Terms of Service

About Empower and Link

Empower and Link, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in the State of West Virginia. We provide wraparound navigation and referral services to adults facing poverty, homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges, and justice system involvement in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and the greater PA/WV/OH tri-state area.

Eligibility

Our services are designed for adults aged 18 and older. By using our website and submitting forms, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old. Our primary service area is the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and the surrounding PA/WV/OH tri-state region, though we may accept referrals from outside this area on a case-by-case basis.

What Our Services Are (and Are Not)

Empower and Link provides navigation and coordination services. Our navigators help connect you with resources and service providers across housing, employment, behavioral health, legal aid, transportation, and education. It is important to understand the following:

We are not a substitute for emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.

We do not provide direct medical, legal, or financial services. Our navigators are not licensed doctors, attorneys, therapists, or financial advisors. We connect you with licensed professionals and organizations that provide these services.

We do not guarantee outcomes. We will make our best effort to connect you with appropriate resources and support your goals. However, we cannot guarantee specific results such as housing placement, employment, legal outcomes, or program acceptance. Services are subject to availability, eligibility requirements of partner organizations, and your active participation in your care plan.

Our navigators are advocates, not case workers. The navigator model is built on walking alongside you, not making decisions for you. You remain in control of your goals and your plan.

Referrals

If you are a service provider or agency submitting a referral through our website, you confirm that the client has given verbal or written consent for the referral before you submit it. Submitting a referral without client consent is a violation of these Terms. E&L will confirm receipt of all referrals and will make reasonable efforts to connect with the referred client.

Donations

All donations to Empower and Link, Inc. are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our EIN is 33-1252823.

Payment Processing. Donations are processed securely through Stripe. E&L does not store your credit card or bank account information. Stripe's terms of service and privacy policy govern the processing of your payment.

Recurring Donations. If you set up a recurring donation, it will continue to process at the frequency you selected until you cancel it. You can cancel a recurring donation at any time by contacting us at support@empowerandlink.org or (413) 676-9370.

Refunds. Because donations fund real-time support for individuals in crisis, we generally do not issue refunds on completed donations. However, if you believe a donation was made in error (such as a duplicate charge or unauthorized transaction), please contact us and we will work with you to resolve it on a case-by-case basis.

Processing Fees. When you choose to cover processing fees at checkout, the additional amount covers the Stripe transaction fee so that 100% of your intended donation goes to E&L programs.

Your Responsibilities

When using our website and services — including our help request, referral, contact, volunteer sign-up, and donation forms — you agree to:

• Provide accurate and truthful information on all forms
• Not submit false or misleading referrals
• Not attempt to access, modify, or delete any data that is not yours
• Not use our website for any unlawful purpose
• Not interfere with the operation or security of our website

We reserve the right to decline service or remove content that violates these Terms.

Accuracy of Information

We make reasonable efforts to ensure the information on our website is accurate and up to date. However, we do not guarantee that all content is complete, current, or error-free. Service descriptions, partner availability, and program details may change without notice. For the most current information about our services, contact us directly.

Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, images, and the E&L brand identity, is the property of Empower and Link, Inc. or its content providers and is protected by applicable copyright and trademark laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, modify, or create derivative works from our content without our prior written permission.

You may share links to our website and reference our services for legitimate purposes such as making referrals, informing clients, or partnering with us.

Disclaimer of Warranties

Our website is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis. To the fullest extent permitted by law, E&L disclaims all warranties, express or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. We do not warrant that our website will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from harmful components. We do not warrant that any information provided through our website is accurate or reliable.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Empower and Link, Inc., its officers, directors, board members, employees, volunteers, and agents shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages arising out of or related to your use of our website or services. This includes, without limitation, damages for loss of data, loss of income, or personal injury, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Our total liability to you for any claim arising from your use of our website shall not exceed the amount you donated to E&L in the 12 months preceding the claim, or $100, whichever is greater.

This limitation of liability does not apply to damages caused by our gross negligence or willful misconduct, or where prohibited by applicable law.

Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Empower and Link, Inc., its officers, directors, board members, employees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of your use of our website, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.

Third-Party Services and Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, resources, or services. These links are provided for your convenience. E&L does not control and is not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or availability of third-party sites. Your interaction with any third-party site is governed by that site's own terms and policies.

We use Stripe for payment processing, Google Analytics for website analytics, and Cloudflare for content delivery and security. Your use of these services is governed by their respective terms: Stripe's terms of service, Google's terms of service, and Cloudflare's terms of service.

Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of West Virginia, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Before filing any formal legal proceeding, you agree to first contact us and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days. Any disputes that cannot be resolved informally shall be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Brooke County, West Virginia. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.

Accessibility

Empower and Link is committed to making our website accessible to all users. Our website is designed to meet WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. If you experience difficulty accessing any part of our website, please contact us at support@empowerandlink.org and we will work to provide the information you need.

Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.

Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. Your continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

Contact Us

If you have questions about these Terms, contact us at: