Terms of service

The agreement between you and Our Circle Inc. covering use of the app.

Effective Date: July 1, 2025
Last Updated: July 11, 2026
Version: 1.5

If you need these Terms in another format—large print, audio, or another language—please contact us at help@ourcircle.org.

Definitions

Service: The Our Circle mobile application and related services.
Content: Text, images, videos, audio, and other materials uploaded by users.
Moments: Posts sharing Playdates, Milestones, or Everyday Joy.
Loops: Live or scheduled audio conversations between users.
User: An individual who has created an account on the Service.
Child Data / Child Profile: Information, images, or other content relating to a minor child submitted by a parent or legal guardian.
Verified User: A user who completes optional identity verification through a third-party provider.
Verified Organization (Organization): A hospital, clinic, school, nonprofit, or other organization that creates and manages groups on the Service through our Organization Portal and Gather administrator app under a separate agreement.
Places: Community listings of family-friendly venues, services, and activities.
Place Submissions: User-contributed place listings, reviews, ratings, photos, suggestions, corrections, and related metadata for Places.

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Our Circle! These Terms govern your access to and use of the Service operated by Our Circle Inc.. By accessing or using our Service, you agree to be bound by these Terms. If you disagree with any part, do not use the Service.

IMPORTANT: You must be at least 18 years old. By using the Service, you represent that you are 18 or older.

2. Description of Service

Our Circle is a mobile application for parents and legal guardians of children of ALL support needs providing:

Location-based discovery and compatibility matching
Moments sharing with photos/videos
Community discussions and private groups
Real-time and scheduled audio rooms (Loops)
Learn: webinars, parent sessions, and expert educational content
Events: create meet-ups and allow nearby users to RSVP
Gaming: private gaming groups with Discord integration
Resources, partner services, and educational content
Gamification with points, levels, and badges
Places: submit and browse community place listings with ratings, reviews, photos, and accessibility notes

Intended Audience: Our Circle is designed for adults (18+) using the Service in their personal capacity as parents or legal guardians. It is not intended for minors. Membership does not indicate or imply that you or any child has any particular diagnosis, condition, or support need. If you are staff of a Verified Organization, your administrative use of the Organization Portal or the Gather app is governed by the separate Organization Portal & Gather Terms of Use — the same person may hold both roles, and these Terms govern only your personal parent/caregiver use of the consumer app.

3. User Accounts and Age Verification

Account Creation

Provide accurate information and secure your credentials.
Notify us immediately of unauthorized account use.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is available via authenticator app or SMS, with one-time backup codes, and may be required for certain features in the future. Standard messaging rates may apply for SMS codes.

Age Requirement

All users must be 18 or older; providing false age information may lead to termination.
We may request verification at any time.
If we learn that an account belongs to someone under 18, or that a child under 13 has submitted personal information to us directly, we will terminate the account and delete that information.

Representation of Guardianship

By submitting any child-related information, including profiles, photos, or videos, you confirm that you are the child's parent or legal guardian, or that you have verifiable written consent from the guardian. Our Circle may request proof of consent at any time. If we have reason to believe that consent is missing, incomplete, or invalid, we may suspend or remove related content without notice. Our Circle processes child data only as directed by parents/guardians and does not knowingly collect data directly from children.

Child Profile Creation & Management

You may create or manage a Child Profile only for children for whom you are the legal parent or guardian, unless you have written consent from that guardian.
Our Circle may request proof of guardianship and may suspend or delete any profile that violates this rule.

Account Termination

Users may delete accounts anytime in app settings.
We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations, effective immediately.

4. User Content and Conduct

Acceptable Use

You agree not to post illegal, abusive, deceptive, or intrusive content. Do not:

Upload malware or harmful code.
Impersonate others or misrepresent affiliations.
Spam, solicit, or share personal contact info outside the app.

Content Guidelines

Keep posts relevant to parenting and support needs experiences.
Respect privacy; do not share others' personal info.
Usage and rate limits apply (for example, a cap on the number of Moments you can share per hour). Current limits are enforced in-app and may be adjusted to protect the community.
No fake or deceptive reviews; disclose any material connections, incentives, or affiliations.
Businesses and their employees/agents must not review or rate their own listings or competitors.

User Content Responsibility & Safe Harbor

Users are solely responsible for their Content, interactions, reviews, ratings, event listings, and communications (including in Loops). Our Circle does not create, endorse, or control user Content and is not responsible for statements made by users. While we may use automated tools and manual review to moderate or remove Content at our discretion, we have no general duty to monitor and do not promise to do so.

For U.S. users, Our Circle operates as an "interactive computer service" and, to the extent permitted by law, is not liable for third-party Content under 47 U.S.C. § 230. Nothing here limits any non-waivable rights under applicable law.

If you believe Content is unlawful or violates these Terms, please use the in-app Report feature or email help@ourcircle.org. We may remove or restrict Content and/or accounts to protect users, comply with law, or safeguard the Service.

Minors' Information & Media

Share information only about your own children or children you are authorized to represent.
When uploading photos/videos of minors, you must be the guardian or have written consent from the guardian.
Group photos require consent from all guardians or appropriate anonymization.

Reporting Misuse

If you believe a profile or content violates these rules, use the in-app Report option or email help@ourcircle.org. Reported content may be hidden immediately, platform-wide, while we review it, and newly created accounts that are reported may be temporarily suspended pending review. We aim to review reports promptly, typically within 48 hours. You can also block any other user at any time in the app; blocking is enforced across all features of the Service.

5. Intellectual Property

Your Content

You retain ownership of your Content.
You grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license (with the right to sublicense to the service providers who help us operate the Service, such as media hosting/delivery and AI safety and translation providers) to host, store, reproduce, modify, adapt, create derivative works of (for example, resized or transcoded copies, machine translations, and automated safety classifications), display, translate, and distribute your Content for operating, protecting, and improving the Service. This includes delivering your Content through content-delivery networks, including short excerpts in notifications to intended recipients, and making your in-group Content available to a Verified Organization when you post in its groups (see Section 10). After deletion, copies of Content may persist for a limited period in backups, and in moderation and safety records as needed to enforce our Terms, handle appeals, and protect the community.

License for Place Submissions (Commercial Use)

Because we monetize the Places feature, you grant Our Circle the following additional rights for any Place Submissions you provide (including photos and text):

Scope: By submitting a Place (including photos, reviews, or accessibility notes), you grant Our Circle a non-exclusive, worldwide license to use, reproduce, display, and distribute your submission solely for the operation, promotion, and improvement of the Service, including featured or sponsored placements. This license remains in effect while your submission is displayed on the Service. You may request removal of your submission at any time, and we will make reasonable efforts to remove it from active use. Backup copies may remain for a limited period to meet legal, audit, or safety requirements.
Purpose: To operate, improve, promote, and monetize the Places feature and the Service, including sponsored or featured placements, advertising, promotions, partner distribution, and affiliate/referral programs.
Attribution: We may use your display name and profile photo to attribute your Place Submissions in the app, on our site, and in promotional materials for the Places feature.
No compensation: Unless we have a separate written agreement with you, you are not owed compensation, revenue share, or reimbursement related to our use of your Place Submissions.
Survival & retention: This license survives account deletion. We may retain copies for backup, audit, dispute resolution, safety, or compliance and may continue to display Place Submissions needed to preserve listing integrity and discussion context.

Our Rights

Our Circle's names, logos, brand elements, and software are protected by intellectual property laws.
Do not copy, reverse-engineer, or create derivatives of our IP.

Third-Party Content

Third-party materials are subject to their owners' terms; we do not endorse them.

Copyright Complaints / DMCA

If you believe content infringes your copyright, send a notice including: (1) your physical or electronic signature; (2) identification of the copyrighted work; (3) identification of the infringing material and its location; (4) your contact information; (5) a statement of good-faith belief; and (6) a statement under penalty of perjury that your notice is accurate and you are authorized to act.

DMCA Agent: Our Circle (Our Circle Inc.) — Attn: DMCA Agent, 24321 S Iroquois Dr, Channahon, IL 60410, USA • help@ourcircle.org

We may remove or disable access to the reported material, will forward valid counter-notices as provided by the DMCA, and will terminate the accounts of repeat infringers in appropriate circumstances.

Counter-Notification: If your content was removed and you believe the removal was a mistake or misidentification, you may send our DMCA Agent a counter-notice including: (1) your physical or electronic signature; (2) identification of the removed material and its location before removal; (3) a statement under penalty of perjury that you have a good-faith belief the material was removed by mistake or misidentification; (4) your name, address, and phone number; and (5) a statement that you consent to the jurisdiction of the federal district court for your address (or, if outside the U.S., any judicial district in which we may be found) and will accept service of process from the person who submitted the original notice. Unless the copyright owner notifies us that it has filed a court action seeking to restrain the alleged infringement, we may restore the removed material within 10 to 14 business days after receiving a valid counter-notice.

6. Gamification and Limits

Points, levels, and badges reward engagement; they have no monetary value.
Usage limits ensure fair access; manipulation may lead to suspension.

7. Discovery & Matching

Tap to "Say Hi" to connect with parents based on compatibility factors (such as children's ages, shared support needs, distance, and recent activity). Profile photos are reviewed by automated systems, including third-party AI services, to help ensure they depict real people. You may optionally expand your discovery radius, and users who have said "Hi" to you may appear regardless of distance.

8. Loops (Audio Rooms)

Live rooms start when ≥2 participants join.
Schedule in advance or create on the spot.
No recording without consent; violations lead to termination.

9. Places & Listings

The Places feature showcases community-submitted venues and services with ratings, reviews, photos, and accessibility notes.

Photos & Media for Places

Only upload photos and videos you own or have permission to share. Do not upload copyrighted materials without authorization.
Obtain guardian consent before uploading identifiable images of minors. Avoid sharing private residence addresses or sensitive location details.
We may crop, resize, lightly edit for clarity, and translate text; we will not materially alter meaning in reviews.

Reviews & Ratings

Base reviews on your genuine, firsthand experience. Be accurate and respectful; no harassment, hate speech, or defamation.
Disclose any free products, discounts, or other consideration you received related to a review. Undisclosed paid endorsements are prohibited.
No review manipulation (e.g., brigading, astroturfing, fake accounts). We may remove suspicious reviews and adjust ratings.

Business and Owner Submissions

If you claim or submit a listing on behalf of a business, you represent that you are authorized to do so and that information you provide is accurate and up to date.
Paid tools for businesses (e.g., featured listings) may be subject to additional terms and fees. We may require verification and may suspend listings for policy violations.

Editorial Control & Removal

We may edit or refuse Place Submissions that violate policies, reveal private information, or pose safety risks. We may delist or remove Places at our discretion.
You may request corrections or removal of your Place Submissions via in-app report or by emailing help@ourcircle.org. We will review requests but are not obligated to remove content that is accurate and lawful.

10. Groups, Events & Communities

Create public, location-based, or private groups. Group admins moderate and enforce guidelines. Our Circle may recommend groups and connections based on your profile and activity.

Organization-Managed Groups

Certain groups are created and managed by Verified Organizations (also referred to as "Organizations" — such as hospitals, clinics, schools, nonprofits, or community groups) through our Organization Portal and the Gather administrator app. Organization-managed groups differ from user-created groups in the following ways:

Organization visibility: When you join a Verified Organization's group, the organization's authorized staff can view: your display name; profile photo; account email address; general location (city and state); join date and how you joined (including any invite code you used); an engagement summary (counts of your posts and comments within their group); your RSVP responses to that organization's events (your name, photo, RSVP status, and when you responded); any badges the organization assigns to you; and the content you share within their groups (posts and comments) and any messages you exchange with the organization. They do not receive your child profiles or support-needs details, your phone number, your precise location, your private messages with other families, your connections, or your activity outside their groups.
Consent: Before joining a organization-managed group, you will see a disclosure explaining what information the Verified Organization can see. By joining, you consent to sharing this information. You may withdraw consent at any time by leaving the group.
Organization messages: A Verified Organization's staff may message you one-to-one within the Service. You can block these messages at any time, and organization messaging is disabled for certain group categories.
Not a clinical tool: Organization-managed groups are community engagement tools. Verified Organizations must not use group membership, engagement data, or member information as part of clinical records, medical charts, or healthcare operations. If a Verified Organization wishes to use the platform for care coordination, a separate agreement is required.
Leaving: You may leave a organization-managed group at any time. Upon leaving, your membership record is deleted and your profile information is no longer visible to the Verified Organization.
Organization conduct: Verified Organizations and their staff are bound by an Organization Subscription Agreement (referred to in earlier versions of these Terms as the "Partner Agreement") and by the Organization Portal & Gather Terms of Use, which govern their handling of member information (the Organization Portal & Gather Privacy Policy governs how Our Circle handles administrators' own information). Violations may result in termination of the organization's participation.
Sponsored memberships: A Verified Organization may sponsor Circle Plus benefits for members of its groups. See Section 13 (Sponsored Memberships).

Events

Any user may create an event visible to nearby families within their chosen radius. Attendees RSVP in-app, and the event creator is responsible for accurate details, capacity limits, and safety considerations. Event listings and chat must comply with all Content Guidelines and privacy rules. Our Circle may remove events that violate policy or pose risk.

Event Safety & Assumption of Risk. Our Circle does not organize, supervise, or vet events or venues. Event creators are solely responsible for event details and safety. Attendance is at your own risk; exercise caution and follow applicable laws and venue rules.

Our Circle is not the organizer, sponsor, or host of user events.

11. Privacy & Data Protection

Refer to our Privacy Policy for full details.

Parent-Provided Child Data

We do not knowingly collect data directly from children under 13.
Child data is submitted voluntarily by the parent/guardian who consents to our processing it.
You may update or delete your child's data at any time by emailing help@ourcircle.org.

Content Translation

Our Circle supports multiple languages and may translate user-generated content, using automated (AI) translation services, to help users understand content in their preferred language. Translations are machine-generated, are provided for convenience, and may not be perfect. The original language version remains authoritative.

Data Security & Incidents

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect personal data; however, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. If we become aware of a data incident affecting your information, we will notify you and/or regulators as required by law and may temporarily restrict features to protect users.

Where we use third-party processors (e.g., for hosting, media delivery, identity verification, or communications), we take steps to contractually require appropriate safeguards. Use of such processors is necessary to provide the Service.

12. Safety & Moderation

We use a combination of automated tools — including third-party artificial-intelligence services — and manual review to enforce community standards. Most user-generated content (including posts, photos, videos, comments, and chat media) is held for automated review before it appears to others, and reported content may be hidden immediately pending review. We track repeat violations, and enforcement actions may include content removal, reduced visibility, feature restrictions, warnings, or temporary or permanent account suspension, including automatic precautionary suspension of newly created accounts that are reported, pending review. We cooperate with law enforcement as needed. You may appeal moderation decisions through the in-app process; appeals generally receive an automated first review, and any appeal that is not resolved automatically is escalated to a human reviewer. Moderation is performed at our discretion; while these systems help protect the community, we cannot guarantee that all harmful content will be detected or removed.

13. Subscriptions & Payments

Core features of Our Circle are free with usage caps. Our premium subscription, Circle Plus, unlocks additional features including the creation of private, invite-only, gaming groups with Discord integration, expanded access to inclusive places, premium match visibility, and identity verification. Identity verification is optional and involves biometric processing performed by our provider Veriff, as described in our Privacy Policy. Circle Plus is currently offered at US$9.99 per month or US$99.99 per year; current pricing, renewal, and cancellation terms for paid features, including subscription services and business tools, are shown at the point of purchase.

Sponsorships & featured placements: Fees are prepaid and nonrefundable unless required by law or expressly stated otherwise at purchase.
Affiliate/referral links: We may earn commissions on qualifying purchases; this does not affect the price you pay.
Billing disputes: Contact help@ourcircle.org. Certain purchases may be subject to app store billing rules.
Auto-renew: Subscriptions renew automatically for the same period (e.g., monthly or annually) unless canceled at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period at the then-current price.
Free trials: If a subscription includes a free trial, the trial converts automatically to a paid subscription at the price shown at sign-up unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial period ends.
Manage & cancel: You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time:
- iOS users: In your Apple App Store account settings.
- Android users: In your Google Play account settings.
Deleting the app does not cancel your subscription — you must cancel through your app store account settings. Refunds are governed by the applicable store's policy.
Pricing changes: If prices change, we'll notify you in advance and, if required, obtain consent before renewal at the new price.
Terms of Use (EULA): By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use (EULA) and Privacy Policy. If you download Our Circle from the Apple App Store, you are also bound by Apple's Standard EULA to the extent applicable.

Gaming

Circle Plus subscribers may create private gaming groups limited to 25 families. These groups include Discord integration to facilitate voice communication. By linking your Discord account, you authorize Our Circle to add you to our Discord server, set your server nickname to your Our Circle display name, and assign you to private channels associated with your private groups and our general groups. Voice channels are provisioned automatically when a gaming group is created. The Discord account you link must be your own; you are responsible for supervising any minor's participation in voice channels and for complying with Discord's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines, including Discord's minimum-age requirements. Our Circle is not responsible for Discord's availability, security, or content posted in Discord channels.

14. Third-Party Services & Integrations

The Service interoperates with third-party services and infrastructure, including without limitation: Firebase and Google Cloud (authentication, databases including Cloud SQL, analytics, media storage, push messaging, device integrity), Render (hosting for our application programming interface at api.ourcircle.org, located in Ohio, USA), Cloudflare Images and Stream (media delivery), Google Maps and Places API (location services), Veriff (optional ID verification), Agora (real-time audio), RevenueCat (subscriptions and purchase management), Mailgun (transactional email delivery), Sentry (crash and error reporting), Google Analytics (website analytics), Apple and Google platform services (app distribution, push delivery, in-app billing, and device integrity), Discord (gaming integration), Zoom (live webinar sessions), and OpenAI (automated content moderation, safety review, translation, and optional profile features).

Third-party services are provided by their respective providers under their own terms and privacy policies. We do not control and are not responsible for their availability, security, or performance. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Our Circle will not be liable for any outage, delay, data loss, or other harm caused by third-party services; however, nothing in these Terms limits any non-waivable consumer rights.

By using the Service, you authorize us to transmit, process, and store data with such third parties as necessary to provide the Service. Some providers may be located outside your state or country; you consent to such transfers to the extent permitted by law.

15. Disclaimers & Limitations

Peer Support, Not Medical Advice

Information shared on Our Circle is for peer support only and is not medical, psychological, or legal advice.

Interactions with Other Users

We do not conduct criminal-background checks on users. Identity verification is optional, and a verified badge means only that a user completed our third-party verification process — it does not guarantee anyone's identity, trustworthiness, or safety. Use good judgment when communicating with other users, and if you choose to meet another user or their family in person — whether arranged through Discovery, groups, chat, events, or otherwise — you do so at your own risk.

Not an Emergency or Crisis Service

The Service is a peer-support community and is not an emergency, crisis, or healthcare service, and it is not monitored for emergencies. If you or someone else is in danger or experiencing a crisis, call 911 (or your local emergency number) or, in the U.S., call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Beta Software Notice

The Service may be in beta in some regions or feature areas; features may change or become temporarily unavailable.

General Disclaimer

The Service is provided “as is.” We are not liable for indirect damages or data loss.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Our Circle's (Our Circle Inc.) total liability to any individual user for all claims arising out of or relating to that user's use of the Service or these Terms will not exceed the greater of: (a) the amounts that user paid (if any) to Our Circle for the Service in the twelve (12) months before the event giving rise to liability; or (b) one hundred U.S. dollars (US$100). This cap applies on a per-user basis and not in the aggregate across all users. The foregoing cap does not apply to liability that cannot be limited under applicable law, including personal injury caused by our negligence.

16. Indemnification

Your Indemnity. To the fullest extent permitted by law, you will defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Our Circle (Our Circle Inc.) and its officers, directors, employees, and agents from and against any third-party claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to: (a) your Content or conduct on the Service; (b) your violation of these Terms; or (c) your violation of law or a third party's rights.

Our Indemnity. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Our Circle will defend, indemnify, and hold you harmless from third-party claims alleging that the Service, as provided by us and used by you in accordance with these Terms, infringes a U.S. copyright, trademark, or patent, or arises from our gross negligence or willful misconduct. This obligation does not apply to claims based on: (i) your Content or modifications; (ii) combinations of the Service with items not provided by us; or (iii) use contrary to documentation or these Terms. If infringement is alleged, we may procure the right for you to continue using the Service, modify it to be non-infringing, or discontinue the affected feature with a reasonably comparable alternative if available.

Procedure. The indemnified party must promptly notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim (delay will not relieve obligations unless materially prejudicial), allow the indemnifying party sole control of the defense and settlement, and reasonably cooperate at the indemnifying party's expense. No settlement may impose obligations or admissions on the indemnified party without its prior written consent (not to be unreasonably withheld).

17. Dispute Resolution

Governing Law

These Terms are governed by Illinois, USA law.

Arbitration & Waiver

These Terms are governed by Illinois law. Any disputes will be resolved through binding arbitration in Chicago, IL, except that you may choose to pursue claims in small-claims court in your home jurisdiction if eligible. Nothing in these Terms limits your rights under applicable consumer protection laws. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Our Circle is not liable for indirect or incidental damages; however, we do not exclude liability where the law does not allow, including for personal injury caused by our negligence.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, disputes must be brought in an individual capacity, not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class or representative proceeding.

Arbitration Opt-Out: You may opt out of arbitration by sending a written notice to help@ourcircle.org within 30 days of first accepting these Terms. Your notice must include your name, the email associated with your account, and a clear statement that you opt out of arbitration.

18. Changes to Terms

We may update these Terms. We'll notify you 30 days before material changes take effect.

19. Termination

Accounts may be terminated by you or by us for violations. Termination ceases access immediately.

20. Miscellaneous

If a provision is invalid, remaining provisions stay effective.
These Terms and our Privacy Policy are the entire agreement.
We may assign these Terms; you may not without consent.

Feedback & Suggestions License

By submitting feedback, you grant Our Circle a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free license to use it without compensation.

Accessibility Commitment

We strive to meet WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines. Accessibility feedback: help@ourcircle.org.

Notice to California Users

Under California Civil Code Section 1789.3, California users are entitled to the following notice: the Service is provided by Our Circle Inc., 24321 S Iroquois Dr, Channahon, IL 60410, USA. Complaints or inquiries may be directed to that address or to help@ourcircle.org. California residents may also contact the Complaint Assistance Unit of the Division of Consumer Services of the California Department of Consumer Affairs by mail at 1625 North Market Blvd., Suite N 112, Sacramento, CA 95834, or by telephone at (800) 952-5210.

21. Contact Information

Email: help@ourcircle.org
Address: 24321 S Iroquois Dr, Channahon, IL 60410, USA
Phone: (815) 293-7323
Urgent safety issues: help@ourcircle.org
Privacy requests: help@ourcircle.org

22. Learn Tab & Educational Content

Our Circle provides access to webinars, parent sessions, and educational content from expert speakers. These sessions may be live or recorded and may require advance registration. Circle Plus subscribers may receive priority access to certain sessions. Educational content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice.

23. Acknowledgment

You have read, understood, and agree to these Terms.
You are at least 18 years old.
You are a parent or legal guardian of any child represented or have documented permission.
Our Circle is a peer-support platform for parents and caregivers of children of ALL support needs.

These Terms protect users and Our Circle while fostering a safe, respectful community.