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CitizenBacked

Backer Terms and Pledge Agreement

CitizenBacked LLC

[email protected]
(727) 437-2827

On this page

Last updated: November 9, 2026

These Terms have three parts. Part I applies to every Campaign. Part II applies only to Campaigns run by a Lobbying Firm. Part III applies only to Campaigns run by an Advocacy Organization. Each Campaign page states which kind of Campaign it is.

Checkout acknowledgments (displayed at the pledge checkbox)

The following statements are shown beside the acceptance checkbox and are part of these Terms. By checking the box and entering your name, you confirm each of them.

  • I have read and agree to the CitizenBacked Backer Terms and Pledge Agreement, the Privacy Policy, and the Campaign Documents for this Campaign.
  • I understand that CitizenBacked is a platform, not a lobbying firm and not a charity. My pledge is not tax-deductible, and no legislative or political outcome is guaranteed.
  • I understand that my card will be charged by the Payee named on the Campaign page when the Campaign reaches its goal, or at the Campaign deadline if the Payee agrees to proceed, and that I may cancel my pledge at any time before that charge.
  • I am at least 18 years old, a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident residing in the United States (or an authorized signer for a United States organization), and I am pledging my own funds and not on behalf of any foreign person, government, or organization.
  • I meet any state-of-residence or membership restriction shown on the Campaign page.
  • My electronic signature below has the same legal effect as a handwritten signature.

Optional boxes (each unchecked by default):

  • [Lobbying Firm Campaigns only] I am willing to be considered as the Campaign Representative named in the Engagement Letter. I understand the role is unpaid, my name would appear on public lobbying filings, and the Representative is chosen at random from eligible volunteers.
  • List my name publicly on the Campaign page.
  • Email me about new Campaigns and CitizenBacked updates.

Electronic signature: [Type full legal name] Date: [auto-filled]

Shown directly beneath the signature field: By typing your name above, you are signing this agreement electronically. This digital signature is legally equivalent to a handwritten (wet ink) signature and binds you to these Terms and the Campaign Documents.

Part I. Terms for all Campaigns

1. Parties and acceptance

  1. 1. These Backer Terms and Pledge Agreement ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you ("you," "Backer") and CitizenBacked LLC, a Florida limited liability company (document number L26000550588) with its principal place of business at 5107 University Boulevard West, Jacksonville, FL 32216 ("CitizenBacked," "we," "us"), governing your use of the platform at citizenbacked.org and related services (the "Platform") to pledge funds toward advocacy Campaigns.
  2. 2. You accept these Terms by checking the acceptance box, typing your name as your electronic signature, and submitting a Pledge. If you do not agree, do not pledge.
  3. 3. These Terms incorporate by reference (a) the CitizenBacked Privacy Policy, (b) the CitizenBacked Website Terms of Use, and (c) the Campaign Documents for the Campaign you back, each as made available to you before you pledge. If these Terms conflict with the Campaign Documents on the subject of the Payee's services, use of funds, or refunds, the Campaign Documents control as between you and the Payee; on every other subject, these Terms control.
  4. 4. These Terms contain a binding arbitration provision and class-action waiver (Section 18) that affect your legal rights. Please read it.

2. Electronic signature and electronic records

  1. 1. You consent to conduct this transaction electronically and to receive all records, notices, receipts, and disclosures relating to it electronically, in accordance with the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.) and the Florida Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (Fla. Stat. § 668.50).
  2. 2. Your act of checking the acceptance box and typing your name constitutes your electronic signature. You agree that this electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your handwritten ("wet ink") signature, has the same force and effect, and may be used to prove your agreement to these Terms, the Campaign Documents, and each Pledge you submit.
  3. 3. CitizenBacked records the date, time, IP address, version of these Terms, Campaign identifier, Pledge amount, and the name you typed, and retains that record as evidence of your agreement. A printed or electronic copy of that record is admissible to the same extent as an original signed document.
  4. 4. You may withdraw consent to electronic records by contacting [email protected]; withdrawal will prevent you from using the Platform but does not affect Pledges already submitted. You may request a paper copy of these Terms at no charge.

3. Definitions

  • Campaign: a specific advocacy effort listed on the Platform, with a stated objective, level of government (federal, state, or local), Payee, Goal, Deadline, any state-of-residence or membership restriction, and Campaign Documents. Lobbying Firm Campaigns address federal policy. Advocacy Organization Campaigns address federal policy (501(c)(4) organizations) or state or local policy (chambers of commerce and other 501(c)(6) organizations).
  • Payee: the Lobbying Firm or Advocacy Organization named on the Campaign page, which charges Backers directly and receives the funds.
  • Lobbying Firm: a for-profit firm registered under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 that performs federal lobbying services for a fee.
  • Advocacy Organization: an organization recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(4) or 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code, including a chamber of commerce, that (a) holds an active registration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services under Chapter 496, Florida Statutes, or is exempt from that registration for the Campaign, and (b) is registered or exempt in each other state from which the Campaign accepts Backers.
  • Campaign Documents: for a Lobbying Firm Campaign, the Engagement Letter; for an Advocacy Organization Campaign, the Campaign Summary. Each is published on the Campaign page before any Pledge may be made.
  • Engagement Letter: the agreement between the Coalition, acting through the Representative, and the Lobbying Firm (Part II).
  • Campaign Summary: the Advocacy Organization's statement of the Campaign's purpose, how contributions will be used, reporting, and what happens to funds if the Campaign ends early (Part III).
  • Pledge: your commitment, made through the Platform, to pay a stated amount toward a Campaign upon the Charge Event.
  • Goal: the funding amount stated on the Campaign page.
  • Deadline: 60 days after the Campaign launches, or an earlier date stated on the Campaign page, after which no further Pledges are accepted.
  • Charge Event: the point at which Pledges are charged, as defined in Section 7.
  • Platform Fee: the fee CitizenBacked receives from the Payee, described in Section 8.
  • Payment Processor: Stripe, Inc. or another third-party processor identified on the Platform.

4. What CitizenBacked is and is not

  1. 1. CitizenBacked operates a platform that lists Campaigns, collects Pledges, facilitates the Charge Event, and publishes Campaign updates.
  2. 2. CitizenBacked is not a lobbying firm, does not make lobbying contacts, does not direct any Payee's work, and is not a party to any Campaign Document.
  3. 3. CitizenBacked is not a bank, money transmitter, escrow agent, or trustee. CitizenBacked does not hold, receive, or control Backer funds. All charges are made by the Payee through the Payment Processor, and funds flow from your payment method to the Payee.
  4. 4. CitizenBacked is a for-profit company and not a charity. CitizenBacked provides no legal, tax, or investment advice.
  5. 5. Each Campaign's appeal is written and approved by its Payee. CitizenBacked does not solicit contributions for any Campaign; it provides the technology and services the Payee uses. For Advocacy Organization Campaigns, CitizenBacked registers with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a professional fundraising consultant before any such Campaign launches. Registration number: [FC number — CitizenBacked will register upon signing its first contract with an Advocacy Organization. This placeholder will be replaced with the number once FDACS approves the registration, and no Advocacy Organization Campaign will launch before then.]
  6. 6. Neither CitizenBacked nor any Payee guarantees that any bill will be introduced, heard, voted on, passed, signed, repealed, or amended, that any regulation will change, or that any other political or legislative result will occur. You are funding advocacy work, not an outcome.
  7. 7. CitizenBacked does not endorse any Campaign, Payee, or policy position by listing it. CitizenBacked screens Campaign content but does not warrant its accuracy.

5. Eligibility

  1. 1. Individuals. You must be at least 18 years old, a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident, and reside in the United States. You must pledge using a payment card issued by a United States financial institution and a United States billing address.
  2. 2. Organizations. An organization may pledge only through an individual authorized to bind it. By pledging on behalf of an organization you represent and warrant that: (a) the organization is organized under the laws of a United States jurisdiction and has its principal place of business in the United States; (b) no foreign government, foreign political party, foreign person, or foreign organization holds 20% or more of its equity or otherwise controls it; (c) you are authorized to agree to these Terms on its behalf; and (d) the organization will promptly inform CitizenBacked of any change to these facts.
  3. 3. Own funds; no foreign principals. You represent that you are pledging your own funds (or your organization's own funds), that you are not pledging on behalf of, at the direction of, or with funds provided or reimbursed by any other person, and that no foreign government, foreign political party, foreign person, or foreign organization is directing, financing, or subsidizing your Pledge in whole or in part. Pledges that violate this Section are void; CitizenBacked may cancel them at any time and the Payee may refund them.
  4. 4. Accuracy. You must provide accurate account, identity, and payment information and keep it current. CitizenBacked may require additional verification before or after a Pledge and may cancel any Pledge it cannot verify.
  5. 5. One account. You may not create multiple accounts, pledge under another person's name, or split a Pledge across accounts to avoid any threshold in these Terms.
  6. 6. Campaign restrictions. A Campaign may be open only to residents of the states listed on its Campaign page, or only to members of its Advocacy Organization. By pledging, you represent that you meet each restriction shown. CitizenBacked or the Payee may ask you to confirm your residence or membership and may cancel any Pledge that does not meet a restriction.

6. Pledges

  1. 1. Making a Pledge. When you pledge, you authorize CitizenBacked to save your payment method with the Payment Processor and you authorize the Payee, through the Payment Processor, to charge that payment method for the full Pledge amount at the Charge Event. No amount is charged when you pledge.
  2. 2. Minimum Pledge. The minimum Pledge is $0.50. There is no maximum for individuals.
  3. 3. Cancellation and changes. You may cancel or change your Pledge at any time before the Charge Event from your account or by contacting [email protected]. Once the Charge Event occurs, the Pledge cannot be cancelled and Section 9 governs refunds.
  4. 4. Keeping your payment method valid. You are responsible for ensuring the saved payment method is valid and has sufficient funds at the Charge Event. If a charge fails, the Payment Processor may retry it for up to 3 days. A Pledge whose charge cannot be completed is cancelled without further obligation on either side.
  5. 5. No interest; no return. Pledges earn no interest and confer no ownership, profit share, security, or financial return of any kind.

7. Charge Event and funding rules

  1. 1. When charges occur. Pledges to a Campaign are charged at the earlier of (a) the moment the Campaign's total Pledges reach the Goal, or (b) the Deadline, for whatever total has been pledged at that time, in each case only after the conditions in Section 7.2 are satisfied.
  2. 2. Conditions to charging. No Pledge is charged unless and until the Payee has confirmed in writing that it will proceed for the amount pledged (at full scope if the Goal is met, or at a reduced scope stated by the Payee if it is not), and, for a Lobbying Firm Campaign, the Representative has signed the Engagement Letter (Part II).
  3. 3. If the Payee does not proceed. If the Goal is not met by the Deadline and the Payee declines to proceed, or if a condition in Section 7.2 is not met within 14 days after the Deadline, the Campaign closes, no Pledge is charged, and all Pledges are released. You will be notified by email.
  4. 4. Reduced scope. If the Goal is not met and the Payee agrees to proceed at a reduced scope, the Campaign page will be updated to show the amended scope before charging, and you will be notified and given at least 48 hours to cancel your Pledge before the Charge Event.
  5. 5. Timing. CitizenBacked will use reasonable efforts to trigger the Charge Event within 5 business days after the conditions in Section 7.2 are met. The charge is made by the Payee and will appear on your statement under the Payee's name or a descriptor that identifies the Campaign.
  6. 6. Over-funding. Pledges received after the Goal is met and before the Deadline, if the Campaign remains open, are charged on the same terms and applied as described in the Campaign Documents.

8. Fees and money flow

  1. 1. Who charges you. The Payee is the merchant of record. Each charge is made by the Payee through its own account with the Payment Processor. CitizenBacked never receives, holds, or controls your funds.
  2. 2. Platform Fee. CitizenBacked receives a Platform Fee from the Payee equal to 5% of each Pledge charged, calculated on the full Pledge amount and deducted automatically by the Payment Processor from the Payee's receipts. The Platform Fee is the Payee's cost, not an additional charge to you.
  3. 3. Processing fees. Payment-processing fees charged by the Payment Processor are borne by the Payee.
  4. 4. No other charges. You will not be charged any amount other than your Pledge. Each Campaign page shows the Platform Fee, the processing fee, and the amount the Payee receives.
  5. 5. Receipts. The Payment Processor or the Payee will send a receipt to your email address for each charge. CitizenBacked will also make a record of your charges available in your account.
  6. 6. Payment Processor terms. Your use of the Payment Processor is subject to its terms of service and privacy policy, which you accept by pledging.

9. Refunds and chargebacks

  1. 1. No refunds after the Charge Event, except as stated in Part II or Part III, in the Campaign Documents, or as required by law.
  2. 2. Refunds are the Payee's obligation. Any refund is issued by the Payee through the Payment Processor to your original payment method. CitizenBacked will facilitate the process and provide the Payee with the records needed to perform it, but does not guarantee any refund and is not liable if the Payee fails to pay it.
  3. 3. Platform Fee. The Platform Fee is earned when the Charge Event occurs, is borne by the Payee, and is not returned when a charge is refunded.
  4. 4. Failed outcomes are not grounds for refund. The failure of a bill, vote, or other political objective is not a basis for any refund.
  5. 5. Change of mind. There is no refund for a change of mind after the Charge Event.
  6. 6. Chargebacks. Before disputing a charge with your card issuer, you agree to contact [email protected] and allow 10 business days for resolution. A chargeback filed in bad faith, or for a charge you authorized under these Terms, is a breach of these Terms; CitizenBacked may suspend or terminate your account, and the Payee may contest the chargeback using the records described in Section 2.3.

10. Campaign updates and reporting

  1. 1. Each Payee is required by its agreement with CitizenBacked to post activity reports at least monthly, which CitizenBacked publishes on the Campaign page and sends to Backers by email.
  2. 2. Reports are prepared by the Payee. CitizenBacked does not verify them and is not responsible for their accuracy or completeness.
  3. 3. Legislative status information shown on the Platform is drawn from third-party and government sources and may be delayed or inaccurate.

11. Backer conduct

You agree not to: (a) pledge with funds that are not your own or that will be reimbursed by another person; (b) pledge on behalf of any foreign person, government, party, or organization; (c) use the Platform to violate any lobbying, election, charitable-solicitation, anti-corruption, sanctions, or anti-money-laundering law; (d) provide false identity, eligibility, or payment information; (e) use automated means to create accounts or Pledges; (f) harass any Representative, Payee, CitizenBacked staff, or other Backer; (g) post unlawful, defamatory, or infringing content; or (h) interfere with the Platform's operation or security.

12. Information sharing, anonymity, and privacy

  1. 1. Anonymous by default. Your name is not displayed publicly on the Campaign page unless you check the optional listing box. If you do, your name (or first name and last initial, as you select) is shown; you may withdraw the listing at any time from your account.
  2. 2. Who sees your information. Regardless of your listing choice, CitizenBacked shares your name, email address, Pledge amount, billing state and country, and the attestations you make at checkout with the Payee (and, for a Lobbying Firm Campaign, the Representative), for the purposes of performing the Campaign, issuing receipts and refunds, and complying with lobbying, charitable-solicitation, and payment laws. The Payee's use of that information is governed by the Campaign Documents and the Payee's own policies.
  3. 3. Sensitive data. Your choice to back a Campaign may reveal political opinions. CitizenBacked treats Pledge records as sensitive, does not sell them, and does not share them with advertisers or data brokers.
  4. 4. Cooperation. You agree to provide, within 10 days of request, any information CitizenBacked or the Payee reasonably requires to comply with lobbying, charitable-solicitation, anti-money-laundering, sanctions, or payment-network rules. CitizenBacked may cancel any Pledge for which such information is not provided.
  5. 5. The Privacy Policy governs all other collection and use of your information, including cookies.

13. Communications

  1. 1. Transactional messages. You agree to receive emails about your account, your Pledges, the Charge Event, receipts, refunds, Representative selection, and Campaign reports. These are necessary to the service and cannot be opted out of while you have an active Pledge.
  2. 2. Marketing messages. CitizenBacked sends emails about new Campaigns and Platform updates only if you check the separate, optional marketing box at checkout or opt in from your account. Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and unsubscribing does not affect your Pledges.
  3. 3. Text messages. CitizenBacked will not send text messages unless you separately opt in.
  4. 4. Notices. Notices to CitizenBacked must be sent to [email protected] or 5107 University Boulevard West, Jacksonville, FL 32216. Notices to you will be sent to the email address on your account and are effective when sent.

14. Intellectual property and your content

  1. 1. The Platform, its content, software, trademarks, and design are owned by CitizenBacked or its licensors. You receive a limited, revocable, non-transferable license to use the Platform for its intended purpose.
  2. 2. If you post comments, Campaign proposals, or other content, you grant CitizenBacked a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute it in connection with the Platform, and you represent that you have the right to grant that license.
  3. 3. CitizenBacked may remove any content at its discretion.

15. Disclaimers

  1. 1. THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE." TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CITIZENBACKED DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, AND ANY WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE.
  2. 2. CITIZENBACKED MAKES NO WARRANTY REGARDING ANY PAYEE, ITS QUALIFICATIONS, ITS PERFORMANCE, THE ACCURACY OF CAMPAIGN CONTENT OR REPORTS, OR THE LIKELIHOOD OF ANY POLITICAL OR LEGISLATIVE RESULT.
  3. 3. CITIZENBACKED DOES NOT PROVIDE LEGAL, TAX, FINANCIAL, OR POLITICAL ADVICE. CONSULT YOUR OWN ADVISORS.

16. Limitation of liability

  1. 1. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CITIZENBACKED AND ITS OWNERS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, DATA, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM, HOWEVER CAUSED AND UNDER ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY.
  2. 2. TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CITIZENBACKED'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THESE TERMS OR THE PLATFORM WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE PLATFORM FEE ATTRIBUTABLE TO YOUR PLEDGES IN THE TWELVE MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM AROSE OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).
  3. 3. CitizenBacked is not liable for any act or omission of any Payee, Representative, the Payment Processor, or any other Backer.
  4. 4. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain limitations; in those jurisdictions the limitations apply to the fullest extent permitted.

17. Indemnification

You will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless CitizenBacked and its owners, officers, employees, and agents from any claim, loss, liability, or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of (a) your breach of these Terms, including any eligibility representation in Section 5; (b) your violation of any law; (c) content you post; or (d) your conduct as a Representative.

18. Dispute resolution: binding arbitration and class-action waiver

  1. 1. Informal resolution first. Before starting arbitration, you and CitizenBacked agree to try to resolve any dispute informally by sending a written notice describing the dispute to [email protected] (or, from CitizenBacked, to your account email) and allowing 60 days for resolution.
  2. 2. Binding arbitration. Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, the Platform, or any Pledge, including its existence, validity, or termination, and including disputes with a Payee or Representative to the extent they involve CitizenBacked, will be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules then in effect. The Federal Arbitration Act governs this Section.
  3. 3. Location and costs. Arbitration will take place in Duval County, Florida, or by video conference at your election. Filing and arbitrator fees will be allocated under the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules; CitizenBacked will pay fees the rules assign to it and, for claims under $10,000, will reimburse your filing fee unless the arbitrator finds the claim frivolous.
  4. 4. Class-action waiver. YOU AND CITIZENBACKED AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN AN INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, COLLECTIVE, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims or preside over any form of representative or class proceeding. If this waiver is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, that claim will be severed and litigated in court under Section 19, and the waiver will apply to all other claims.
  5. 5. Small-claims carve-out. Either party may bring an individual claim in small-claims court in Duval County, Florida, or the county of your residence, if the claim qualifies.
  6. 6. Opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by sending written notice to [email protected] within 30 days after first accepting these Terms, stating your name, account email, and that you opt out of arbitration. Opting out does not affect any other provision.
  7. 7. Jury trial waiver. TO THE EXTENT A CLAIM PROCEEDS IN COURT, YOU AND CITIZENBACKED WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL.
  8. 8. Survival. This Section survives termination of these Terms and closure of your account.

19. Governing law and venue

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida and applicable federal law, without regard to conflict-of-laws rules. Subject to Section 18, the state and federal courts located in Duval County, Florida have exclusive jurisdiction over any claim not subject to arbitration, and you consent to personal jurisdiction there.

20. Suspension and termination

  1. 1. CitizenBacked may suspend or terminate your account, cancel any uncharged Pledge, or remove you from a Representative pool at any time, with or without notice, for breach of these Terms, suspected fraud, legal or regulatory risk, or to protect the Platform, a Payee, or other Backers.
  2. 2. You may close your account at any time. Closing your account does not cancel a Pledge that has already been charged and does not relieve you of obligations accrued before closure.
  3. 3. Sections 2, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14 through 19, 22, 24.3, and 30 survive termination.

21. Changes to these Terms

CitizenBacked may update these Terms by posting a revised version with a new "last updated" date. The version in effect when you submitted a Pledge governs that Pledge. Material changes will be notified by email at least 14 days before they take effect for new Pledges. Continued use of the Platform after that date is acceptance of the revised Terms for new Pledges.

22. General

  1. 1. Entire agreement. These Terms, together with the documents incorporated by reference, are the entire agreement between you and CitizenBacked regarding Pledges and supersede any prior understanding.
  2. 2. Severability. If any provision is held unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted and the remainder will continue in effect.
  3. 3. No waiver. CitizenBacked's failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it.
  4. 4. Assignment. You may not assign these Terms or any Pledge. CitizenBacked may assign them to a successor or affiliate.
  5. 5. Force majeure. Neither party is liable for delay or failure caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including Payment Processor outages, legislative recesses or adjournments, or government action.
  6. 6. Third-party beneficiaries. Each Payee, and for Lobbying Firm Campaigns the Representative, is an intended third-party beneficiary of Sections 5, 11, and 12 and of the Part that applies to its Campaign. There are no other third-party beneficiaries.
  7. 7. Contact. CitizenBacked LLC, 5107 University Boulevard West, Jacksonville, FL 32216, [email protected], (727) 437-2827.

Part II. Lobbying Firm Campaigns

Part II applies only to Campaigns whose Payee is a Lobbying Firm.

23. Nature of your payment

  1. 1. Your Pledge, once charged, is a payment to the Lobbying Firm for federal lobbying services under the Engagement Letter. It is not a charitable contribution, not a donation to any organization, and not deductible as a business expense under 26 U.S.C. § 162(e).
  2. 2. The Engagement Letter sets out the Lobbying Firm's scope of work, term, fixed fee, milestone conditions (if any), reporting obligations, termination rights, and refund rules. Nothing on the Campaign page or in these Terms expands the Lobbying Firm's obligations beyond the Engagement Letter. CitizenBacked is not a party to the Engagement Letter, makes no representation about the Lobbying Firm's performance, and has no obligation to enforce the Engagement Letter on your behalf. The Engagement Letter may be amended only as it provides, and material amendments will be posted to the Campaign page.

24. The Coalition

  1. 1. By pledging to a Lobbying Firm Campaign you become a member of that Campaign's Coalition, an unincorporated association formed solely for the purpose of retaining the Lobbying Firm under the Engagement Letter and receiving its reports. The Coalition is the Lobbying Firm's client.
  2. 2. The Coalition has no assets, bank account, or officers other than the Representative, and it dissolves automatically when the engagement ends and all reporting obligations are complete.
  3. 3. Your only financial obligation as a Coalition member is your Pledge. You have no liability for the Pledges of other members, for any fee beyond your Pledge, or for any act or omission of the Lobbying Firm, the Representative, or any other member.
  4. 4. Coalition members have no governance rights except as stated in Section 25. Membership does not create a partnership, joint venture, agency, or fiduciary relationship between you and CitizenBacked, the Lobbying Firm, or any other member.
  5. 5. You authorize the Representative to sign the Engagement Letter and any permitted amendment on behalf of the Coalition, to receive and approve the Lobbying Firm's reports, to approve or withhold approval of any milestone described in the Engagement Letter, and to terminate the engagement in accordance with its terms.

25. The Campaign Representative

  1. 1. Role. Each Lobbying Firm Campaign has one Representative who signs the Engagement Letter on behalf of the Coalition, serves as the Coalition's contact person on the Lobbying Firm's federal lobbying filings, receives the Lobbying Firm's reports, and exercises the authority described in Section 24.5.
  2. 2. Volunteering and selection. At checkout you may check a box indicating that you are willing to serve as Representative. CitizenBacked first confirms that each volunteer meets the eligibility rules in Section 25.3, then selects the Representative at random from the eligible volunteers. The person selected must accept the role in writing within 7 days; if they decline or do not respond, CitizenBacked selects again at random from the remaining eligible volunteers. If no eligible volunteer accepts, CitizenBacked may recruit a Representative from among the Campaign's Backers by other means.
  3. 3. Eligibility. A Representative must be a natural person at least 18 years old, a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident residing in the United States, a Backer of the Campaign, and must not be an employee, officer, contractor, agent, or paid consultant of the Lobbying Firm or of any affiliate of the Lobbying Firm, and must have no financial interest in the engagement. A Representative must disclose any relationship with the Lobbying Firm before selection and promptly if one arises afterward.
  4. 4. Duties. The Representative agrees to act in good faith in the interest of the Coalition, to review the Engagement Letter before signing, to respond to the Lobbying Firm and CitizenBacked within a reasonable time, to review reports, and to make milestone decisions on the basis stated in the Engagement Letter.
  5. 5. No compensation; no liability. The Representative receives no compensation. The Representative has no personal liability for the Lobbying Firm's fees, for the Pledges of other members, or for the outcome of the engagement, and signs the Engagement Letter solely in a representative capacity. CitizenBacked does not indemnify the Representative and provides no defense or insurance for claims arising from the role; volunteers should consider this before checking the box.
  6. 6. Public disclosure. The Representative's name, and city and state of residence, will appear on the Lobbying Firm's public lobbying registrations and reports as the Coalition's contact and may be shown on the Campaign page. By volunteering you consent to this disclosure if selected.
  7. 7. Resignation and replacement. A Representative may resign on 14 days' written notice to CitizenBacked and the Lobbying Firm. CitizenBacked will select a replacement under Section 25.2. If no replacement is in place within 30 days, the engagement may be terminated under the Engagement Letter and Section 27 applies.
  8. 8. Removal. CitizenBacked may remove a Representative who becomes ineligible, is unresponsive for 14 days, or acts contrary to the Coalition's interest, and select a replacement under Section 25.2.

26. Lobbying disclosures

  1. 1. Lobbying Disclosure Act. The Lobbying Firm registers and reports under the federal Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. § 1601 et seq.). On those filings the Coalition is identified as the client and the Representative as its contact. Individual Backers are not named on federal lobbying filings. The Lobbying Firm reports its income from the Coalition in the aggregate as the law requires.
  2. 2. Affiliated organizations. Federal law requires the Lobbying Firm to disclose any organization (other than an individual) that contributes more than $5,000 in a calendar quarter toward a Campaign's lobbying and actively participates in planning, supervising, or controlling that lobbying. Organizations may not direct, supervise, or control any Campaign's lobbying through the Platform; the Representative alone exercises the Coalition's authority. If an organization's Pledges to a single Campaign exceed $5,000 in a quarter, CitizenBacked may require written confirmation that it has not participated in planning, supervising, or controlling the lobbying. If an organization nonetheless meets the disclosure test, you consent to CitizenBacked providing its name, address, and principal place of business to the Lobbying Firm for disclosure.
  3. 3. Foreign entities. Federal law requires disclosure of certain foreign entities that own, direct, finance, or subsidize a client's lobbying, and the Foreign Agents Registration Act may apply where a foreign government or political party is involved. Pledges from or on behalf of foreign persons, foreign governments, foreign political parties, or foreign organizations are prohibited (Section 5). You consent to CitizenBacked providing the Lobbying Firm with the country of your billing address and card issuance and your organization's attestations so the Lobbying Firm can complete its filings.

27. Early termination and refunds

If the Lobbying Firm withdraws, becomes unable to perform, or the engagement is terminated early under the Engagement Letter, the Lobbying Firm will refund to each Backer, through the Payment Processor to the original payment method, that Backer's proportionate share of the unearned portion of the fee as determined under the Engagement Letter. Section 9 otherwise applies.

Part III. Advocacy Organization Campaigns

Part III applies only to Campaigns whose Payee is an Advocacy Organization.

28. Nature of your payment

  1. 1. Your Pledge, once charged, is a contribution to the Advocacy Organization named on the Campaign page, made for the purpose stated in the Campaign Summary. The Advocacy Organization conducts its own advocacy and lobbying at the level of government stated in the Campaign Summary, and handles its own federal, state, or local lobbying registrations; you are a contributor, not a client, and no Coalition, Engagement Letter, or Representative applies.
  2. 2. Not tax-deductible. Contributions or gifts to [Advocacy Organization] are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. This statement appears on each Advocacy Organization Campaign page and at checkout.
  3. 3. 501(c)(6) organizations. A contribution to a chamber of commerce or other 501(c)(6) Advocacy Organization is not membership dues. To the extent it is used for lobbying, it is also not deductible as a business expense (26 U.S.C. § 162(e)).

29. Use of contributions

  1. 1. The Advocacy Organization will apply contributions to the Campaign's purpose as described in the Campaign Summary.
  2. 2. If the Campaign ends early or the work stops. If, after the Charge Event, the Advocacy Organization ends the Campaign early or the Campaign's objective can no longer be pursued, the Advocacy Organization will retain the contributions and apply them to related advocacy campaigns and work consistent with its mission and the subject of the Campaign. Contributions are not refunded in that event. The Campaign Summary states this rule before you pledge.
  3. 3. The Advocacy Organization reports on its use of contributions through the activity reports described in Section 10 and a final report when the Campaign ends.

30. Florida registration and disclosures

  1. 1. Each Advocacy Organization registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shows its registration on the Campaign page with the following statement:

[Advocacy Organization], Florida registration number CH[number]. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE (800-435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR AT WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

  1. 2. The same statement appears at checkout and on every receipt and confirmation for an Advocacy Organization Campaign. An Advocacy Organization that is exempt from Florida registration for a Campaign (for example, a Campaign limited to its own members) states the basis of the exemption on the Campaign page instead. Disclosures required by other states appear on the Campaign page where they apply.
  2. 3. CitizenBacked provides services to the Advocacy Organization as a registered professional fundraising consultant under a written contract filed with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CitizenBacked does not solicit contributions and at no time has custody or control of contributions.

31. Information sharing and organizational backers

  1. 1. The Advocacy Organization receives the information described in Section 12.2 and uses it under its own donor privacy policy, which is linked from the Campaign page.
  2. 2. An organization that pledges to an Advocacy Organization Campaign has no role in planning, supervising, or controlling the Advocacy Organization's lobbying. If an organization's Pledges to a single Campaign exceed $5,000 in a quarter, CitizenBacked may require written confirmation of this, and you consent to CitizenBacked providing the organization's name, address, and principal place of business to the Advocacy Organization if federal lobbying disclosure requires it.