Terms and Conditions
Sister Cities of Houston Inc.
Effective Date: Feb 25th, 2026
Welcome to Sister Cities of Houston Inc. (“SCH,” “we,” “our,” or “us”). By purchasing a membership, registering for a program, or making a payment through our website, you agree to the following Terms and Conditions.
Sister Cities of Houston Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a nonpartisan nonprofit body under the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Trade & International Affairs (MOTIA).
1. Membership Eligibility
Membership is open to individuals, families, students, and organizations that support the mission of Sister Cities of Houston Inc.
SCH reserves the right to approve, deny, or revoke membership at its discretion if conduct is inconsistent with our mission or policies.
2. Membership Fees
Membership fees:
-
Are due at the time of registration
-
Are processed securely through our online payment platform
-
Support our nonprofit mission and programming
Unless otherwise stated, membership fees are annual and non-transferable.
3. Refund Policy
Membership fees are generally non-refundable.
Refunds for event registrations or program fees may be considered on a case-by-case basis and must be requested in writing within 7 days of payment.
SCH reserves the right to determine refund eligibility at its sole discretion.
4. Automatic Renewals (If Applicable)
If membership includes automatic renewal:
-
You authorize SCH to charge your payment method annually
-
You may cancel renewal at any time prior to the renewal date
-
Cancellation requests must be submitted in writing
If you do not offer auto-renewal, remove this section.
5. Event Participation
Participation in SCH programs, exchanges, or events may require:
-
Additional registration forms
-
Waivers or release agreements
-
Adherence to program-specific policies
SCH reserves the right to modify event details or schedules due to unforeseen circumstances.
6. Code of Conduct
Members and participants agree to:
-
Act respectfully and professionally
-
Support intercultural understanding
-
Avoid discriminatory, disruptive, or harmful behavior
SCH may revoke membership or event participation for violations of this policy.
7. Donations & Tax Information
Sister Cities of Houston Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Donations may be tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Please consult your tax advisor for guidance.
EIN: 94-3458030
No goods or services are provided in exchange for membership fees unless otherwise specified.
8. Payment Security
Payments are processed through secure third-party payment providers. SCH does not store full credit card information on its servers.
9. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Sister Cities of Houston Inc. shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from participation in membership programs or website use.
10. Privacy
Your use of this website and submission of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which can be accessed here: [Insert Privacy Policy Link]
11. Changes to These Terms
SCH reserves the right to update these Terms and Conditions at any time. Updated terms will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
12. Contact Information
Sister Cities of Houston Inc.
Houston, Texas, USA
Phone: (832) 393-0700
By completing a membership purchase or payment, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these Terms and Conditions.
Sister Cities of Houston Inc.
Effective Date: Feb 25th, 2026
Sister Cities of Houston Inc. (“SCH,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is committed to protecting your privacy and maintaining transparency about how we collect, use, and safeguard your information.
Sister Cities of Houston Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a nonpartisan nonprofit body under the City of Houston’s Mayor’s Office of Trade & International Affairs (MOTIA).
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide, including:
- Name
- Email address
- Phone number
- Mailing address
- Organization affiliation
- Donation information (if applicable)
This information may be collected when you:
- Subscribe to updates
- Register for programs or events
- Submit a contact form
- Apply to participate in exchanges
- Volunteer
- Make a donation
Non-Personal Information
We may automatically collect certain non-personal information, including:
- IP address
- Browser type
- Device type
- Pages visited
- Date and time of access
- Referring website
This information helps us improve website performance and outreach effectiveness.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use collected information to:
- Communicate about programs and events
- Respond to inquiries
- Process registrations and donations
- Improve website functionality
- Monitor and improve outreach efforts
- Comply with legal and reporting obligations
We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information to third parties.
3. Google Ad Grant & Analytics
As a participant in the Google Ad Grant program, our website may use:
- Google Analytics
- Google Ads conversion tracking
These tools help us understand how users find and interact with our website so we can improve access to our programs and services.
Google may use cookies or similar technologies to collect information in accordance with its own privacy policies. Users may opt out of Google Analytics tracking through Google’s browser add-on tools.
4. Cookie Policy
Sister Cities of Houston Inc. uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and analyze website traffic.
Cookies are small data files stored on your device when you visit our website. These cookies may:
- Enable essential site functionality
- Improve navigation and usability
- Support analytics through Google Analytics
- Assist with outreach effectiveness under the Google Ad Grant
You may control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit certain website features.
For more information about how Google uses data from sites that use its services, please visit Google’s Privacy & Terms page.
5. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure.
While we strive to protect your information, no method of online transmission or electronic storage is completely secure.
6. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external sites.
7. Children’s Privacy
Our website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If we become aware that such information has been collected inadvertently, we will take appropriate steps to delete it.
8. Your Rights & Choices
You may:
- Request access to your personal information
- Request corrections
- Request removal from our mailing list
To submit a request, contact us at:
9. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted on this page with a revised effective date.
10. Contact Information
Sister Cities of Houston Inc.
Houston, Texas, USA
EIN: 94-3458030
Phone: (832) 393-0700
