Terms of Service

1. Agreement

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern services provided by Mission Forward AI, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company doing business as "Mission Forward AI" ("Company," "we," "us," or "our").

These Terms become binding on a client upon execution of a proposal that incorporates them by reference. Mere website browsing does not bind a visitor to these Terms. Updates posted to this page apply to new engagements and do not amend executed proposals retroactively.

These Terms apply to all paid engagements. Pro bono and discounted services are provided as-is with no warranties or guarantees and may be discontinued at any time.

2. Services

Mission Forward AI provides AI services for nonprofit organizations across three pillars:

Strategy & Consulting

• AI readiness assessments and roadmaps for nonprofits
• Use-case identification across fundraising, operations, and program delivery
• Vendor and platform evaluation, including budget-aware tool selection
• Board and staff AI education sessions

Solutions & Integration

• Custom AI applications scoped to nonprofit workflows
• Donor, beneficiary, and program data integrations
• Workflow automation across CRM, finance, and program tools
• Deployment, monitoring, and ongoing optimization

Training & Enablement

• Hands-on staff training on AI tools and prompt practice
• Change-management support for AI adoption
• Coaching for managers and AmeriCorps-style program leaders

3. Client Responsibilities

As a client, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Provide content, data, and access in a timely manner
• Confirm you have rights to all content provided for AI work
• Confirm the signatory has authority to bind the organization and that any required board, fiscal sponsor, or grantor approval has been obtained before execution
• Review and provide feedback on deliverables promptly
• Make payments according to the agreed schedule
• Use AI services in compliance with applicable laws and ethical guidelines
• Maintain confidentiality of API keys or credentials we provide

Sensitive data and HIPAA

If your engagement requires us to access or process Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA, or substance-use treatment records under 42 CFR Part 2, the parties will execute a Business Associate Agreement before any such data is disclosed to us. Engagements involving PHI undergo a separate technical-controls review. Absent an executed BAA, you agree not to provide PHI or 42 CFR Part 2 records to us.

Communication

• Support requests submitted by email receive a response within 2–3 business days
• Project timelines assume client feedback within 2 business days; delays extend timelines

4. AI Service Acknowledgments

When using AI solutions we build for you, you acknowledge that:

• AI-generated content must be reviewed by an authorized human before being used externally — particularly for donor communications, grant applications, and program decisions
• AI outputs are suggestions and may contain errors
• You are responsible for verifying accuracy and appropriateness
• We do not guarantee specific outcomes (e.g., grant approvals, fundraising lift)

Donor communications

Donor-facing content (solicitation letters, stewardship messages, acknowledgment letters) generated with our AI systems must be reviewed for factual accuracy regarding gift amounts, restrictions, and tax-deductibility statements before distribution. Errors in tax-deductibility or restriction acknowledgment can create regulatory exposure for the client under IRS § 170 and state charitable-solicitation registration laws.

Grant applications

AI-assisted grant applications, narratives, or reports must be reviewed by an authorized organizational representative before submission. Misrepresentations in grant applications — including AI-fabricated outcomes, beneficiary counts, or financial figures — can constitute fraud and trigger grantor clawback. Mission Forward AI is not responsible for content client submits to grantors.

Acceptable use

You agree not to use our services to:

• Generate illegal, harmful, or discriminatory content
• Violate intellectual property rights
• Mislead donors, grantors, or program beneficiaries
• Compromise security or privacy
• Violate applicable laws or regulations

We are not your lawyers, accountants, or tax advisors; AI-assisted output touching legal, tax, or grant-compliance matters should be reviewed by qualified counsel.

5. Project Scope and Changes

• Specific deliverables are defined in the signed proposal
• Scope changes require written approval and may incur additional fees
• Revision rounds are defined in the proposal
• Out-of-scope examples: new data sources, expanded functionality, additional integrations, extended support

6. Payment Terms

Structure

• Fixed-price projects: 25% deposit, milestone payments, final payment before delivery. The deposit is retained by Mission Forward AI as compensation for scoping, proposal preparation, calendar reservation, and opportunity cost, which the parties agree are reasonable estimates of damages and not a penalty.
• Monthly retainers: due on the 1st of each month; service suspends on the 10th if unpaid
• Add-on services: due upon completion unless otherwise agreed
• Late-payment interest of 1.5% per month, not to exceed the maximum permitted by applicable law, accrues on past-due balances; service may also be suspended.

Cancellation

• Before project start: client forfeits the 25% deposit (per Structure above)
• During project: client pays for completed work plus 10% of remaining balance
• After 75% completion (measured by milestones in the proposal): client pays the lesser of (a) 90% of total project fee, or (b) the sum of fees for completed milestones plus 50% of remaining unbilled milestones
• Monthly services: 30 days notice required

Third-party platform costs

• Ongoing AI platform fees (model providers, hosting, vector databases) are billed separately as pass-through costs
• Subscription cancellations require 30 days notice

7. Intellectual Property

Your content

You retain all rights to content you provide. You grant us a limited license to use it solely to deliver our services.

Deliverables

Upon full payment:

• You own custom work product created specifically for your engagement
• You receive a license to use any AI configurations or models we create for you
• We retain rights to generic code, techniques, and methodologies

Platform accounts

• Third-party AI platform accounts are created in your organization's name
• You are responsible for ongoing platform payments and account integrity
• We provide setup assistance; the accounts remain your property

Portfolio rights

We may reference completed engagements (organization name and category of work) in our portfolio and marketing materials unless otherwise agreed in writing. We do not disclose internal program data or beneficiary information.

8. Warranties and Disclaimers

We warrant that services will be performed in a professional manner consistent with industry standards.

• AI services are provided "as is" without warranties of accuracy or completeness
• We do not guarantee specific results or organizational outcomes
• AI outputs should be reviewed before use in critical applications
• We are not responsible for third-party platform limitations or changes

9. Limitation of Liability

Except for (i) breach of confidentiality, (ii) gross negligence or willful misconduct, (iii) indemnification obligations, and (iv) infringement of third-party intellectual property, our aggregate liability for all claims arising from or related to the services shall not exceed the greater of (a) the fees paid by client to us during the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim, or (b) $50,000.

We are not liable for:

• Indirect, incidental, or consequential damages
• Lost donations, grants, or revenue
• Damages from AI output errors or inaccuracies
• Third-party platform outages or changes

10. Indemnification

By Client

Client will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Mission Forward AI, LLC from third-party claims arising from:

• Content client provides that infringes third-party IP rights or violates law
• Client's use of AI-generated content in violation of these Terms or applicable law
• Client's breach of these Terms
• Client's negligence or willful misconduct

By Mission Forward AI

Mission Forward AI will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Client from third-party claims that the deliverables (excluding client-provided content and third-party platforms) infringe third-party intellectual property rights, provided client gives prompt notice and reasonable cooperation. Mission Forward AI's liability under this Section is subject to the Limitation of Liability in Section 9.

11. Termination

Either party may terminate the service agreement with 30 days written notice.

Upon termination:

• You pay for all completed work
• We provide files and access as agreed
• AI configurations and Engagement Training Data are handled per the project agreement
• Ongoing platform subscriptions must be transferred or cancelled

12. Confidentiality

Both parties agree to:

• Keep confidential all proprietary, donor, and beneficiary information
• Use confidential information only for agreed purposes
• Protect confidential information with reasonable care
• Return or destroy confidential information upon request

13. Force Majeure

Neither party is liable for delays or failures due to circumstances beyond reasonable control, including natural disasters, government actions, internet infrastructure failures, or third-party platform outages.

14. Governing Law and Forum

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. This choice of law does not waive or limit any non-waivable rights granted to data subjects, employees, or counterparties under the laws of their state of residence or organization, including Maryland's MODPA and the District of Columbia's consumer-protection statutes.

The parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction in the state or federal courts located in Fairfax County, Virginia, for any dispute not resolved under Section 15.

15. Dispute Resolution

1. Negotiation. The parties will attempt to resolve any dispute through good-faith negotiation for 30 days.
2. Mediation. If negotiation fails, the parties will participate in non-binding mediation in Northern Virginia within 60 days, sharing mediator fees equally.
3. Litigation. If mediation does not resolve the dispute, either party may file in the state or federal courts of Virginia. The parties waive any right to a jury trial. The prevailing party is entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

16. Miscellaneous

• Entire agreement: these Terms and any signed proposal constitute the entire agreement.
• Severability: if any provision is invalid, the remainder remains in effect.
• Assignment: you may not assign these Terms without our written consent.
• Survival: Sections 7, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15 survive termination.
• No third-party beneficiaries: these Terms do not create rights in favor of any person not a party to them, including donors, beneficiaries, or grantors of the client.
• Counterparts and electronic signature: these Terms may be executed in counterparts and by electronic signature.
• Sister entity: Mission Forward AI, LLC is a separate legal entity from Small Business Elevate, LLC; obligations of one do not bind the other.
• Notices: all notices must be in writing and sent to the email addresses on file.

17. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated Terms on this page and updating the "Last updated" date.

18. Contact

Questions about these Terms?