Community Guidelines

3. Community Guidelines

3.1 Our Community Vision

Charitey exists to bring together individuals, organisations, and communities with a shared purpose: to ensure that essential resources reach those who need them most. Our Platform is built on the principles of trust, generosity, dignity, and collaboration. These Community Guidelines define the standards of behaviour that every participant — whether an NGO, donor, volunteer, or visitor — is expected to uphold.

These Guidelines are not exhaustive. They reflect the spirit in which the Platform was built. We ask all users to engage with honesty, compassion, and responsibility, even in situations not explicitly addressed here.

3.2 Respectful Conduct

Every person who uses the Charitey Platform deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. We expect all users to:

Communicate courteously and professionally with NGOs, donors, volunteers, and Platform staff.
Acknowledge that beneficiaries of charitable resources are members of our communities deserving of full respect and dignity.
Avoid language, tone, or imagery that is condescending, stereotyping, or reduces individuals to their circumstances.
Resolve misunderstandings through calm and constructive dialogue.
Respect cultural, linguistic, and regional differences among Platform users across India.

Charitey serves users across diverse communities throughout India. We expect sensitivity to socioeconomic, cultural, and regional differences, and we will not tolerate any conduct that diminishes the worth or dignity of any individual or group.

3.3 Ethical Donations

Donors play a vital role in the Charitey ecosystem. We ask all donors to:

Donate only items that are genuinely useful, safe, and in reasonable condition.
Ensure that food items are within their use-by date and have been stored hygienically.
Verify that clothing items are clean, intact, and appropriate for the intended recipients.
Confirm that medical supplies are unexpired, properly stored, and intended for general use.
Not donate items that are broken, hazardous, expired, or that you would not personally use in the same circumstances.
Be transparent about the condition and provenance of donated goods.
Avoid donating items with the expectation of publicity, recognition, or personal benefit.
Ethical donation means considering the needs and circumstances of recipients rather than simply discarding unwanted possessions. Please donate with thought and care.

3.4 Honest Resource Requests

NGOs and individuals submitting resource requests are required to:

Accurately describe the nature, quantity, and urgency of the items or support needed.
Submit requests only for genuine needs of verified beneficiary populations.
Not exaggerate or fabricate urgency to attract more donations.
Update or close requests when needs have been fulfilled.
Not submit duplicate or overlapping requests for the same need.
Provide Charitey with reasonable evidence of receipt and use of donated resources upon request.

3.5 No Fraud

Fraudulent activity of any kind is strictly prohibited and will result in immediate account suspension and referral to appropriate law enforcement authorities. Fraud includes, but is not limited to:

Creating fake NGO profiles or submitting forged registration documents.
Misappropriating donated goods for personal gain.
Submitting false resource requests to accumulate goods without a genuine charitable purpose.
Impersonating a legitimate organisation or individual.
Manipulating Platform features to gain unfair advantages.
Soliciting cash donations under the guise of goods-based requests.
If you suspect fraud on the Platform, please report it immediately to fraud@charitey.org. Charitey takes all fraud reports seriously and will investigate promptly.

3.6 No Hate Speech

The Charitey Platform is a space of compassion and solidarity. We have zero tolerance for:

Hate speech targeting individuals or groups based on religion, caste, gender, sexual orientation, race, nationality, disability, or any other protected characteristic.
Content that dehumanises, demeans, or incites hostility toward any group.
Stereotyping or discriminatory language in donation listings, resource requests, NGO profiles, or communications.
Symbols, imagery, or references associated with hate groups or ideologies.
Content that violates our hate speech policy will be removed immediately, and repeat offenders will be permanently banned from the Platform.

3.7 No Harassment

Charitey is committed to providing a safe environment for all users. Harassment of any kind is prohibited, including:

Sending unsolicited or unwelcome messages to other users.
Targeting a user with repeated negative interactions or reports.
Making threats, whether explicit or implied.
Sharing personal information about another user without their consent ('doxxing').
Sexually inappropriate communications or behaviour.
Intimidation of volunteers, NGO staff, or beneficiaries.
If you experience harassment on the Platform, please use our reporting mechanism or contact support@charitey.org. We will treat all harassment complaints confidentially and act promptly.

3.8 No Illegal Activities

The Platform must not be used to facilitate any activity that is illegal under Indian law or the laws of any jurisdiction. Prohibited activities include:

Trafficking in stolen, counterfeit, or prohibited goods.
Distributing controlled substances or items requiring regulatory approval.
Money laundering or financial fraud.
Circumventing FCRA regulations governing foreign contributions to NGOs.
Violating intellectual property laws.
Any form of exploitation, including child labour or forced labour.

3.9 Authentic Information

The trust that makes Charitey effective depends entirely on the authenticity of the information shared on the Platform. All users must:

Provide truthful and accurate information in profiles, listings, and communications.
Not impersonate another person, NGO, or government entity.
Not create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or bans.
Update their information promptly when circumstances change.
Not use artificial means (bots, scripts, purchased reviews) to manipulate Platform metrics or visibility.

3.10 Safe Communication

For your protection and the protection of others:

Do not share sensitive personal information (such as financial account details, Aadhaar numbers, or passwords) through Platform messaging.
Be cautious of any request that seems unusual or that asks you to communicate or transact outside the Platform.
Report suspicious communications to Charitey before taking any action.
Charitey staff will never ask for your password or payment details.

3.11 Volunteer Behaviour

Volunteers are ambassadors for the spirit of Charitey. When undertaking voluntary activities facilitated through the Platform, volunteers must:

Arrive prepared, on time, and ready to fulfil their commitment.
Behave professionally and respectfully in all interactions with NGO staff, beneficiaries, and partner organisations.
Not photograph or record beneficiaries without explicit, informed consent.
Respect the confidentiality of information encountered during volunteer activities.
Report any concerns about NGO practices, safety conditions, or ethical issues to Charitey.
Not engage in any activity that exploits or harms the communities they are serving.

3.12 NGO Standards

Verified NGOs on the Platform are held to a higher standard of accountability, given the trust placed in them by donors and volunteers. NGOs must:

Operate transparently and share information about their activities openly.
Utilise donated goods solely for the charitable purpose stated in their profile and resource requests.
Maintain proper records of donations received and their distribution.
Treat donors, volunteers, and beneficiaries with respect and professionalism.
Not use donated goods for commercial resale unless explicitly disclosed and agreed by donors.
Respond promptly to enquiries from Charitey's compliance team.
Immediately notify Charitey of any change in legal status, leadership, or operational scope.

3.13 Reporting Violations

If you observe conduct that violates these Community Guidelines, please report it through one of the following channels:

Use the 'Report' function available on all listings, profiles, and messages.
Email our compliance team at report@charitey.org.
Contact our Grievance Officer at grievance@charitey.org for serious concerns.
All reports are reviewed by our moderation team. We do not tolerate the abuse of the reporting system to target legitimate users, and such misuse will itself be treated as a violation of these Guidelines.

3.14 Enforcement Actions

Violations of these Community Guidelines may result in the following actions, applied at Charitey's discretion and proportional to the severity of the breach:

Warning: A formal notice advising the user of the violation and expected correction.
Content Removal: Removal of listings, requests, or other content that violates Guidelines.
Temporary Suspension: Temporary restriction of account access pending investigation.