Refund & Cancellation Policy

Last Updated: October 11, 2026

The India Association of Minnesota (IAM) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity (Federal EIN: 23-7364647, P.O. Box 130158, St. Paul, MN 55113). As a non-profit organization dedicated to building community, advancing culture, and civic engagement, we depend on contributions, memberships, and event registrations to plan and deliver community programming.

This Refund & Cancellation Policy outlines the guidelines governing contributions, memberships, event tickets, and commercial vendor booths.

1. Charitable Donations & Contributions (IRC § 170)

Direct monetary donations made to the India Association of Minnesota represent tax-deductible charitable contributions under Internal Revenue Code Section 170. In accordance with IRS regulations and federal tax law:

• All completed charitable donations are considered irrevocable gifts to the organization and are non-refundable once official tax substantiation receipts have been issued.
• Duplicate or Erroneous Transactions: If an unintended duplicate donation or technological processing error occurs, please notify us in writing within fourteen (14) calendar days of the transaction date at treasurer@iamn.org. Upon review and verification, we will issue a full refund to the original payment method and officially void the corresponding tax receipt.

2. Memberships (Annual & Lifetime)

Membership dues directly support year-round community initiatives, cultural events, and advocacy representation across Minnesota.

• Activation: Membership access, member perks, directory listings, and event discounts become active immediately upon payment confirmation.
• Non-Refundable Status: Membership fees (Annual, Family, Student, and Lifetime) are non-refundable once activated.
• Automatic Renewals: If you enrolled in optional automatic renewal during checkout, you have complete flexibility to cancel future recurring billing at any time prior to the renewal date. You can manage renewals directly within your My Account member dashboard or by emailing info@iamn.org. Cancellation stops subsequent charges without retroactively refunding current active periods.

3. Community Events & Ticket Admissions

For ticketed events organized by IAM (such as Connect India, Annual Gala, Sports Tournaments, and special banquets):

• General Attendee Tickets: Tickets are non-refundable within seven (7) calendar days of the scheduled event date, as catering, venue staffing, and seating commitments are finalized in advance.
• Cancellations Prior to 7 Days: Refund requests submitted at least seven (7) days before the event will receive a full refund minus any third-party transaction processing fees.
• Event Postponement or Cancellation by IAM: If an event is postponed or canceled due to severe weather, public safety advisories, or unforeseen circumstances, attendees will be offered the choice of:
  1. A full refund credited to the original payment method, or
  2. Converting the ticket purchase into a 100% tax-deductible charitable contribution supported by an official IRS tax receipt.

4. Commercial Booth Rentals & Food Vendors (IndiaFest)

Commercial booth spaces, exhibit tables, and food vendor stations involve advance city permitting, public health compliance, and logistical layouts at the Minnesota State Capitol grounds:

• 30+ Days Prior to Event: Cancellations received thirty (30) or more days prior to the festival date are eligible for a refund minus a $50 administrative processing fee.
• 14 to 29 Days Prior to Event: Cancellations received between 14 and 29 days before the festival are eligible for a 50% refund.
• Less than 14 Days or No-Shows: Booth fees are strictly non-refundable due to allocated city permit expenses, electrical setups, and inability to re-assign space on short notice.

5. Processing Method & Timelines

All approved refunds are credited back exclusively to the original payment method utilized during checkout (Zeffy, PayPal, or credit/debit card). Please allow five (5) to ten (10) business days for banking institutions and credit card issuers to post the credit to your statement.

6. Contact Us Regarding Refunds

To submit a refund request or inquiry regarding an existing transaction, please provide your full name, email address, transaction reference, and reason for the request:

• Email (Treasurer): treasurer@iamn.org
• Email (General Support): info@iamn.org
• Mailing Address: India Association of Minnesota, P.O. Box 130158, St. Paul, MN 55113