Last updated: July 28, 2026. Times are Eastern Time.
Review required: Esther Funds Foundation must approve the final eligibility, tie-breaking, disqualification, governing-law, publicity, retention and award-distribution language before treating these rules as final.
1. Sponsor and purpose
EFF, Buy My Back-to-School! is sponsored and administered by Esther Funds Foundation (“EFF”), a faith-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The campaign supports EFF’s Fall Student Success Fund and promotes college retention.
2. Campaign schedule
- Applications open: July 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM EDT
- Applications close: July 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT
- Voting opens: July 28, 2026 at 12:00 AM EDT
- Voting closes: August 10, 2026 at 11:59 PM EDT
- Winner announcement: August 11, 2026
- Anticipated award distribution: August 14, 2026
EFF may approve eligible applicants on a rolling basis. Voting begins for a profile when EFF verifies, approves and publishes it; applicants need not wait until applications close.
3. Eligibility
Applicants must be accepted to or enrolled at an accredited college or university for Fall 2026, submit accurate information and proof that EFF can verify, select one campaign division, satisfy consent requirements, and remain eligible through winner verification. Final accreditation, geographic, age and enrollment requirements require EFF approval.
4. Application and publication
Submission does not guarantee approval, publication or an award. EFF may request clarifying information. Verification records remain private. Only approved public-profile information and an approved headshot may be published. Applicants under the legally applicable age must provide the required parent or guardian consent.
5. Divisions
The initial divisions are “EFF, Buy My School Supplies!” and “EFF, Buy My Dorm Items!” EFF may add, close or clarify a division through the administrative campaign settings and a public announcement.
6. Contributions and vote calculation
Every whole U.S. dollar in a successfully completed and verified contribution equals one campaign vote for the selected eligible profile. A browser redirect, screenshot, authorization hold or abandoned checkout does not count. Stripe’s signed webhook confirmation is the source of truth. A vote total is not a personal fundraising balance. Contributions are made to EFF’s Fall Student Success Fund, remain under EFF’s charitable control and are not owned by or automatically payable to the student whose profile generated the votes.
7. Refunds, disputes and reversals
Votes associated with refunded, disputed, reversed, unauthorized or otherwise uncollectible funds will be reduced or removed. If disputed funds are later reinstated, eligible votes may be restored. EFF’s records will reflect verified net funds, subject to payment-provider reconciliation.
8. Prohibited conduct and review
Automated voting, payment fraud, stolen payment methods, false identities, manipulated documentation, harassment, vote purchasing outside the campaign, attempts to evade contribution limits or technical interference are prohibited. EFF may review unusual activity, temporarily hold a result, request information, remove unverified votes or disqualify a profile after documenting a reason.
9. Leaderboard and final-hour freeze
The leaderboard is informational and may lag while payments, refunds or disputes are processed. EFF may temporarily hide exact final rankings using the published freeze notice. The administrative payment and audit records—not a cached public page—control official results.
10. Winner determination and tie
This campaign will have one official winner. After voting closes, EFF will verify eligibility and payment integrity. The eligible profile with the highest verified net vote total is the anticipated winner. Tie-breaking method: pending EFF legal and organizational approval. EFF will not publish a winner until required verification and any fraud review are complete.
11. Award
EFF Back-to-School Scholarship or Support Award: Award amount and final form of support will be published by Esther Funds Foundation before winner confirmation. Current published value: Amount to be announced.
After final verification, the one official winner may choose one of two award methods, up to the published award value: (1) the winner submits an eligible Amazon school-supply or dorm-item wishlist and EFF purchases approved items directly; or (2) the winner selects a scholarship award distributed through an EFF-approved, documented payment method. The winner does not receive both options. The exact award value, eligible purchase standards, documentation requirements and distribution method must be published before paid voting opens.
EFF retains control and discretion over charitable funds. Non-winning profiles do not receive, own or become entitled to the contributions associated with their vote totals.
12. Publicity and privacy
EFF may use approved public-profile information, campaign graphics and the approved headshot according to the applicant’s consent. EFF does not publish birth dates, phone numbers, private email addresses, home addresses, student identifiers or enrollment documents. See the campaign privacy notice for details.
13. Disqualification
EFF will record a reason before disqualifying a profile. A disqualified profile may be unpublished and become ineligible for further votes or an award. Treatment of previously received charitable contributions remains governed by EFF’s charitable purpose and these rules; funds do not become the contestant’s property.
14. Changes, suspension and technical problems
EFF may suspend or modify the campaign when necessary to address security, fraud, payment-provider, legal, safety or technical issues. Material changes should be documented and announced. EFF must not use this clause to misrepresent verified results.
15. Governing law
Governing law and venue: pending EFF legal review before final publication.
16. Contact
Questions may be sent to nationals@estherfundsinc.org. Never email Social Security numbers, passwords, verification codes, banking details, tax returns or full financial-account information.