Terms of Use

Please don't sue us. Thanks!

PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUR USE OF AND ACCESS TO THE SERVICES (AS DEFINED BELOW) ARE SUBJECT TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS; IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THESE TERMS, YOU MAY NOT USE OR ACCESS THE SERVICES IN ANY MANNER.


Last updated: February 4, 2025


These Terms of Use (these "Terms") represent an agreement between you and The Flagstone Initiative, Inc. ("Flagstone") and contain the terms and conditions governing your use of and access to: (1) our website at flagstoneinitiative.org and all of our other websites to which these Terms are posted (collectively, the "Website"); (2) our mobile applications to which these Terms are posted (collectively, the "Application"); and (3) any products, services, and applications made available through the Website or the Application (together with the Website and the Application, the "Services"). "You" and "your" mean the person who uses or accesses the Services. "We," "us," and "our" mean Flagstone and its successors, affiliates, and assignees.


Your use of and access to the Services are subject at all times to these Terms and our
Privacy Policy. Please read these Terms and our Privacy Policy carefully. By using or accessing the Services or by clicking to agree to these Terms when that option is made available to you, you represent that you have read and understand these Terms and our Privacy Policy and you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to all the terms and conditions of these Terms and our Privacy Policy, do not use or access the Services.


THESE TERMS INCLUDE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, YOUR AUTHORIZATION FOR AUTOMATIC DEBITS FROM YOUR BANK ACCOUNT (AS DEFINED BELOW) AND A BINDING ARBITRATION PROVISION CONTAINING A CLASS ACTION WAIVER.



Your consent to use electronic signatures and communications


Disclosure and Consent to Use Electronic Signatures and Communications.
At the time you sign up for new services and during our relationship with you, and in some cases for a period of time after termination of our relationship, we will provide you with notices, change in terms updates, periodic statements, disclosures, account records and other communications, as applicable for the specific services and/or accounts (collectively “Communications”).


Your Consent.
To the extent permitted by applicable law, you consent to use electronic signatures and to electronically receive all "Communications" that we may otherwise be required to send or provide to you in paper form (e.g., by mail). All Communications that we provide to you in electronic form will be sent to you at the email address that you provided to us and/or made available in the online account center for no less than 90 days. If you need to receive a specific document in paper form, you may submit your request to hello@flagstoneinitiative.org


Representations.
By proceeding to sign up or continuing to use our services, you represent that: (1) you have read, understand and agree with the terms of this consent to use electronic signatures and to receive Communications electronically; (2) you have access to hardware and software that meets the minimum requirements specified below; and (3) your consent will remain in effect until you withdraw your consent as specified below.


Your Right to Withdraw Your Consent.
Your consent to receive Communications electronically will remain in effect until you withdraw it. You may withdraw your consent to receive further Communications electronically at any time by contacting us at hello@flagstoneinitiative.org. Any withdrawal of your consent to receive Communications electronically will be effective only after we have a reasonable period of time to process your withdrawal. Please note that withdrawal of your consent to receive Communications electronically will not apply to Communications electronically provided by us to you before the withdrawal of your consent becomes effective.


Your Contact Information.
To ensure that we are able to provide Communications to you electronically, you must notify us of any change in your email address and your mobile device number or other text message address by updating your profile on the Website or the Application. All communications that we provide to you in electronic form will be provided either (1) via email, or (2) via the Application’s online account center.


Copies of Communications.
You should print and save and/or electronically store a copy of all Communications that we send to you electronically for your records.


Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements.
To access and retain Communications provided to you electronically, you must have: (1) a valid email address; (2) a computer or other mobile device (such as tablet or smartphone) that operates on a platform like Windows or iOS and is capable of supporting these requirements; (3) a connection to the internet; (4) a Current Version of Internet Explorer , Mozilla Firefox, Safari, or Chrome (5) a Current Version of a program that accurately reads and displays PDF files, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader version 7 or higher; and, (6) a printer to print out and save Communications in paper form or electronic storage to retain Communications in an electronic form. "Current Version" means a version of the software that is currently being supported by its publisher.


Changes.
We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to communicate with you in paper form. In addition, we reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to discontinue the provision of electronic Communications or to terminate or change the terms and conditions for provision of electronic Communications. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, we will notify you of any such termination or change by updating this Disclosure and Consent on the Website and the Application or delivering notice of such termination or change to you electronically or by mail.



What are the requirements to use the Services?


In order to use the Services, you must: (a) accept and agree to these Terms and our
Privacy Policy; (b) register with us on the Website or the Application; (c) be a legal U.S. resident of at least 18 years of age (or older if you reside in a state where the majority age is older); and (d) provide all information requested by us, such as your name, email address, mobile device number, and such other information as we may request from time to time (collectively, “User Information”). You represent and warrant that all User Information you provide us from time to time is truthful, accurate, current, and complete, and you agree not to misrepresent your identity or your User Information. You agree to promptly notify us of changes to your User Information by emailing hello@flagstoneinitiative.org or by updating your information via the Website or the Application. If we approve your registration, you will be authorized to use the Services, subject to these Terms.


By using the Services and providing User Information to us, you automatically authorize us to obtain, directly or indirectly through our third-party service providers and without any time limit or the requirement to pay any fees, information about you and other third-party websites and databases as necessary to provide the Services to you. User Information will include, but not be limited to, first and last name, address, contact information, household information, payment history, and rent amount. Flagstone will use the User Information to (a) implement the Services and (b) conduct an impact analysis of the Services, which may be in collaboration with New York University. For purposes of such authorization, you hereby grant Flagstone and our third-party service providers a limited power of attorney, and you hereby appoint Flagstone and our third-party service providers as your true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for you and in your name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to access third-party websites, servers, and documents; retrieve information; and use your User Information, all as described above, with the full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection with such activities, as fully to all intents and purposes as you might or could do in person. YOU ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT WHEN FLAGSTONE OR OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS ACCESS AND RETRIEVE INFORMATION FROM SUCH THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES, FLAGSTONE AND OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE ACTING AS YOUR AGENT, AND NOT THE AGENT OR ON BEHALF OF THE THIRD PARTY. You agree that other third parties shall be entitled to rely on the foregoing authorization, agency, and power of attorney granted by you. You understand and agree that the Services are not endorsed or sponsored by any third-party account providers accessible through the Services. We make no effort to review information obtained from other third-party websites and databases for any purpose, including, but not limited to, accuracy, legality, or non-infringement. As between Flagstone and our third-party service providers, Flagstone owns your confidential User Information.


The information you provide us is subject to our
Privacy Policy


What are some restrictions on using the Services?


You may only use the Services for your own personal, non-commercial use and not on behalf of or for the benefit of any third party. Your use of the Services must comply with all applicable law. If your use of the Services is prohibited by applicable law, then you are not authorized to use the Services. We are not responsible if you use the Services in any manner that violates applicable law.


You agree not to authorize any other person or entity to use your user name and password or mobile device to access the Services. You are solely responsible for the maintenance, confidentiality, and security of your username, password, and other User Information. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, you are responsible for all transactions and other activities authorized or performed using your username and password or mobile device, whether authorized or unauthorized by you. Except as otherwise expressly stated in these Terms or required by applicable law, we are not responsible for any losses arising out of the loss or theft of your User Information or your mobile device. If you suspect or become aware of any unauthorized activity or access to your username, password, or mobile device, you must contact us immediately at hello@flagstoneinitiative.org.


We offer the Services and the features, information, materials, and content provided and depicted through the Services (collectively, "Content") solely for your personal use for the purposes described therein and in these Terms. Any and all other uses are prohibited. You may not restrict or inhibit any other person from using or enjoying the Services or Content.


The Services and Content are protected by copyright, trademark, patent, and other intellectual property laws. We expressly reserve all rights and remedies under applicable law. Except as expressly provided by these Terms or with our prior written consent, you may not use, modify, disassemble, decompile, reverse engineer, reproduce, distribute, rent, sell, license, publish, display, download, transmit, or otherwise exploit any Content in any form by any means. Without limiting the foregoing, you agree not to (and not to allow any third party to): (a) use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automatic or manual device, process, or means to access the Services or copy any Content, except as expressly authorized by us; (b) take any action that imposes or may impose (in our sole determination) an unreasonable or a disproportionately large load on the Services or our infrastructure; (c) utilize any device, software, or routine that will interfere or attempt to interfere with the functionality of the Services; (d) rent, lease, copy, provide access to, or sublicense any portion of the Services or Content to a third party; (e) use any portion of the Services or Content to provide, or incorporate any portion of the Services or Content into, any product or service provided to a third party; (f) reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, or otherwise seek to obtain the source code of the Services or Content; (g) modify the Services or Content or create any derivative product from any of the foregoing; (h) remove or obscure any proprietary or other notices contained in the Services or Content; (i) use the Services or Content in any way that is illegal, harmful, fraudulent, deceptive, threatening, harassing, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable, as we may determine in our sole discretion; (j) attempt, in any manner, to obtain the username, password, account, or other security information from any other user of the Services; (k) violate the security of any computer network or crack any passwords or security encryption codes; or (l) run Maillist, Listserv, any form of auto- responder or “spam,” or any processes that run or are activated while you are not logged in to access the Services. We may, but are not obligated to, monitor your use of the Services and Content.


We do not grant you any licenses, express or implied, to our intellectual property or the intellectual property of our licensors, except as expressly stated in these Terms. We and our third-party licensors retain all right, title, and interest in and to the Services, Content, and any associated patents, trademarks, copyrights, mask work rights, trade secrets, and other intellectual property rights.


The Services may permit you to submit content, send emails and other communications, and provide other information for publication or distribution to third parties (collectively, “User Content”). Any User Content must not be illegal, threatening, obscene, racist, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, infringing of intellectual property rights, promoting of illegal activity or harm to groups and/or individuals, invasive of privacy, purposely false or otherwise injurious to third parties, or objectionable and must not consist of or contain software, computer viruses, commercial solicitation, political campaigning, chain letters, mass mailings, or any form of “spam.” If you submit User Content, and unless we indicate otherwise, you grant us a nonexclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable (through multiple tiers) right to use, modify, reproduce, adapt, translate, publish, create derivative works from, distribute, display, and otherwise exploit such User Content throughout the world in any media. We take no responsibility and assume no liability for any User Content submitted by you or any other user or third party.


To the extent permitted by applicable law, we may, in our sole discretion and without liability to you, terminate (or suspend access to) your use of the Services or Content for any reason, including, but not limited to, your breach of these Terms.



How does Flagstone use text messages to communicate with me about the Services?


Flagstone communicates by text messages, email, push notifications, and other alerts. In order to use the Services, you must provide and verify your mobile device number or other text message address to us, and you must expressly consent to receive text messages relating to the Services at that number or address. This is a condition of the Services.


Third-party data and message fees may apply. Text messages may include pre-recorded, autodialed and promotional messages. You may instruct us not to send further text messages by replying STOP to any message you receive from us, and following the prompts. Standard third-party data and message fees may apply depending on your mobile service. To verify your mobile device number or text message address, we may send you a code via text message to the mobile device number or text message address you provide, and you must enter that code as instructed by us. If you change your mobile device number or text message address, you must promptly provide and verify your new mobile device number or text message address.


In addition, if you provide your email address to us, we will send you notices via email about the Services, including promotional materials. You can unsubscribe from promotional emails by clicking the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of those emails.


What else do I need to know about the Services?


Additional Terms.
In conjunction with your access or use of the Services, you may be subject to additional terms, rules, policies, and conditions that are posted on the Website or the Application, including, but not limited to, terms and conditions for our referral or rewards programs (the "Additional Terms"), which are hereby incorporated by reference into these Terms. In the event of a conflict between any Additional Terms and these Terms, these Terms will control.


Warranty Disclaimer.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW AND EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THESE TERMS, YOU EXPRESSLY UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT YOUR USE OF THE SERVICES AND ALL INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, AND OTHER CONTENT (INCLUDING THAT OF THIRD PARTIES) INCLUDED IN OR ACCESSIBLE FROM THE SERVICES IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, WE AND OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY AND ALL CONDITIONS, REPRESENTATIONS, AND WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND AS TO THE SERVICES AND ALL INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, AND OTHER CONTENT (INCLUDING THAT OF THIRD PARTIES) INCLUDED IN OR ACCESSIBLE FROM THE SERVICES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.


WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, WE AND OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS MAKE NO WARRANTY THAT (A) THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, (B) THE SERVICES WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, TIMELY, SECURE, OR ERROR-FREE, (C) THE RESULTS THAT MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE USE OF THE SERVICES WILL BE ACCURATE OR RELIABLE, (D) THE QUALITY OF ANY PRODUCTS, SERVICES, INFORMATION, OR OTHER MATERIAL PURCHASED OR OBTAINED BY YOU THROUGH THE SERVICES WILL MEET YOUR EXPECTATIONS, OR (E) ANY ERRORS IN THE SERVICES WILL BE CORRECTED. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE OBTAINED BY YOU FROM US OR OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS THROUGH OR FROM THE SERVICES WILL CREATE ANY WARRANTY NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN THESE TERMS.


ANY MATERIAL DOWNLOADED OR OTHERWISE OBTAINED THROUGH THE SERVICES IS DONE AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION AND RISK, AND YOU ARE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR COMPUTER SYSTEM OR LOSS OF DATA THAT RESULTS FROM THE DOWNLOAD OF ANY SUCH MATERIAL.


Limitation of Liability.
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YOU AGREE THAT FLAGSTONE, ITS AFFILIATES, AND ITS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS, AND THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDERS WILL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR (A) THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICES OR THE INABILITY TO USE THE SERVICES; (B) ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, GOODWILL, USE, DATA, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, EVEN IF SUCH PERSONS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, WHICH ARISE OUT OF OR ARE IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THESE TERMS, THE SERVICES, OR CONTENT; OR (C) ANY EVENT BEYOND OUR REASONABLE CONTROL. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE LIMITATION AND EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.


Indemnity.
At our request, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Flagstone, its affiliates, and its and their respective employees, officers, directors, agents, and third-party service providers from and against any and all claims, suits, liabilities, damages (actual and consequential), losses, fines, penalties, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or in any way related to any third-party claims relating to your use of the Services, violation of these Terms, applicable law or any third-party rights, or your fraud or willful misconduct. Such indemnified parties reserve the right to assume the exclusive defense and control of any matter subject to indemnification by you, in which event you will cooperate in asserting any available defenses.


Assignment.
You may not transfer, assign, or delegate these Terms or your rights or obligations hereunder in any way (by operation of law or otherwise) without our prior written consent. To the extent permitted by applicable law, we may transfer, assign, or delegate these Terms and our rights and obligations hereunder without your consent.


Third-Party Beneficiary.
You agree that our third-party services providers are third-party beneficiaries of the applicable provisions of these Terms, with all rights to enforce such provisions as if such service providers were a party to these Terms.


Governing Law.
These Terms are made under and will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, consistent with the Federal Arbitration Act, without giving effect to any principles that provide for the application of the law of another jurisdiction.


DISPUTE RESOLUTION BY BINDING ARBITRATION: JURY TRIAL WAIVER: CLASS ACTION WAIVER.
For any and all controversies, disputes, demands, claims, or causes of action between you and us (including the interpretation and scope of this Section and the arbitrability of the controversy, dispute, demand, claim, or cause of action) relating to the Services or these Terms (as well as any related or prior agreement that you may have had with us), you and we agree to resolve any such controversy, dispute, demand, claim, or cause of action exclusively through binding and confidential arbitration. The arbitration will take place in the federal judicial district of your residence. As used in this Section, “we” and “us” mean Flagstone and its subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors, and assigns and all of its and their respective employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives. In addition, “we” and “us” include any third party providing any product, service, or benefit in connection with the Services or these Terms (as well as any related or prior agreement that you may have had with us) if such third party is named as a co-party with us in any controversy, dispute, demand, claim, or cause of action subject to this Section.


You should review this provision carefully. To the extent permitted by applicable law, you are GIVING UP YOUR RIGHT TO GO TO COURT to assert or defend your rights EXCEPT for matters that you file in small claims court in the state or municipality of your residence within the jurisdictional limits of the small claims court and as long as such matter is only pending in that court. Additionally, notwithstanding this agreement to arbitrate, either party may seek emergency equitable relief in federal court if it has jurisdiction or, if it does not, in a state court located in the federal judicial district of your residence in order to maintain the status quo pending arbitration, and each party hereby agrees to submit to the exclusive personal jurisdiction of the courts located within the federal judicial district of your residence for such purpose. A request for interim measures will not be deemed a waiver of the obligation to arbitrate.


Your rights will be determined by a NEUTRAL ARBITRATOR and NOT a judge or jury. You are entitled to a FAIR HEARING, BUT the arbitration procedures may be SIMPLER AND MORE LIMITED THAN RULES APPLICABLE IN COURT. Arbitrators’ decisions are as enforceable as any court order and are subject to VERY LIMITED REVIEW BY A COURT.


You and we must abide by the following rules: (A) ANY CLAIMS BROUGHT BY YOU OR US MUST BE BROUGHT IN THE PARTY’S INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING; (B) THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON’S CLAIMS, MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A REPRESENTATIVE OR CLASS PROCEEDING, AND MAY NOT AWARD CLASS-WIDE RELIEF; (c) in the event that you are able to demonstrate that the costs of arbitration will be prohibitive as compared to the costs of litigation, we will pay as much of your filing and hearing fees in connection with the arbitration as the arbitrator deems necessary to prevent the arbitration from being cost-prohibitive as compared to the cost of litigation, (d) we also reserve the right, in our sole and exclusive discretion, to assume responsibility for any or all of the costs of the arbitration; (e) the arbitrator will honor claims of privilege and privacy recognized at law; (f) the arbitration will be confidential, and neither you nor we may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration, except as may be required by applicable law or for purposes of enforcement of the arbitration award; (g) subject to the limitation of liability provisions of these Terms, the arbitrator may award any individual relief or individual remedies that are expressly permitted by applicable law; and (h) each party will pay its own attorneys’ fees and expenses, unless there is a statutory provision that requires the prevailing party to be paid its fees and litigation expenses and the arbitrator awards such attorneys’ fees and expenses to the prevailing party, and, in such instance, the fees and costs awarded will be determined by the applicable law.


This Section will survive termination of your Flagstone Account and these Terms as well as any voluntary payment of any debt in full by you or any bankruptcy by you or us. With the exception of subparts (a) and (b) of this Section (prohibiting arbitration on a class or collective basis), if any part of this arbitration provision is deemed to be invalid, unenforceable, or illegal, or otherwise conflicts with the Rules and Procedures, then the balance of this arbitration provision will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with its terms as if the invalid, unenforceable, illegal, or conflicting part was not contained herein. If, however, either subpart (a) or (b) of this Section is found to be invalid, unenforceable, or illegal, then the entirety of this arbitration provision will be null and void, and neither you nor we will be entitled to arbitration. If for any reason a claim proceeds in court rather than in arbitration, the dispute will be exclusively brought in federal court if it has jurisdiction or, if it does not, in a state court located in the federal judicial district of your residence.


If you wish to opt out of this arbitration provision, you must notify us of your election in writing within 30 days of the date that you first became subject to this arbitration provision or within 30 days of the effective date of any material change to these Terms by sending a written notice to us by certified mail at the following address: The Flagstone Initiative, Inc., 2201 Broadway, Suite 100, Oakland CA 94612-3039, Attn: Arbitration Opt-Out. Your opt-out notice must include your name, address, phone number, and email address.


Miscellaneous.
You will be responsible for paying, withholding, filing, and reporting all taxes, duties, and other governmental assessments associated with your activity in connection with the Services, provided that we may, in our sole discretion, do any of the foregoing on your behalf or for ourselves. The failure of either you or us to exercise, in any way, any right herein will not be deemed a waiver of any further rights hereunder. If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated, to the minimum extent necessary, so that these Terms will otherwise remain in full force and effect and enforceable. These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire and sole agreement between you and us with respect to the Services and supersedes all prior understandings, arrangements, or agreements, whether written or oral, regarding the Services. You hereby acknowledge and agree that you are not an employee, agent, partner, or joint venture of Flagstone, and you do not have any authority of any kind to bind Flagstone in any respect whatsoever.


Will Flagstone ever change these Terms or the Services?


We may add to or terminate any of the Services or amend these Terms at any time, in our sole discretion, without providing notice to you, subject to applicable law. We reserve the right, subject to applicable law, to deliver to you any notice of changes to existing terms or the addition of new terms by posting an updated version of these Terms on the Website and the Application or delivering notice thereof to you electronically. You are free to decide whether or not to accept a revised version of these Terms, but accepting these Terms, as revised, is required for you to continue accessing or using the Services. If you do not agree to these Terms or any revised version of these Terms, your sole recourse is to terminate your access or use of the Services. Except as otherwise expressly stated by us, your access and use of the Services are subject to, and constitute your acceptance of, the version of these Terms in effect at the time of your access or use.


Contacting us

If you have any questions regarding this Privacy Policy, or if you wish to ask us to delete, correct, or show you your Personal Information as provided above, please email us at hello@flagstoneinitiative.org, or write to us at:


The Flagstone Initiative, Inc.

2201 Broadway, Suite 100

Oakland CA 94612-3039

Attention: Flagstone Legal


Sensitive Information:
Because email communications are not always secure, please do not include credit card or other sensitive Data (such as racial or ethnic origin, political opinions, religion, health, or the like) in Your emails to us.

Terms of use for Flagstone Rent Loans


This document provides the details of the arrangement. We tried to write it as plainly as we could, and encourage you to read it carefully.


  1. Definitions:
  2. The BORROWER (that’s you!) is a human being who lives at a participating property. 
  3. The LENDER (that’s us!) is The Flagstone Initiative, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping renters achieve greater financial stability.
  4. The LOAN is a Flagstone Rent Loan, available to residents of the COMMUNITY, provided by the LENDER at their sole discretion.

  5. Nature of the agreement:
  6. BORROWER could use a little financial help right now.
  7. LENDER is offering a little financial help right now, a LOAN to BORROWER.
  8. BORROWER agrees to return funds to LENDER.
  9. If BORROWER does not repay the loan, less money will be available for members of COMMUNITY.
  10. LENDER is hopeful that BORROWER will do the right thing and repay as agreed to in the schedule.

  11. Terms of the LOAN:
  12. AMOUNT: $500
  13. 0% INTEREST: There will be no interest charged on the loan.
  14. NO FEES: There will be no fees charged for any reason.
  15. PENALTIES: There will be no penalties charged for any reason.

  16. REPAYMENT TERMS:
  17. BORROWER will repay the LOAN in automatic $20 installments over Twenty-Five (25) weeks.
  18. BORROWER will provide a debit card to sign up for automatic repayments. Prepaid cards are not accepted.
  19. LENDER will pay ($500) directly to BORROWER’s rent within Two (2) business days of automatic repayment setup.
  20. The first $20 repayments will be collected One (1) week after setting up automatic repayments.
  21. The remaining Twenty-Four (24) $20 payments will be due every week thereafter.
  22. There is NO TRANSACTION FEE FOR REPAYMENT.
  23. BORROWER will repay according to the schedule
  24. If BORROWER is unable to repay the LOAN on this schedule, they agree to contact the LENDER at loan@flagstoneinitiative.org.
  25. As noted above, BORROWER will not charge any fees or penalties
  26. LENDER really would like to keep loans available to the community, though, so, you know, please take this seriously and do your level best to repay us on time.
  27. If BORROWER wishes to repay the LOAN early, they will contact the LENDER at loan@flagstoneinitiative.org to make arrangements. 
  28. BORROWER may not receive an additional LOAN until they have fully repaid any money previously borrowed.

  29. CREDIT REPORTING:
  30. LENDER will not report any repayment activity, positive or negative, to any credit reporting agency.

  31. SECURITY:
  32. No security is required for the LOAN.

  33. NON-DISCRIMINATION:
  34. LENDER has a non-discriminatory lending policy. It is the policy of LENDER to conduct its charitable services in a non-discriminatory manner and to treat all persons fairly and with dignity, regardless of gender, race, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or age, including with regard to any credit or lending decisions.

  35. TRUST & INDEMNIFICATION (That means we won’t sue each other.):
  36. LENDER trusts that BORROWER is acting in good faith and will make every attempt to repay the LOAN.
  37. BORROWER trusts that LENDER is trying to help and will not do any jerky stuff.
  38. LENDER and BORROWER agree to a mutual indemnification. The BORROWER agrees to indemnify and hold harmless LENDER, its partners, officers, directors, and employees, from the and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses whatsoever (including reasonable costs of investigation or defending any action) to which they or any of them may become subject under any applicable law arising out of BORROWER’s performance under this Agreement. LENDER agrees to indemnify BORROWER for all of the same issues and provisions described in this paragraph, which results in a mutual indemnification.


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