Referral Program Terms of Service

Last revised: September 17, 2025

1. Program Overview

The ScholarshipOwl Referral Program ("Program") allows eligible users to earn monetary rewards by referring new users who become paying subscribers to ScholarshipOwl's services. By participating in this Program, you agree to these Terms of Service ("Terms").

2. Eligibility Requirements

To participate in the ScholarshipOwl Referral Program, you must:

Be at least 18 years of age
Be a legal resident of the United States
Have an active ScholarshipOwl account in good standing
Comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws

Important: Employees of ScholarshipOwl and their immediate family members are not eligible to participate in this Program.

3. How the Program Works

Step 1: Join the Program

Access the referral program through your ScholarshipOwl dashboard
View your unique referral link (automatically generated for eligible users)

Step 2: Share Your Referral Link

Share your unique referral link with friends, family, or contacts
Links can be shared via email, social media, text message, or other communication methods
Disclosure Requirement: When sharing your referral link, you must clearly disclose that you will receive compensation if the person signs up for a paid ScholarshipOwl subscription

Step 3: Referred User Signs Up

Your referred contact clicks your unique referral link
They create a new ScholarshipOwl account (must be a new user)
They activate a paid subscription plan within 30 days of clicking your link

Step 4: Earn Your Reward

You earn $40 for each new user who becomes a paying subscriber through your referral link
Earnings enter a 30-day pending period for verification and fraud prevention
After the pending period, you can request payment through your dashboard

4. Reward Details

Reward Amount

$40 per successful referral – A successful referral occurs when a new user clicks your referral link and becomes a paying ScholarshipOwl subscriber

Payment Timing and Process

Pending Period: All earnings remain pending for 30 calendar days after the referred user becomes a paying subscriber
Payment Request: After the pending period, you may request payment through your referral dashboard.
Processing Time: Payments are processed within 7–10 business days after your payment request
Minimum Payout: $40

Payment Methods

Available payment methods include:

ACH bank transfer
PayPal
Transfer to US credit card
Other electronic payment methods at ScholarshipOwl's discretion

Tax Responsibilities

Referral earnings are considered income and may need to be reported on tax returns
If requested ScholarshipOwl will provide appropriate tax documentation (Form 1099-MISC) for earnings of $600 or more in a calendar year
You must provide accurate tax information when requested
We recommend consulting with a tax professional, your parents, or visiting IRS.gov for guidance

5. Program Rules and Restrictions

Prohibited Activities

You may NOT:

Create multiple accounts to refer yourself or generate fraudulent referrals
Use misleading, false, or deceptive marketing practices
Engage in spam or unsolicited marketing activities
Purchase paid advertising using ScholarshipOwl's trademarked terms without written permission
Refer users who are already ScholarshipOwl customers
Use automated systems, bots, or scripts to generate referrals
Violate any applicable laws or regulations in your promotional activities

Required Disclosures

When promoting ScholarshipOwl through your referral link, you must:

Clearly state that you will receive compensation for successful referrals
Provide honest and accurate information about ScholarshipOwl's services
Comply with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and affiliate marketing
Not make false or misleading claims about ScholarshipOwl's services or success rates

Attribution Rules

Referrals are tracked through your unique referral link only
Credit is given to the last referral source if a user clicks multiple referral links
Referred users must be new to ScholarshipOwl (no existing accounts)
Conversions must occur within 30 days of the initial referral link click

6. Fraud Prevention and Account Security

Anti-Fraud Measures

ScholarshipOwl reserves the right, at its sole discretion to:

Monitor referral activity for suspicious patterns
Investigate potential fraudulent referrals
Withhold or reverse payments for fraudulent activity
Suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms
Require additional verification for high-volume referrers

Prohibited Fraud Activities

Examples of fraudulent activity include, but are not limited to:

Self-referrals or referring family members living in your household
Creating fake accounts or using false information
Coordinating with others to create artificial referrals
Using stolen credit cards or payment information
Manipulating the referral tracking system

7. Program Modifications and Termination

Right to Modify

ScholarshipOwl reserves the right to modify this Program at any time and in its sole discretion, including to:

Modify these Terms at any time
Change referral reward amounts for future referrals
Update payment methods or processing procedures
Modify eligibility requirements

Program Termination

ScholarshipOwl may terminate this Program at any time and in its sole discretion. Upon termination:

No new referrals will be accepted
Pending earnings will be processed according to existing timelines
Outstanding payments will be honored per these Terms

Individual Account Termination

ScholarshipOwl reserves the right to terminate your participation or withhold, deny, or cancel any referral credits at any time and in its sole discretion. Reasons for termination may include if ScholarshipOwl determines that you are involved in any of the following:

Violation of these Terms
Fraudulent activity
Abuse of the referral system
Termination of your ScholarshipOwl subscription

8. Limitations and Disclaimers

No Guarantee of Earnings

Referral earnings depend on your ability to successfully refer paying users
ScholarshipOwl makes no guarantee regarding potential earnings
Past performance does not indicate future results

Service Availability

The referral program is provided "as is" without warranties
ScholarshipOwl is not liable for technical issues affecting referral tracking
Temporary service interruptions may occur for maintenance or updates

9. Data and Privacy

Your participation in this Program is subject to ScholarshipOwl's Privacy Policy. By participating, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy, including:

Tracking of referral activity and conversions
Processing of payment information
Communication regarding your account and earnings

10. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms of Use will be governed by and construed in accordance with law of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions that would require the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction. The parties hereby expressly reject any application to these Terms of Use of: (i) the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods, and (ii) the 1974 Convention on the Limitation Period in the International Sale of Goods, as amended. All disputes arising out of these Terms of Use not subject to binding arbitration (below) will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in New Castle County, Delaware, and the parties agree and submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction and venue of these courts, except that nothing will prohibit us from instituting an action in any court of competent jurisdiction to obtain injunctive relief or protect or enforce our intellectual property rights or to otherwise protect our interests.

11. Contact Information

For questions about the Referral Program or these Terms, contact us at:

Scholarship Services, Inc.
Attn: Electronic Communications
831 N. Tatnall Street
Suite M #224
Wilmington, DE 19801

Please include your name, address, and phone number in any written correspondence.

12. Acknowledgment

By participating in the ScholarshipOwl Referral Program, you acknowledge that:

You have read and understood these Terms
You agree to comply with all Program rules and requirements
You understand your tax obligations related to referral earnings
You consent to ScholarshipOwl's monitoring of your referral activity

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This referral program involves the payment of monetary rewards. Participants are required to disclose their relationship with ScholarshipOwl when promoting our services. Failure to comply with disclosure requirements may violate Federal Trade Commission guidelines and result in termination from the Program.

These Terms of Service constitute a legally binding agreement between you and ScholarshipOwl. Please read them carefully before participating in the Referral Program.