Welcome to RAIS Marketplace, a platform that connects borrowers and lenders all across the globe.

Please carefully read the following Terms of Service, which govern your use of our Platform.

By accessing or using the RAIS Marketplace Platform, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use our Platform.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, our Privacy Policy, and any other applicable policies, guidelines, and rules.

2. Eligibility

To use RAIS Marketplace, you must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into a contract.

3. Account Registration

You will be required to create an account to access our Platform. When you register, you agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information about yourself, and to keep such information updated and accurate as necessary.

When you engage in transactions between Lenders and Borrowers (“Loans”), these interactions must take place through your RAIS account, unless otherwise agreed.

4. Program Overview

RAIS Inc. is a forward-looking tech company dedicated to unleashing the potential of those often overlooked by traditional financial systems, as well as individuals with a strong sense of social responsibility. We have created and manage this Platform to bring together individuals like you (referred to as “Lenders”) and connect them with borrowers in various countries in need of affordable capital (referred to as “Borrowers”). It is important to understand that many of these Borrowers are considered “high risk” by traditional lenders due to a variety of factors, such as their limited credit history, their use of loan proceeds for entrepreneurial endeavors, market conditions, and/or geographic locations, which may involve financial instability and foreign exchange rate fluctuations.

Our platform is designed to facilitate meaningful connections and support these Borrowers in their financial journeys, giving them an opportunity that otherwise may not exist. Your involvement can make a significant impact, and we are here to ensure the process is as seamless and rewarding as possible. It’s worth mentioning that while there is not a direct contractual relationship between you and the Borrowers set to receive your funds, in some situations, a RAIS Affiliate may act as the “Lender” on your behalf when you make Loans on our platform. When you decide to make a Loan and/or donation through the platform, you are essentially instructing RAIS to allocate funds from your RAIS wallet to support a Borrower and/or make a donation to the RAIS Foundation. As Borrowers or RAIS Community Partners repay the Loans, RAIS will deposit the funds into your RAIS wallet.

If, at any point, you wish to withdraw the funds from your RAIS wallet, please keep in mind that you will need a PayPal account to receive and withdraw repayments. PayPal may not be available for receiving payments in all countries, so ensure you check its availability in your region.

4.1 Inherent Risk

We want you to feel confident and informed about the risk associated with your participation and use of the RAIS Marketplace Platform, so please understand that:

4.2 Friendly Loans

Loans made via the Platform are driven by philanthropic intentions and do not offer a rate of return. Therefore, loans should not be viewed as, nor can they be considered, an investment in a financial instrument or security. Please be aware that once you have made a loan through the Platform, in most cases it cannot be canceled or refunded.

4.3 Vetting Process

Loan requests are an essential part of what we do at RAIS, and they go through a careful process to ensure transparency and trust. Here is how it works:

Borrowers submit their loan requests, which are meticulously reviewed by a RAIS Community Partner. Only after this thorough vetting are these requests posted to the Platform for Lenders like you to consider.

When you choose to support a Borrower by lending funds, those funds are transferred directly to the RAIS wallet of the Borrower you have selected.

RAIS takes care to facilitate these connections and relies heavily on our Affiliates and Community Partners to manage this process. RAIS and its Affiliates are not “a credit reporting entity” under US Fair Credit Reporting Act. We also cannot guarantee or take responsibility for the screening of Borrowers, Affiliates, and Community Partners or monitoring of how Borrowers use the funds. You agree to hold RAIS, its Affiliates, and Community Partners free from any liabilities related to these actions.

4.4 Loan Collection and Repayment Process

Loan repayments come in different forms – they can be periodic installments or, in certain cases, provided at the end of a fixed term. This variation depends on the terms of the specific Loan and sometimes regulatory constraints.

RAIS is committed to being fair and transparent. We promise to distribute repayments to Lenders pro rata, meaning you’ll receive your share based on the amount you lent to a particular Borrower. These repaid amounts will be visible in your RAIS wallet, which represents the funds RAIS owes you. We will hold these funds until you tell us how to proceed: either (a) using them to make new Loans through your RAIS account or (b) requesting a withdrawal.
However, if RAIS encounters difficulties in collecting Loan repayments directly from a Borrower, there could be a risk of partial or total delay or non-repayment, which might lead to a loss of some or all of your principal.

Please acknowledge that neither Community Partners nor Borrowers bear direct contractual obligations or liabilities to repay you any principal. Once a Borrower repays the Loan principal to RAIS, RAIS is the party responsible for depositing the amount into your RAIS wallet (as long as certain conditions are met, as mentioned above).

None of the entities involved, including RAIS, its affiliates, its Community Partners, or any Borrower, have an obligation to pay interest on the Loan or any other fees or amounts (unless expressly stated otherwise) to you or any other Lender in connection with the Loan you provide.

4.5 Potential Loss

1. Loan Default: At RAIS, we take great care to ensure a fair and transparent process. We typically consider a Loan in default when we have doubts about collecting the funds or when the cumulative amount repaid falls short of expectations compared to the past six to twelve months. Each situation is unique, influenced by factors including but not limited to Acts of God, the potential for repayment, and relevant regulatory constraints.

2. Flexible Repayment Plans: Your support for our mission is greatly appreciated, and we want to make sure you are aware of your role in helping create a positive impact. You consent, without prior notice, to potential changes in the repayment plan for your Loans, if necessary. RAIS may, in its sole discretion, extend the term of your Loan(s) to increase the likelihood of full or partial repayment. This flexibility is designed to enhance the chances of a positive outcome for all involved.

3. Currency Exchange Risk: Please be aware that for loans made in local currencies other than the U.S. dollar, there is a potential risk of principal losses due to currency exchange rate fluctuations. We value your understanding of this aspect.

4. Partial Repayment: In the event that less than 100% of your Loan is repaid, you agree that neither RAIS nor its Affiliates, Borrowers, or Community Partners bear any liability for this. You release and hold harmless RAIS, its Affiliates, Borrowers, and Community Partners from any losses you may incur.

4.6 Tax Deductions

1. RAIS Foundation’s Non-Profit Status: The RAIS Foundation is proud to be a non-profit organization and has received recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. This means that the funds you donate to the RAIS Rainy Day Fund are eligible for tax deductibility in the United States. Your support goes a long way in making a positive impact.

2. Clarification on Loans: Making a Loan on the Platform is not considered a charitable donation, and, therefore, may not qualify for a tax deduction. However, you have the responsibility to determine the proper tax treatment for any Loans you make through the Platform.

3. Tax and Legal Advice: RAIS has not and will not provide any tax or legal advice concerning the Loans you might make. This agreement does not attempt to define the tax implications of Lending using the RAIS Platform. To ensure you are making informed decisions, please consult with your own accountants, tax advisors, and legal advisors. They can provide tailored guidance based on your unique situation.

4.7 Handling of Records

We diligently maintain records for each Loan you support, which includes this Agreement and a complete repayment history. If you have an account with RAIS, these records are readily available to you. We are here to support you, and upon your written request, we will provide access to these records at any time throughout the term of the Loan.

Additionally, your RAIS wallet balance, which reflects your contributions, can be easily accessed through your RAIS account. This transparency is designed to keep you informed and confident about your involvement.

4.8 Third Party Applications

The RAIS platform utilizes APIs that allow us to interface with third party applications, services, and features that use information from our Platform. These are known as “Third Party Applications.” These applications are not developed or maintained by RAIS but by independent third parties.

When you use Third Party Applications, their terms of service and privacy policies govern your interactions with them. Any permissions you grant to third parties or Third Party Applications to access your account information and perform actions on your behalf do not exempt you from your responsibilities under this Agreement.

RAIS cannot provide guarantees or warranties regarding Third Party Applications. We are not responsible for your use of these applications, including aspects such as content, accuracy, reliability, or security. Similarly, the privacy practices and policies of third parties are beyond our control.

5. User Conduct

You agree to use RAIS Marketplace for lawful purposes only and not to engage in any harmful, fraudulent, or unethical activities.

6. Borrowing and Lending

RAIS Marketplace connects Borrowers with potential Lenders. Lenders and Borrowers agree to the terms of loans independently with either a RAIS Affiliate or Community Partner.

7. Fees and Charges

At RAIS, we want to be transparent about our practices, and we want you to know that:

These retained funds, including the interest and foreign exchange gains, may be used to support RAIS’s general operating expenses and Affiliate costs. This is all part of our commitment to ensuring the smooth and efficient operation of our platform, allowing us to continue our mission of making a positive impact in the world.

8. Privacy and Security

Your privacy is important to us. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

We are here to ensure a secure and positive experience. Here’s how we encourage safety and security:

1. Prudent Safeguards: Please take reasonable precautions and safeguards while participating in the Program. This includes both offline and online interactions with other Users.

2. Personal Information: For your own protection, please avoid sharing personal contact information, such as email addresses, phone numbers, or home addresses. Be cautious if someone requests communication outside of the Platform, or requests any form of assistance not initiated through an official Loan request on the Platform. Also, please exercise discretion when it comes to personal transactions or sharing your financial information.

3. Sensitive Data: Your financial information, such as credit card numbers, bank details, Social Security Numbers, or government-issued identification numbers, are highly confidential. Please exercise discretion when it comes to sharing information.

4. Vigilance: Keep in mind that, as with any online interaction, there is a possibility of misrepresentation. Always stay vigilant.

In return for using the Platform, we kindly ask you to:

If you have any concerns or questions about your account activity, other than unauthorized access, please do not hesitate to contact RAIS.

9. Termination

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to the RAIS Marketplace at our discretion, with or without notice, for violations of these terms.

10. Disclaimers and Limitations of Liability

RAIS Marketplace is provided “as is” without warranties. We are not responsible for any actions or disputes between borrowers and lenders.

11. Intellectual Property

All content and materials on our platform are protected by intellectual property rights. You may not use, modify, or reproduce our content without permission.

12. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to update these Terms of Service from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our platform, and your continued use of our services constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

13. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of the District of Columbia.

14. Contact Information

We’re here to support you in your philanthropic endeavors and ensure that your experience with RAIS is both fulfilling and secure. If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to reach out – we are here for you.

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms of Service, please contact us at
RAIS Inc.
700 12th Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005