Donate & Sponsor
Latina Youth Leaders in Eagle Pass

Donation & Sponsorship Policy

Miss Eagle Pass Empowerment Initiative (MEPEI) — powered by WYNOT International

Effective date: November 12, 2025

Contact: abel@misseaglepassorg.com • (786) 932‑0000 • Eagle Pass, Texas 78852

Our promise: Every dollar fuels Latina youth leadership, mentorship, arts, and wellness programs serving Eagle Pass and greater Maverick County.

1) Transparency on Use of Funds

Mission alignment (what your gift powers).

MEPEI advances Latina youth leadership and whole‑person development in Eagle Pass, TX through mentorship, arts & movement, academic support, and college‑career pathways. Your support sustains direct programming, scholarships, staff & facilities, and community events.

Designated vs. general support.

Designated gifts go to the specified program, campaign, or fund noted by the donor (e.g., “Latina Leadership Fellowship,” “MEPEI Summer Intensives”).
General support gifts are used where they are needed most to advance our mission in Eagle Pass and surrounding South Texas communities.

Flexibility clause (crucial for continuity).

Donations designated for a specific purpose will be used for that effort. If a project is fully funded, modified, or becomes impracticable, MEPEI may re‑designate remaining funds to the next most urgent need that supports our mission in Eagle Pass and Maverick County. This ensures your gift still creates local impact.

Impact reporting.

Donors and sponsors receive concise impact updates (quarterly highlights + an annual report) with program outcomes, participation, and financial summaries.

2) Refund & Cancellation Policy

Donations.

All donations are final and non‑refundable. We will correct duplicate charges or processing errors upon verification—email donations@mepei.org within 30 days of the transaction.

Recurring donations.

You can cancel future recurring donations at any time by (a) logging into your donor account (if enabled on our Wix site) or (b) emailing donations@mepei.org. Cancellations stop future charges; past donations are not refunded.

Sponsorships (deliverables & cancellations).

Sponsors receive recognition benefits (e.g., logo placement, stage mentions, social posts, event signage) as detailed in your Sponsorship Agreement (“the Agreement”).

If a sponsor cancels after benefits begin, fees are typically non‑refundable. If a long‑term activation is canceled early, we may, at our discretion, pro‑rate or offer an alternative package of equal value.
If MEPEI cannot deliver promised benefits (e.g., venue closure, emergency), we will offer equivalent make‑goods (rescheduling, comparable exposure) or a partial/full refund as outlined in the Agreement.
Force majeure. If circumstances beyond our control (e.g., severe weather, public health directives) prevent fulfillment, we will prioritize alternative arrangements; if not feasible, we’ll discuss pro‑rated remedies in good faith.

Quid pro quo & tax implications for sponsors.

When sponsorship includes benefits of market value (e.g., ads, tickets, tables), the deductible portion is limited to the amount over the fair market value (FMV) of the benefits, and we will include the FMV on your receipt as required for quid pro quo contributions over $75.

3) Payment Processing & Security

How payments are processed.

We accept online contributions via Wix (Wix Payments) and, when offered, Stripe and PayPal. All providers operate with industry‑standard security controls and are PCI DSS compliant (Wix is validated as a Level 1 service provider; Stripe is Level 1; PayPal maintains PCI‑compliant processing).

Card data protection.

Transactions are encrypted end‑to‑end. Where applicable, our processors undergo annual independent PCI assessments; PCI is the global standard for cardholder data security.

Fees.

Your donation amount is the gross payment. Standard payment processing fees are deducted by the provider before MEPEI receives net funds.

4) Donor & Sponsor Privacy

What we collect.

Name, contact details, gift amount, payment method details (handled by the processor), and preferences. For sponsorships, we also collect brand assets and fulfillment details.

How we use it.

To process payments, issue tax receipts, fulfill sponsorship deliverables, provide impact updates, and improve donor experiences. You can opt‑out of non‑transactional emails anytime.

We never sell your data.

MEPEI does not sell or trade donor/sponsor information. Limited sharing with secure service providers (e.g., payment processors, email platforms) occurs solely to complete transactions and communications.

Data security & Texas breach notice.

If a data incident occurs involving Texans’ “sensitive personal information,” we will provide timely notificationsconsistent with Texas Business & Commerce Code §521.053.

For full details, see our site‑wide Privacy Policy (linked in the footer).

5) Tax Deductibility & Receipting

Our status.

If MEPEI is already a 501(c)(3): Contributions are tax‑deductible to the extent allowed by law; confirmation emails and annual summaries serve as receipts.
If MEPEI’s 501(c)(3) is pending: Gifts may not be deductible until the IRS issues a determination. If MEPEI filed within 27 months of formation and the application is approved, recognition is generally retroactive to the formation date; otherwise, recognition typically applies from the application date forward. Donors should consult a tax advisor.

Receipts & acknowledgments.

We email a confirmation instantly; for $250+ donations, we provide the contemporaneous written acknowledgment the IRS requires. For gifts with benefits (events, sponsor perks), we disclose the FMV so donors know the deductible portion.

Non‑cash gifts.

For non‑cash contributions >$5,000, donors generally must obtain a qualified appraisal and submit IRS Form 8283(MEPEI signs the donee acknowledgment where applicable). We don’t provide valuations.

Gift Acceptance & Sponsorship Standards (Brand‑Safe)

To protect youth and mission integrity, MEPEI may decline gifts or sponsorships that conflict with our values (e.g., tobacco/vaping, adult content, firearms/weapons, hate or discriminatory activity). We also reserve the right to review and approve all sponsor creative (logos, copy, activations) for brand safety and youth suitability.

Editorial independence.

Sponsorship does not equal endorsement of a sponsor’s products, services, or political positions. We retain full editorial control over content, curriculum, and programming.

Youth safeguards.

MEPEI requires guardian consent for youth photos/video and follows strict participant privacy standards.

PR & disclosure.

If influencers or ambassadors are engaged, all posts include clear, conspicuous disclosures per FTC Endorsement Guides.

Texas‑Specific Compliance Notes (for fundraising in TX)

General charitable solicitation registration. Texas does not require most nonprofits to register for general fundraising; however, there are special registrations for public safety, veterans, and law‑enforcement telephone solicitations. MEPEI does not conduct those specialized solicitations; if we ever do, we will register as required.
Raffles & bingo. Texas allows charitable raffles (with limits) under the Charitable Raffle Enabling Act, and charitable bingo under the Bingo Enabling Act—both require strict compliance and, for bingo, licensing. MEPEI will only conduct such activities if eligible and compliant.
Oversight. The Texas Attorney General oversees charitable trusts and can act against deceptive or improper charity practices; MEPEI is committed to transparent, truthful solicitations and reporting.

How to Update or Ask Questions

Need to change a recurring gift, update recognition name, or request an acknowledgment copy? Email abel@misseaglepassorg.com. We aim to reply within 2 business days.

Donate & Sponsor Latina Youth Leaders in Eagle Pass