Terms of Use

1. Who we are

These Terms of Use ("Terms") are a binding agreement between you and Food Finder LLC, a Florida limited liability company ("Food Finder," "we," "us," or "our"). By creating an account, accessing, or using the platform, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, Community Guidelines, and the role-specific disclosures presented at sign-up.

2. The platform — what it is and is not

Food Finder is a subscription-based platform whose only function is to help users ("Sharers") who have surplus unopened, not-expired food items connect with users ("Finders") who can use them. We provide the technology that makes the introduction; everything else — the food itself, the conversation, the pickup, and the consumption — happens entirely between users, independently of Food Finder. Food Finder does not buy, sell, prepare, handle, inspect, verify, store, transport, deliver, or distribute any food, and does not facilitate any payment or transaction between users.

Food is free. Always. All food shared through Food Finder must be given free of charge. No payments of any kind are allowed between users — on the platform or off the platform — whether mandatory or optional. This includes (but is not limited to) tips, gratuities, "thank-you" payments, donations, suggested contributions, reimbursements, gift cards, cash, digital transfers (Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, PayPal, crypto, etc.), goods-in-kind, services-in-kind, or any other form of consideration in connection with shared food. Any subscription fee Food Finder charges (see Section 5) is paid to Food Finder solely for access to the software platform and has nothing to do with the value, price, or exchange of any food.

Food Finder is NOT:

• a food provider, restaurant, food retailer, food handler, food preparer, or food packager;
• a marketplace, broker, agent, or intermediary in any food exchange;
• a delivery, courier, or logistics service;
• a food bank, charity, health authority, or food safety inspector;
• a party to any agreement, communication, exchange, or interaction between users;
• a guarantor or warrantor of the safety, quality, freshness, accuracy, legality, labeling, allergen status, or fitness of any food.

No guarantees. Food Finder makes no representations or warranties — express or implied — about the safety, quality, condition, source, allergens, ingredients, compliance with law, or any other characteristic of food shared by users, or about the identity, conduct, character, or qualifications of any user.

Users assume all risk. Each user is solely responsible for their own decisions and actions on the platform, and assumes all risk of loss, illness, injury, or damage arising out of those decisions and actions.

Independent status. Sharers and Finders are independent individuals. They are not employees, agents, contractors, partners, joint venturers, or representatives of Food Finder, and have no authority to act on Food Finder's behalf.

3. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to use Food Finder. If you are under 18, you may only use the platform with the verifiable consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian, who accepts these Terms on your behalf and is jointly responsible for your activity. You must not be barred from using the platform under applicable law.

4. Accounts and verification

You agree to provide accurate information, keep your account secure, and be responsible for all activity under your account. We may suspend or terminate accounts at any time, with or without notice, including for suspected fraud, abuse, safety risk, or violation of these Terms.

5. Subscription fees — current status and planned rollout

5.1 Current status — free access, no charges. As of the "Last updated" date above, Food Finder does not charge any subscription fees. Account creation and platform access are currently free for both Sharers and Finders. No payment method is required to sign up or to use the platform today. No free trial is offered at this time — because there is nothing to convert into a paid subscription, there is no trial period, and any reference to a "free trial" anywhere on the platform is not currently in effect.

5.2 Founding-member period. We are onboarding the first 25,000 Finders as "Founding Members." Founding-Member status is captured at sign-up and locked to that account. While the founding period is open, no one is charged.

5.3 Planned rollout at 25,000 members. When Food Finder reaches 25,000 registered Finders, we plan to activate a paid subscription for Finder access. Under the currently planned pricing:

• Founding-Member Finders (accounts created before the 25,000 milestone) will be offered a locked-in rate of $3.99 / month for continued Finder access.
• General Finder accounts (created after the 25,000 milestone) will be offered a rate of $4.99 / month.
• Sharers never pay a subscription fee. Posting extra food items is, and will remain, free for everyone.
• A 7-day free trial is planned to launch for Finder subscriptions at the same time. Trial mechanics (eligibility, conversion, cancellation) will be published in these Terms before the trial goes live.

Pricing, timing, and rollout mechanics are subject to change and will be finalized in a future revision of these Terms before any charge is made. We will give notice — by email and in-app — before Finder subscriptions become mandatory, and no existing account will be auto-charged without an explicit, opted-in payment method on file.

5.4 Once subscription billing is active (Sections 5.5–5.9 below), the following billing terms will apply to Finder subscriptions. They do not apply while subscription billing is inactive.

5.5 What a Finder subscription buys — and what it does not. A Finder subscription purchases access to the Food Finder platform (the ability to browse listings, message Sharers, and use associated features) for the billing period paid for. A Finder subscription does not purchase, promise, or guarantee: (a) that any food will be listed in your area or at any time; (b) that any Sharer will respond to you; (c) that any hand-off will occur; (d) that any food, if received, will be of any particular quality, quantity, freshness, safety, or type; (e) any minimum activity level in your ZIP code, city, region, or country; or (f) any specific number of matches, messages, or listings. Food availability depends entirely on independent third-party users and is outside Food Finder's control. Lack of local food activity, an empty feed, no responses, no matches, no hand-offs, or any dissatisfaction with the food-sharing experience is expressly NOT a basis for a refund, chargeback, or dispute, because none of those things were ever sold to you. What was sold to you — platform access — was delivered the moment your account was activated.

5.6 All fees are final and non-refundable. Except where a non-waivable refund right is required by applicable law, all subscription fees are final, non-refundable, and non-creditable, in whole or in part, for any reason, including but not limited to: (a) unused time in a billing period; (b) cancellation mid-period; (c) forgetting to cancel before renewal; (d) inability to find food, Sharers, or Finders in your area; (e) low local activity; (f) dissatisfaction with any listing, user, message, or hand-off; (g) suspension or termination of your account for violating these Terms, the Community Guidelines, or applicable law; (h) changes to features, pricing, or availability going forward; or (i) any other subjective dissatisfaction with the platform. If you cancel, you retain access through the end of the paid period; no pro-rated refund is issued.

5.7 Chargeback and dispute waiver. You agree that, before initiating any chargeback, payment dispute, reversal, or claim with your bank, card issuer, or payment network, you will first contact Food Finder at support@foodfinder.org and give Food Finder a reasonable opportunity (no less than thirty (30) days) to review and, in its sole discretion, resolve the matter. You further agree that the following do not constitute valid grounds for a chargeback and that initiating a chargeback on any of these grounds is a material breach of these Terms:

• no food was available in your area, at your ZIP code, or in your city;
• no Sharer responded to you, or no Finder responded to your listing;
• a hand-off did not occur, was canceled, or did not meet your expectations;
• food you received was not the quality, quantity, freshness, or type you hoped for;
• you forgot to cancel before automatic renewal;
• you did not use the platform during the billing period;
• you changed your mind about the subscription;
• you disagree with these Terms, our policies, or a moderation decision;
• your account was suspended or terminated for violating these Terms or applicable law;
• any other reason relating to food, users, or outcomes that Food Finder does not sell, handle, or guarantee under Sections 2, 5.5, and 6.

5.8 Consequences of a wrongful chargeback. Because you have expressly acknowledged (i) that your subscription purchases platform access only, (ii) that platform access was delivered, and (iii) that food availability, quality, and user behavior are outside Food Finder's control and are not part of what you purchased, you agree that any chargeback filed on the grounds listed in Section 5.7, or otherwise in bad faith, is wrongful. If you file a wrongful chargeback, Food Finder may, in its sole discretion and without limiting any other remedy: (a) immediately suspend or permanently terminate your account and any linked accounts; (b) ban you from creating any future account on the platform; (c) contest the chargeback with your bank or card network and submit these Terms, your acceptance record, account activity logs, and proof of platform access as evidence that the service was delivered as sold; (d) recover the disputed amount, any chargeback fees assessed by the payment processor or card network, and reasonable costs of collection (including reasonable attorneys' fees) as a liquidated debt you owe to Food Finder; and (e) refer the matter to a collection agency and report the debt as permitted by law. Nothing in this Section limits any rights or remedies available to Food Finder under applicable law.

5.9 Evidence of acceptance. You acknowledge that your account creation, checkout confirmation, subscription activation, and continued use of the platform constitute your electronic signature and binding acceptance of this Section 5, including the no-refund policy in Section 5.6, the chargeback waiver in Section 5.7, and the remedies in Section 5.8. Food Finder may retain and submit this record to any bank, card issuer, or payment network as evidence in any dispute.

6. Food safety — USE AT YOUR OWN RISK

Food shared through the platform is not inspected, tested, regulated, handled, stored, transported, or endorsed by Food Finder. We make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the safety, freshness, allergens, ingredients, preparation, storage, temperature, source, expiration, legality, or fitness for consumption of any food.

• Sharers are independent providers and are solely responsible for accurate descriptions, allergen disclosure, safe handling, lawful sourcing, any required licensing or permits, and full compliance with all applicable food, health, cottage food, and donation laws.
• Finders are solely responsible for evaluating, accepting, transporting, storing, and consuming food at their own discretion and risk.
• Never accept food you are unsure about. When in doubt, throw it out.

Good Samaritan Act. Good-faith donations of apparently wholesome food are protected from civil and criminal liability under the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. § 1791), as expanded by the Food Donation Improvement Act of 2023, and under analogous laws in every U.S. state. These protections apply except in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct. Nothing in these Terms is intended to limit those statutory protections.

7. Conduct and prohibited activity

You agree not to:

• list food you know or suspect to be spoiled, contaminated, recalled, or unsafe;
• misrepresent food, ingredients, allergens, source, or preparation;
• sell food, or request, offer, accept, or solicit any payment, tip, gratuity, donation, suggested contribution, reimbursement, gift card, cash, digital transfer, goods, services, or other consideration between users — on the platform or off the platform, mandatory or optional. Food on Food Finder is always free;
• list alcohol, cannabis, controlled substances, raw milk, or any item prohibited by law;
• harass, threaten, dox, defraud, or discriminate against any user;
• use the platform for commercial resale or any commercial purpose without our written permission;
• scrape, reverse engineer, or interfere with the platform;
• impersonate any person or misrepresent your affiliation.

See our Community Guidelines for more.

8. User content

You retain ownership of content you post (listings, photos, messages). You grant Food Finder a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to host, display, reproduce, and distribute that content for the purpose of operating and promoting the platform. You represent that you have all rights necessary to grant this license.

Listing lifecycle and automatic deletion. To keep the platform current and prevent stale food from sitting in the feed, every listing has a fixed 20-day active window that starts when you first post it. If you haven't marked the listing picked up and haven't refreshed or edited it within that 20 days, the listing — including its photos — is permanently and automatically deleted from our systems. Deletion is final: we do not archive, back up for recovery, or restore expired listings. If you still have food available after the 20-day window closes, you're welcome to post a brand-new listing. You can also extend the window at any time before it closes by tapping Refresh (or editing the listing), which resets the 20 days from that moment. Marking a listing as picked up also causes the listing and all its photos to be immediately and permanently deleted. This automatic purge is a core operating practice of the platform and applies to every listing without exception.

9. DISCLAIMERS — NO WARRANTIES

THE PLATFORM AND ALL CONTENT, LISTINGS, AND USER INTERACTIONS ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FOOD FINDER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, AVAILABILITY, AND ANY WARRANTY ARISING FROM COURSE OF DEALING OR USAGE OF TRADE. WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR SECURE, OR THAT ANY FOOD WILL BE SAFE, ACCURATELY DESCRIBED, OR SUITABLE FOR YOU.

10. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, FOOD FINDER, ITS OFFICERS, MEMBERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, GOODWILL, HEALTH, OR PROPERTY, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF THE PLATFORM OR ANY FOOD OBTAINED THROUGH IT, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. OUR TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE PLATFORM WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE TWELVE MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) USD $100.

11. Assumption of risk and release

You knowingly and voluntarily assume all risks associated with using the platform and with sharing, accepting, transporting, preparing, storing, and consuming food obtained through the platform, including risks of foodborne illness, allergic reaction, injury, property damage, theft, fraud, or harm caused by other users. You release and forever discharge Food Finder from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action arising from those activities.

12. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Food Finder and its officers, users, employees, and agents from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your use of the platform, your content, your interactions with other users, your food, or your violation of these Terms or any law.

13. Governing law, venue, and jurisdiction

Governing law. These Terms, and any dispute, claim, or controversy (whether in contract, tort, statute, or otherwise) arising out of or relating to these Terms, the platform, your account, or any interaction with Food Finder or with another user through the platform, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles. The United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods does not apply.

Exclusive venue. Subject only to the binding arbitration agreement in Section 14, you and Food Finder agree that the exclusive venue for any action, suit, or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the platform shall be the state courts located in Miami-Dade County, Florida, or the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, and no other forum.

Personal jurisdiction. You irrevocably consent and submit to the personal jurisdiction of those courts for any such action, waive any objection based on lack of personal jurisdiction, improper venue, or forum non conveniens, and agree not to commence any such action in any other court.

Jury trial waiver. To the maximum extent permitted by law, you and Food Finder each waive any right to a trial by jury in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the platform.

Time limitation. Any claim arising out of or relating to these Terms or the platform must be filed within one (1) year after the claim arose; otherwise it is permanently barred.

14. Binding arbitration and class-action waiver

Please read this section carefully — it affects your legal rights. You and Food Finder agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the platform will be resolved exclusively by final and binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration will take place in the county of Food Finder's principal Florida office, or by video where permitted. Judgment on the award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class-action waiver. You and Food Finder agree that each may bring claims against the other only in your or its individual capacity, and not as a plaintiff or class user in any purported class, collective, or representative action. The arbitrator may not consolidate more than one person's claims and may not preside over any form of representative or class proceeding.

Opt-out. You may opt out of this arbitration agreement by emailing legal@foodfinder.org within 30 days of first accepting these Terms, with your name, account email, and a clear statement that you wish to opt out.

15. Referral Program

Food Finder LLC offers a voluntary referral program ("Referral Program") under which registered members may earn future subscription credits by referring new members who sign up using the referrer's personal referral link, maintain an active, in-good-standing Food Finder account for at least ninety (90) days, and — once paid Finder subscriptions are active under Section 5 — remain a Finder in good standing under that program (a "Qualified Referral").

Reward mechanic. For every five (5) Qualified Referrals attributed to your account, Food Finder will issue one (1) month of subscription credit, redeemable against your future Food Finder Finder subscription invoices once paid Finder subscriptions launch. Credits stack; there is no cap on lifetime credits. Because there are no subscription charges today (see Section 5.1), credits cannot be redeemed until paid Finder subscriptions become active. Sharer accounts are always free and have no subscription invoices; a Sharer who earns credits may redeem them if and when they later hold a paid Finder subscription.

No cash value. Credits issued under the Referral Program have no cash value, are non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be exchanged, sold, gifted, or converted to cash under any circumstances. Credits may only be applied toward future Food Finder Finder subscription invoices for the account to which they were issued. Credits expire twelve (12) months after issuance and any unused portion is forfeited.

Eligibility and disqualification. Referrals do not qualify if: (a) the referred user is you or was created by you; (b) the referred user's account is closed, suspended, terminated, or otherwise not in good standing at the 90-day mark; (c) the referred user's email is from a disposable or temporary email service; (d) the referred user shares a payment method fingerprint, device fingerprint, or IP fingerprint with any other referral attributed to you in a pattern that indicates coordinated activity; or (e) Food Finder LLC reasonably determines in its sole discretion that the referral is fraudulent, coordinated, or otherwise abusive of the program. Food Finder LLC reserves the right to withhold, revoke, void, or claw back any credit at any time based on such determination.

No purchase required. The referrer is not required to make any purchase to participate. The referred user makes their own independent decision to sign up.

Program changes. Food Finder LLC may modify, suspend, or terminate the Referral Program at any time in its sole discretion. Credits already issued and unexpired at the time of any change will be honored under the terms in effect at the time of issuance.

Void where prohibited. The Referral Program is void where prohibited or restricted by applicable law. You are responsible for compliance with any tax or reporting obligations arising from credits you earn.

16. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access at any time, for any reason, including suspected violation of these Terms. Sections that by their nature should survive termination will survive (including disclaimers, limitation of liability, indemnification, and arbitration).

17. Changes

We may update these Terms. Material changes — including any change that activates paid subscription billing under Section 5 or launches a free trial — will be communicated by posting the updated Terms with a new "Last updated" date and by in-app and email notice. Your continued use after the effective date constitutes acceptance.

18. Copyright (DMCA)

Food Finder complies with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (17 U.S.C. § 512). To submit a takedown notice or counter-notification, see our DMCA & Copyright Policy.

19. Contact

Food Finder LLC — legal@foodfinder.org.