide additional information to ensure we are dealing with the correct individual. We will use the information you provide in your request only to fulfill and document your request.

If you receive our newsletters or promotional emails, you may also opt out of those at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the email or by contacting us. Even after you opt out of marketing messages, we may still send you transactional or relationship communications (for example, a donation receipt or an account notification) when necessary to provide our services.

Changes to this Privacy Policy

SAGG may update or revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or to ensure compliance with privacy laws. If we make significant changes, we will post the updated Privacy Policy on our website with a new effective date, and we may notify you through additional means (e.g., via email or a notice on our homepage) if required by law. By continuing to use SAGG’s services or website after a revised Privacy Policy is posted, you acknowledge and agree to the updated terms.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information. If you do not agree with any updates or changes to the Policy, you should stop using our services and may contact us if you have specific concerns.

Thank you for trusting Swiss American Giving GmbH. We are dedicated to safeguarding your personal information and enabling generosity in a secure, respectful manner. If you have any questions or need further clarification about this Policy, please reach out to us at any time using the contact information above. Your privacy is important to us, and we will do our best to address any issues and continue to earn your trust.

Important Legal Disclaimer: Swiss American Giving GmbH (“SAGG”) does not provide legal, financial, or tax advice. All information and services are provided for general charitable giving purposes only. We strongly urge you to consult with your own attorney, financial advisor, and tax advisor before making any donation or relying on any documentation from SAGG. SAGG cannot guarantee that any gift will be tax-deductible in your specific circumstances – that determination is ultimately up to you and your advisors.

Introduction and Acceptance of Terms

This document sets forth the Terms and Conditions (the “Terms”) for use of SAGG’s charitable giving platform and services. It is a legally binding agreement between you (the individual or entity using SAGG’s services, whether as a donor or a grantee) and Swiss American Giving GmbH, a non-profit company based in Bern, Switzerland (“SAGG,” “we,” or “us”). These Terms apply to all users of SAGG’s giving services – including donors (who contribute to a Foundation Fund) and charitable recipients (who receive grants through a Charity Fund). By applying for or opening a Foundation Fund, by making a donation to SAGG, by recommending a grant, or by receiving a grant from a Charity Fund, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree to every part of these Terms, you are not authorized to use SAGG’s services.

SAGG’s Charitable Status: SAGG is organized exclusively for charitable purposes and is recognized as a tax-exempt, non-profit entity under Swiss law. It operates in a manner consistent with an IRS 501(c)(3) public charity. This means that no part of SAGG’s earnings or assets inures to the benefit of any private individual or shareholder. SAGG is prohibited from distributing profits or dividends; all assets of SAGG are permanently dedicated to charitable uses. In the event that SAGG is dissolved, any remaining assets (after satisfying liabilities) will be irrevocably transferred to another tax-exempt non-profit organization in Switzerland with a similar charitable purpose. (Donors and founders of SAGG have no right to reclaim donations or assets – contributions are not refundable under any circumstances.)

Definitions: In these Terms, a “Foundation Fund” refers to a donor-advised charitable fund or account established under SAGG for the purpose of receiving your irrevocable charitable contributions and facilitating grant recommendations. A “Charity Fund” refers to a charitable grant fund or account from which SAGG makes grants to a designated beneficiary organization (grantee). “Donor” refers to any individual or entity contributing to SAGG (and establishing a Foundation Fund), and “Grantee” refers to any charitable organization approved to receive grants through SAGG (via a Charity Fund).

Terms for Donors (Foundation Fund Holders)

If you are a donor to SAGG, the following terms apply to your contributions and any advisory privileges you may have regarding grants from your Foundation Fund:

Irrevocability of Gifts: You understand and agree that every contribution you make to SAGG – whether cash, securities, or other property – is an irrevocable charitable gift to SAGG. Once your donation is accepted, you cannot reclaim it. Your gift is non-refundable and given without any expectation of return, benefit, or future repayment. You further represent that your contribution is made from your own assets, will not render you insolvent, and is not made under any fraudulent or voidable conditions (for example, it is not a transfer intended to defraud creditors).

SAGG’s Ownership and Control: Upon acceptance of your donation, SAGG becomes the legal owner of the gifted assets and has exclusive control over those funds for charitable purposes. SAGG will hold and manage donated funds at its sole discretion to further its charitable mission, subject only to the broad requirement that funds be used for legitimate charitable purposes under Swiss law. While SAGG will take into account your grant recommendations (as described below), all donations are made unconditionally – you relinquish any legal right to dictate how the funds are ultimately used. SAGG retains full discretion over distributions of donated funds, and may accept or decline any particular contribution or grant recommendation at its discretion. Once a donation is accepted, the charitable gift is completed and cannot be rescinded or returned.

Donor Advisory Privileges (Grant Recommendations): As the donor establishing a Foundation Fund, you are typically granted the privilege (but not a right) to recommend how your donated funds should be granted out to charities. You may be permitted to recommend grants from your Foundation Fund to specific charitable organizations or purposes, and to designate other individuals as advisors on your fund. However, any advice or grant recommendations you (or your advisors) provide are advisory only and not binding on SAGG. SAGG, in line with legal requirements, must retain final authority over all grant distributions. We will generally strive to honor donor recommendations if they align with SAGG’s charitable purposes and policies, but we cannot guarantee that every suggestion will be approved.

No Private Benefit or Self-Dealing: When exercising any advisory privileges, you agree not to recommend any grant that would result in you, or any related party, receiving more than an incidental benefit in return. In other words, grants cannot be used to enrich donors or other private individuals. Prohibited benefits include (but are not limited to) grants that fulfill a personal obligation or pledge of the donor, pay for memberships, tickets, or sponsorships that primarily benefit the donor, provide tuition or school fees for a specific person, confer valuable goods/services to the donor, or otherwise violate the prohibition on private benefit. If you or someone related to you is offered any impermissible benefit as a result of a grant recommendation you made, you must decline or refuse that benefit. All grants from SAGG must serve bona fide charitable purposes only, and cannot be used to discharge a donor’s personal financial obligations or to secure personal privileges.

Proper Grant Purposes: You agree that your grant recommendations will comply with all applicable laws and SAGG policies. For example, you will not recommend grants to organizations or for purposes that are outside of SAGG’s charitable scope or violate Swiss or U.S. laws (such as political campaign contributions, non-charitable campaigns, or grants to individuals or non-qualified entities). SAGG will perform due diligence on recommended grantees; if a proposed grantee or purpose does not meet our criteria or legal requirements, SAGG may decline the recommendation or suggest an alternative. If you inadvertently (or intentionally) recommend a grant that breaches these Terms or any laws/regulations, you agree to cooperate with SAGG in taking corrective action. This may include assisting in recovering the grant funds if they have already been disbursed, reimbursing any portion of the grant that cannot be recovered, and indemnifying (holding harmless) SAGG for any costs or liabilities it incurs as a result of the improper grant. In practical terms, this means you might be asked to cover SAGG’s losses or expenses (including legal fees) if a grant you advised causes legal or tax problems due to a violation of these rules.

Fund Structure and Donor-Advised Fund Custodians: Please note that SAGG works in partnership with certain charitable organizations to facilitate cross-border giving and the management of donor-advised funds. In particular, SAGG collaborates with TrustBridge Global Foundation and Fondation Générosité (a Swiss charitable foundation) to act as custodians for donor funds. As a result, establishing a Foundation Fund with SAGG may involve opening a donor-advised fund account with either TrustBridge or Fondation Générosité (depending on what is most appropriate for your tax situation and preferences). Your contributions to SAGG may be held in such an account before being granted out to your recommended charities. This structure enables SAGG to provide you with the benefits of dual tax deductibility (see below) and professional fund administration. All donor contributions are subject to a modest administrative fee to support SAGG’s operations and grantmaking process. Currently, a fee equal to 1% of each grant is assessed at the time grants are made; this fee is typically deducted from the grant amount (i.e. the recipient charity bears the fee out of the proceeds). For example, if you recommend a CHF 10,000 grant to a charity, CHF 9,900 may be delivered to the charity, with CHF 100 retained as the grant administration fee. SAGG may adjust its fee policies from time to time, but any changes will be communicated in advance. No commissions or monetary benefits go to donors or fund advisors; all fees are used solely to support charitable facilitation.

Tax Deductibility and Receipts: One of the advantages of giving through SAGG is the ability to support charitable causes while potentially obtaining tax benefits in both Switzerland and the United States (if you are subject to taxes in those jurisdictions). After your donation is processed and accepted, you will receive appropriate documentation (tax receipts or acknowledgment letters) to support claiming deductions on your Swiss and U.S. tax returns. In general, SAGG will issue a Swiss charitable donation receipt for use in Switzerland, and our partner (TrustBridge Global Foundation’s network member) will issue a donation receipt meeting IRS requirements for U.S. tax deduction purposes. However, it remains your responsibility to ensure that you are eligible for any tax deductions and that you comply with the requirements of your tax authorities. SAGG cannot and does not guarantee that a donation will be tax-deductible for you; tax laws are complex and personal circumstances vary. We strongly recommend that you consult with your tax advisor regarding the tax treatment of any contributions, especially if you plan to claim deductions in any country. SAGG’s receipts and documentation are intended to assist you and your advisors, but do not constitute tax advice or a guarantee of deductibility.

Terms for Grantees (Charitable Recipients)

If you are a charitable organization or grantee receiving funding from a SAGG Charity Fund, the following terms apply to any grants you receive:

Use of Funds: You agree to use 100% of the grant funds received from SAGG strictly for charitable purposes that align with your organization’s mission and the specific project or use approved by SAGG. All funds must be applied in accordance with the proposal or purpose for which the grant was given, and consistent with the charitable objectives communicated to SAGG. You will not use any portion of the funds for purposes outside what was represented in your grant application or agreement with SAGG without obtaining prior written approval from SAGG. This means, for example, you may not redirect the funds to a different project or use them for non-charitable expenditures such as general lobbying, political campaigns, or personal benefit. Funds should be expended in a timely manner and in compliance with any budget or timeline you provided.

Transparency and Accountability: You agree to maintain clear records of how grant funds are spent and to act with transparency and integrity in all dealings related to the grant. Upon request, you will provide SAGG with reasonable documentation or reports demonstrating the use of the funds and the outcomes achieved. SAGG may require periodic updates or a final report on the project funded; you must comply with these reporting requirements as a condition of receiving the grant.

SAGG’s Oversight Rights: SAGG retains the right to monitor and audit the use of any funds granted to ensure they are used in compliance with these Terms and intended charitable purposes. You acknowledge that SAGG may, at its discretion, inquire into or review your activities related to the grant. This could include requests for financial statements, receipts, project data, or other evidence of proper fund usage. If SAGG identifies or reasonably suspects that grant funds have been misused, diverted, or not handled in accordance with the agreed purpose (for example, evidence of fraud or the funds being used for unapproved purposes), SAGG may temporarily suspend any further disbursements from the relevant Charity Fund while the issue is investigated. Suspension means no new grants or installments will be paid until the matter is resolved. SAGG may also take other protective measures, such as requiring the funds to be held in a separate account, pending investigation.

Cooperation in Investigations: In the event SAGG initiates an inquiry or investigation regarding the grant, you agree to fully cooperate with SAGG. Cooperation includes providing prompt and truthful responses to questions, furnishing requested documents or records about the grant’s expenditure, and making relevant personnel (staff, project managers, accountants, etc.) available to discuss the project’s progress and financial details. If SAGG or its designated auditors need to visit your offices or project sites to verify information, you will accommodate such visits within reason. This cooperative stance is essential to maintain trust and ensure that charitable funds are creating the intended impact. If an investigation finds that funds were misused or not spent as agreed, you may be required to refund the misused portion or take other corrective actions. SAGG reserves the right to take legal action or other remedies to recover misused funds or address misconduct if necessary, although we hope and expect that all grantees will use grants properly so that such steps are not required.

Prohibited Uses and Compliance: You confirm that you will not use any grant funds for any illegal purpose, for any purpose that would jeopardize SAGG’s status as a charitable organization, or in violation of any sanctions, anti-terrorism, or anti-money laundering laws. Funds may not be re-granted to other organizations or individuals unless explicitly approved by SAGG (e.g., if the grant is for a re-granting program). If you are unable to use the funds as intended or if any circumstances change that could affect the use of the funds, you must inform SAGG as soon as possible. SAGG may provide guidance or require that remaining funds be returned or redirected to an alternate charitable use.

General Provisions

Legal Compliance and Cooperation with Authorities: SAGG is committed to complying with all applicable laws and expects the same of all donors and grantees. We reserve the right to cooperate with law enforcement and regulatory authorities as required. This means SAGG may disclose information about donations, grants, or users to government agencies or regulators if we receive a lawful request or if such disclosure is necessary to comply with an investigation into potential wrongdoing. By using SAGG’s services, you consent to such disclosures and cooperation. Additionally, you represent that your contributions to SAGG are not derived from any illegal activities and that any grants received will not be used to finance unlawful or non-charitable activities.

No Professional Advice: You acknowledge that SAGG is a charitable platform and does not provide legal, tax, accounting, or other professional advice. SAGG, including its officers, directors, employees, and agents, is not engaged in rendering legal, tax, financial, or other professional services to you in connection with these Terms and Conditions. Any information, tools, FAQs, donor guides, or communications you receive from SAGG are for general educational and informational purposes only, and are not a substitute for advice from your own legal or tax professionals.

You are strongly encouraged to consult with your own legal counsel, tax advisors, and financial professionals before making any decision regarding charitable giving, tax deductions, or grant recommendations. The implications of a charitable donation can vary depending on your personal situation and the specific jurisdictions involved (including Switzerland, the United States, and any other country where you may reside or pay tax).

SAGG does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any general financial or tax information it provides. You remain solely responsible for ensuring that your donations and activities comply with the law, and for determining how any donation may affect your tax or legal status. SAGG disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or sufficiency of any tax positions or legal filings you may make in connection with your charitable activities.

Disclaimers: SAGG PROVIDES ITS PLATFORM, SERVICES, FUND STRUCTURE, DOCUMENTS, MATERIALS, AND ALL RELATED CONTENT “AS IS,” WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, SAGG and its partners (including any supporting foundations or custodians) disclaim all warranties—express or implied—including, but not limited to, warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, accuracy, completeness, or non-infringement.

SAGG does not guarantee that your experience using its platform will be uninterrupted, secure, error-free, or that the information or documentation provided will be sufficient for your tax reporting needs. No warranty is made that communications or documents provided through SAGG’s systems (including email and digital platforms) will be kept confidential or secure. You acknowledge that internet transmissions are inherently insecure and that information you send to or from SAGG may be intercepted, even if encrypted.

SAGG is not responsible for any third-party content or material it may reference or link to, and makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, reliability, or legality of any third-party information.

Assumption of Risk: By using SAGG’s platform, donating to SAGG, making grant recommendations, or receiving funds from SAGG, you do so entirely at your own risk. You acknowledge that your reliance on any materials, information, or communications provided by SAGG is voluntary and undertaken at your own discretion. SAGG assumes no liability for any loss, damage, or adverse outcome that may result from your use of its services or your reliance on its materials.

Privacy: Any personal or organizational data collected by SAGG in the course of our operations will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and our Privacy Policy (as published on our website). We will use and share data only as needed for charitable purposes, compliance obligations, and as described in our Privacy Policy. (Please review the Privacy Policy for details on how we collect and use information.)

Modification of Terms: SAGG may amend or update these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Generally, if we make a material change, we will post the updated Terms on our website and/or notify users via email or through the platform. Continued use of SAGG’s services (such as maintaining a Foundation Fund, making additional donations, or accepting grants) after an update constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms. No verbal or written statement by any SAGG representative can modify these Terms except by official amendment. Please check our Terms periodically for updates. (Note: SAGG will not retroactively revoke or materially change any donor’s already-granted advisory privileges on contributions made prior to an amendment, unless required to do so by law or to comply with conditions of maintaining SAGG’s tax-exempt charitable status.)

Governing Law and Jurisdiction: This Agreement and any disputes arising from it are governed exclusively by the laws of Switzerland, without regard to its conflict of law principles. By using SAGG, you agree that any dispute or claim relating to these Terms, your donations, or grants shall be resolved under Swiss law. The parties will endeavor to resolve any disagreements amicably through discussion and negotiation. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, it shall be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the competent courts of Switzerland. (SAGG’s registered seat is in Bern, Switzerland, so unless otherwise required by law, the courts of Bern will likely be the proper forum.) Each party waives any objection to the Swiss courts’ jurisdiction on the grounds of inconvenient forum or any similar doctrine. Important: Nothing herein limits SAGG’s right to seek interim or injunctive relief in a competent court, if necessary, to protect charitable assets or prevent misuse of funds.

No Warranties; Limitation of Liability: SAGG’s services (including the platform, donor funds, and grantmaking processes) are provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. While we strive for accuracy and reliability, SAGG makes no warranty that the services will meet all of a user’s expectations or that any outcome (e.g., a particular charitable impact or tax result) will be achieved. To the fullest extent permitted by law, SAGG disclaims any warranties, express or implied, regarding the services, including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Use of SAGG is at your own risk. SAGG, its directors, officers, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to the use of our services. Direct damages (to the extent liability is not lawfully excluded) shall be limited to the amount of the donation or grant in question. These limitations apply to any claim based in contract, tort, or otherwise. (Note: Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit liability for gross negligence, fraud, or intentional misconduct to the extent such limitation is not allowed by law.)

Indemnification: You agree to indemnify and hold harmless SAGG and its partners (including TrustBridge Global Foundation and Fondation Générosité), and their respective officers and agents, from and against any claims, liabilities, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) that arise from your violation of these Terms or your misuse of SAGG’s services. For example, if you are a donor and you breach the Terms by insisting on a grant that provides you a personal benefit, or if you are a grantee and misuse the funds, and as a result SAGG faces legal or financial consequences, you may be responsible for covering those costs.

No Agency or Guarantee of Outcomes: Your use of SAGG does not create any joint venture, partnership, or agency relationship between you and SAGG. Donors and grantees each act in their independent capacity. SAGG does not guarantee that any particular charitable project or outcome will be achieved through grants; that responsibility lies with the grantee organizations. Likewise, SAGG cannot guarantee that a donor’s charitable objectives will be fully met; we serve as a facilitator and steward of funds in good faith.

Severability: If any provision of these Terms and Conditions is found to be invalid or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be severed (removed) and the remainder of the Terms shall continue in full effect. In such case, the invalid provision will be interpreted in a manner consistent with the law that most closely matches the original intent of the provision.

Entire Agreement: These Terms and Conditions represent the entire agreement between you and SAGG with respect to the subject matter herein, and supersede any prior agreements or communications (whether oral or written) relating to your use of SAGG’s Foundation Fund or Charity Fund services. No other document or representation by SAGG (except an official written amendment by SAGG) shall be construed to modify or contradict these Terms.

Assignment: You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms to any other party without SAGG’s prior written consent. SAGG may assign or delegate its rights and obligations (for example, to a successor non-profit organization or an affiliated entity) at any time, provided that the charitable purpose remains consistent.

Waiver: A failure by SAGG to enforce any part of these Terms shall not be deemed a waiver of our right to enforce that or any other part in the future. Any waiver of a provision of these Terms by SAGG must be made in writing and shall not imply a continuing waiver of that provision or any other provision.

Contact Information: If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, or need further information about SAGG’s services, please contact us using the contact details provided on our website. SAGG will be happy to assist and provide clarification regarding our platform, the donation process, or any related policies.

By using SAGG’s platform and services (whether as a donor or a grantee), you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions. These Terms are intended to facilitate a transparent, accountable, and legally compliant framework for philanthropic giving that benefits all parties – most importantly, the charitable causes that SAGG and its donors seek to support. Thank you for your cooperation and for contributing to the public good through SAGG.