1. Purpose of this policy

This policy explains how charitable gifts to Hearts of Compassion Ministries Inc. are processed, receipted, designated, and — in limited circumstances — refunded. It applies to all gifts made online through this website, by check, or by any other method.

2. What your gift supports

Gifts support the charitable and educational mission of Hearts of Compassion Ministries Inc. and Freedom Center Academy, including:

Need-based tuition assistance and scholarships;
Classroom curriculum, supplies, and technology;
Faculty development and academic programming;
Spiritual formation, chapel, and student ministry;
Athletics and extracurricular activities;
The administrative and operational support required to deliver the above.

Gifts are unrestricted unless a designation is offered and accepted. Where you select a designation, we will honor it. If a designated program is fully funded or discontinued, we will apply your gift to a closely related purpose and notify you.

3. What a gift is not

A gift through this website is not:

Payment of tuition, fees, or any amount owed under an enrollment agreement;
Purchase of a good or service;
A reservation of a seat, place, or benefit of any kind.

Tuition and fees are billed separately by the school office. If you need to make a tuition payment, please contact info@freedomcenteracademy.org or call +1 (843) 251-6455. Payments mistakenly made through the donation form will be treated as gifts unless you notify us within 30 days, in which case we will refund the payment and direct you to the correct process.

4. Tax deductibility

Hearts of Compassion Ministries Inc. is recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 58-2449961). Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

We provide no goods or services in exchange for charitable gifts, and our receipts say so. Where a gift is made in connection with an event that includes a meal, admission, or other benefit (for example, a benefit dinner or auction), your receipt will state the fair market value of the benefits you received, and only the amount above that value is tax-deductible.

We do not provide tax or legal advice. Please consult your own tax advisor regarding your specific situation.

5. Recurring gifts

If you set up a monthly gift, your card will be charged the amount you selected on the same day each month until you cancel. You will receive an emailed receipt for each charge. You may cancel at any time by:

Emailing info@freedomcenteracademy.org with the subject line "Cancel recurring gift"; or
Calling +1 (843) 251-6455 during office hours.

Cancellations are processed within two business days. A cancellation does not retroactively refund charges already processed, but you may request a refund under Section 6 below.

6. Refund policy

Charitable gifts are generally non-refundable. We are a nonprofit and we budget and spend against expected gifts. However, we recognize that mistakes happen, and we want to treat donors fairly.

We will issue a full refund in the following circumstances:

Duplicate charge. You were charged more than once for the same intended gift.
Incorrect amount. You entered an amount different from what you intended, and you notify us within 30 days.
Unauthorized transaction. The charge was not authorized by the cardholder.
Processing error. A technical fault on our side or Stripe's caused an incorrect charge.

How to request a refund

Email info@freedomcenteracademy.org with the subject line "Refund Request" and include:

Your full name as it appeared on the gift;
The date and amount of the gift;
The receipt number from your emailed receipt, if available;
A brief description of the issue.

Timeline

We will acknowledge your request within 2 business days.
We will make a decision within 10 business days of receiving the request.
Approved refunds are issued to the original payment method through Stripe within 5–10 business days. Your bank may take additional time to post the credit.

We reserve the right to decline a refund request that falls outside the circumstances above, including a change of mind after 30 days. If we decline, we will explain why in writing.

Chargebacks. If you believe a charge is fraudulent, please contact us first — we can usually resolve it faster than a bank dispute. Filing a chargeback without contacting us may result in your gift being reversed and your recurring gift being cancelled.

7. Donor privacy

We publish donor names in our annual report only with permission. We do not publish, sell, rent, or trade donor information, and we do not sell or share donor lists with any other organization. Donors may request to remain anonymous at any time by emailing the school office. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

8. Gifts of securities, bequests, and in-kind gifts

For stock gifts, donor-advised fund grants, qualified charitable distributions from an IRA, bequests, or gifts over $50,000, please contact the school office directly so we can process your gift accurately and provide the correct acknowledgment. In-kind gifts are acknowledged at the value you represent to us; we do not appraise donated property.

9. Contact

Hearts of Compassion Ministries Inc.
Attn: Donor Services
3930 Wesley St Ste 1203
Myrtle Beach, SC 29579
info@freedomcenteracademy.org
+1 (843) 251-6455
Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM EST