Business Accelerator Program for Illinois Startup Companies

I. Introduction and General Use

1. General Information

Welcome to GrantWatch.com. By accessing or using our website and services, you agree to the following terms and conditions ("Terms of Service"). Please read them carefully. These Terms form a binding agreement between you and GrantWatch, Inc.

GrantWatch, Inc. reserves the right to update or modify these Terms and Conditions at any time without prior notice. Your continued use of the website constitutes acceptance of those changes. Please review this page regularly.

2. Eligibility

You must be the legal age in your jurisdiction or at least 18 years old to use GrantWatch.com. You are responsible for ensuring that your account credentials remain confidential. By registering, you confirm that you meet this age requirement and are legally permitted to enter into binding agreements.

3. Account Identity and Purchase Authorization

By registering and making a payment on GrantWatch.com, you confirm that you are the authorized holder of the payment method provided, and you consent to being charged for the selected subscription plan. Each transaction is initiated by the account holder and constitutes express authorization for GrantWatch, Inc. to process the payment. You acknowledge that you have knowingly authorized this purchase and agree that all charges are valid and recognized by you.

4. User Activity Logging

GrantWatch logs user activity including login history, grant views, search activity, IP addresses, and timestamped interactions. These logs may be used in fraud prevention, customer support, or to provide evidence in billing disputes or chargebacks. These measures are designed to comply with payment network requirements, including Visa CE 3.0 and related fraud prevention protocols.

5. Acceptable Use

You agree to use GrantWatch.com solely for lawful purposes. Misuse of the website, including unauthorized distribution, scraping, or sharing of content, may result in account suspension or termination.

GrantWatch.com is intended for human users accessing via a standard web browser. Automated access, including scripts, bots, or data scraping tools, is prohibited. Users must avoid placing excessive demands on our infrastructure. We do not offer or authorize any API access to our data or platform.

Single-User subscriptions are for individual use only, to search for grants relevant to the subscriber's organization, business, or personal needs. Grant listings and data may not be copied, shared, distributed, or used for commercial purposes outside of internal use. Subscriptions may not be sold or transferred; however, GrantWatch will assist in reassigning accounts due to staff changes.

To protect our platform and users, GrantWatch employs trust and safety tools that may temporarily suspend accounts exhibiting unusual activity. Unauthorized data extraction and sharing login credentials are strictly prohibited.

Repeated misuse or failure to respond to inquiries may result in long-term suspension or permanent termination without refund. Users are encouraged to contact support for assistance with targeted grant searches.

6. Geographic Access Restrictions

Access to GrantWatch is intended solely for users located within the United States, its territories and possessions, Canada, and Israel. Users located outside of these jurisdictions may experience limited or no access to the Service. While the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) or similar technologies may enable continued access from restricted locations, such usage is at the user's sole discretion and risk.

Alternatively, users temporarily located outside of the aforementioned jurisdictions may request a temporary suspension of their subscription by contacting Customer Support at support@GrantWatch.com. Approval of such suspension requests shall be granted at the sole discretion of GrantWatch.

7. Permitted Use and Termination

GrantWatch, Inc. reserves the right to suspend or terminate user access to all or part of the service at its sole discretion for reasons including, but not limited to, misuse of data, use of multiple VPNs, unauthorized distribution, scraping, data extraction, or violation of account terms.

Users may appeal a termination by contacting support@GrantWatch.com to request a Verification of Acceptable Use form, which must be completed and returned within 7 days. Accounts found to be used for unauthorized grant distribution will be suspended indefinitely.

8. Fraud Prevention and Chargebacks

Submitting a false claim of fraud or initiating an illegitimate chargeback is a violation of these Terms. Any user found abusing the chargeback process may have their account permanently suspended, access revoked, and be reported to payment processors, fraud databases, and relevant authorities. GrantWatch reserves the right to provide access logs, transaction data, and these signed Terms in any dispute or chargeback case.

9. Review Archives Before Purchase

GrantWatch does not offer a traditional free trial. However, users may create a free account to explore certain areas of the platform at no cost. No credit card is required to create a free Member account. Free access (Member) is limited and does not include full platform functionality, access to complete grant listings, or access to premium features and tools. GrantWatch free 'Members' are also provided with access to a selection of expired grant listings in its Archives, allowing prospective users to evaluate the platform before purchasing a subscription (MemberPlus+).

To view the Archives, you must first register for a free membership. We strongly encourage you to explore the layout, format, and structure of our grant and funding opportunity listings through the Archives prior to making a purchase. This allows you to understand the value of the platform and determine whether it suits your needs.

10. Subscription Plans and Billing

Subscriptions must be paid in full before access is granted. GrantWatch.com offers multiple subscription plans that provide access to our database of grant listings and related resources. Available options include Weekly ($22 for 7 days), Monthly ($49 for 30 days), Quarterly ($100 for 90 days), and Annual ($249 for 365 days) subscriptions. All plans are billed in U.S. dollars.

Plans automatically renew unless canceled prior to the renewal date. By subscribing, you expressly authorize GrantWatch, Inc. to charge your selected payment method at the beginning of each subscription term. This recurring billing will continue unless and until you cancel or your subscription is otherwise suspended or terminated.

Your registered email address will serve as your username, and you will be prompted to create a password during checkout. Upon successful payment, your account will be upgraded to a MemberPlus+ account. If subscription details are not immediately visible, it is recommended that you log out and log back in to refresh your session. Should you believe that an incorrect email address was submitted during registration, you must promptly contact support@grantwatch.com for assistance.

11. Renewal Program

By submitting payment, you acknowledge and consent to GrantWatch, Inc. deducting funds from your selected payment method at the start of each subscription cycle, in accordance with your chosen plan. At checkout, you will be required to acknowledge that you understand and agree to this automatic renewal and recurring billing policy. This recurring billing continues until you cancel. To avoid charges for the next subscription period, you must cancel before your next renewal date. Cancellations made on or after the renewal date do not prevent the renewal charge and may not entitle you to a refund for that billing period.

The recurring nature of the billing is clearly disclosed prior to purchase, and confirmation is sent via email upon successful enrollment. You may manage or cancel your subscription at any time by logging into your MemberPlus+ account, selecting 'My Dashboard' and navigating to 'My Account Settings' and clicking "Click to Cancel My Plan." Alternatively, you can email support@grantwatch.com to request cancellation. Please consult the Cancellations Policy for further details.

In the event that a recurring payment cannot be processed, GrantWatch's payment processors, including Stripe and PayPal, will automatically retry the charge. These retry attempts may occur multiple times over a specified period in accordance with the payment processor's standard retry schedule.

If a payment is successfully processed during a retry attempt, this does not retroactively reset your subscription, and a late payment will not change your regular renewal schedule. Future billing dates will  remain as originally scheduled, and prior failed payments will not postpone or delay subsequent charges. Access to your account will be extended based on the date of the successful retry attempt.

A payment may fail for various reasons, including but not limited to insufficient funds, expired or invalid cards, or account restrictions or security blocks imposed by your financial institution. By completing a purchase and agreeing to the Terms of Service, you authorize these automated retry attempts as part of the recurring billing process.

If payment remains unsuccessful after all retry attempts have been exhausted, your account will be canceled until valid payment information is provided. You may update your payment method at any time through your MemberPlus+ account. Alternatively, you may stop the automatic retry attempts by canceling your GrantWatch subscription.

Payment Retries (Processing Policy). If a payment attempt fails, our payment processor may automatically retry the charge according to our processor's standard retry schedule. By completing a purchase or activating a subscription, you authorize these automated retry attempts. Our payment processor may retry the payment several times within a short period or over multiple days, depending on the reason for the failed charge.

If all retry attempts are unsuccessful, your access to the service may be paused or canceled until a valid payment method is provided. You may update your payment information at any time through your account settings.

12. Non-Tangible Goods and Digital Delivery

By purchasing a subscription, you are gaining access to a digital information service. No physical product will be shipped. Access is delivered immediately upon successful payment. Due to the nature of digital goods, refunds are limited and strictly governed by our Refund Policy.

Grant opportunities are continuously updated and added as they become available. Due to the dynamic nature of funding cycles, GrantWatch cannot guarantee the availability of specific grants at any time and is not responsible for refunds or exchanges based on the availability of grants.

13. Email Confirmations and Delivery

A confirmation email summarizing your subscription plan, terms, and refund policy will be sent upon registration. It is your responsibility to review and retain this email for your records.

Upon successful payment, you will receive a confirmation email at your registered address. If payment was made with PayPal, this confirmation email will be delivered to your PayPal email address. If not received, check your spam, junk, or promotions folders. It is your responsibility to ensure that GrantWatch emails are not blocked or filtered. Email confirmations serve as proof of service initiation.

14. Cancellations

To prevent charges for the subsequent billing cycle, cancellation must be completed before the renewal date of the next subscription term.

You may cancel your subscription at any time. When you cancel any complimentary tokens will be removed from your account. Purchased tokens will remain. The purchase of tokens is non-refundable as

After your subscription is canceled, you will continue to have access to your MemberPlus+ benefits until the end of your current subscription period. Your subscription will not renew unless you purchase a new subscription. Your subscription will not renew unless you purchase a new subscription using your existing email address.

To cancel your subscription, log into your MemberPlus+ account, select 'My Dashboard', navigate to 'My Account Settings', click "Click to Cancel My Plan," and confirm the cancellation. You may refresh the page to verify that your subscription has been cancelled.

Cancellation requests submitted by email to support@grantwatch.com must include the email associated and registered with the MemberPlus+ account. Such requests are not considered effective unless you receive confirmation or acknowledgement from our support team. We retain logs of all cancellation attempts for verification purposes.

No refunds will be provided for any unused portion of the subscription term. Please consult the Refund Policy for further details.

15. Refund Policy

Refunds are issued only under specific circumstances as outlined in our Refund Policy. It is your responsibility to read and understand the policy before subscribing.

Subscriptions are non-refundable except where otherwise required by law. GrantWatch is a digital platform providing immediate access to proprietary grant listings and tools; therefore, refunds will not be issued for partial use, missed cancellations, or user dissatisfaction unless a verifiable platform error has occurred.

An exception applies to Quarterly ($100.00) and Annual ($249.00) subscriptions. Users may be eligible for a partial refund provided if no grants have been viewed since the payment date, as verified by the user's 'My Grant Views' page. In such cases, a fee of $49.00 per month of service utilized will be deducted, and any remaining balance will be refunded to the original payment method. Any partial month during which the account is used shall be deemed a full month.

When eligible, legacy quarterly and annual subscriptions purchased prior to August 7, 2025, will be prorated and calculated at a deduction of $45.00 per month. Legacy weekly and monthly subscriptions are nonrefundable, as are the current weekly and monthly subscription plans.

To qualify for a prorated refund on quarterly or annual subscriptions, refund requests must be submitted in writing within 30 days of the recent payment date to support@GrantWatch.com. Requests submitted after 30 days will not be considered. Refund requests must include the user's full name, phone number, and the email address associated with the GrantWatch MemberPlus+ account.

By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions and submitting payment, you acknowledge and authorize enrollment in the Auto-Renew Program, allowing GrantWatch.com to charge your payment method automatically at the expiration of each subscription period until you cancel or disable auto-renewal.

GrantWatch treats all customers equally and does not make exceptions to this policy.

16. Content Use, Intellectual Property, and Account Monitoring

GrantWatch.com is maintained and operated by GrantWatch, Inc. All content on GrantWatch.com is protected by copyright laws. Users are prohibited from copying, distributing, or creating derivative works without prior written consent. Accounts may be monitored to prevent misuse.

While the content available on the site is gathered from public domain sources and funding organizations, the format, presentation, and compilation of this material are proprietary and protected by copyright.

You may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, upload, post, transmit, or distribute any material from this site — including grant listings, code, or software — without explicit written permission. You may download material solely for your organization's private, non-commercial use, provided all copyright and proprietary notices remain intact.

The data presented on GrantWatch is compiled and formatted in a unique, proprietary manner. Sharing, scraping, exporting, or distributing listings for resale, redistribution, or any commercial use is strictly prohibited.

GrantWatch is intended for registered users actively searching for grants for their organization, business, or individual needs. Misuse of the platform, including automated scraping, excessive downloading, or unauthorized distribution of content, may trigger our proprietary trust and safety algorithm. We reserve the right to reduce usage limits, suspend or terminate accounts at our sole discretion to protect the integrity and proper use of our service.

Users may not use GrantWatch content, including grant listings, organizational profiles, funder information, IRS 990 data, GrantWatch Intelligence™ responses, or any other content available through the Service, for the purpose of training, fine-tuning, evaluating, or developing artificial intelligence models, machine learning systems, large language models, or similar technologies without GrantWatch's prior written consent.

17. Software Licenses

Registered and Subscription Users shall have no rights to, and no license is hereby granted to Registered Users by GrantWatch, Inc. for the proprietary software and related documentation if any, or any enhancements or modifications thereto, if any, provided to Users to access the GrantWatch.com site. Users may not copy, distribute, modify, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from GrantWatch.com software.

GrantWatch offers a Verification Badge program through which eligible organizations may apply to have their organization reviewed and verified. The following terms govern participation in the Verification Badge program and apply in addition to the other Terms of Service set forth in this document. Bdges are not permitted to be removed from our site and used anywhere, without the proper authorization from our claim your profile process.

18. Public Disclosure of Verification Information

By submitting information, documents, images, logos, descriptions, or other materials for verification purposes, the organization acknowledges and agrees that such materials may be published and displayed publicly on the organization's Official GrantWatch Profile.

Publicly displayed materials may include, but are not limited to, organizational descriptions, logos, photographs, website links, supporting documentation, and other materials submitted as part of the verification process.

Exception: Government-issued identification submitted solely for identity verification purposes will remain confidential and will not be made publicly available.

The organization is solely responsible for ensuring that all submitted materials are appropriate for public disclosure and that it has obtained all necessary rights, permissions, and authorizations to submit such materials.

19. Accuracy of Information and Release of Liability

The organization represents and warrants that all information and materials submitted to GrantWatch are true, accurate, complete, and current, and that it has the legal authority and rights to provide such information.

The organization assumes full responsibility for the content and accuracy of all submitted materials and hereby releases, waives, indemnifies, and holds harmless GrantWatch, its owners, officers, directors, employees, affiliates, licensors, contractors, successors, assigns, and representatives from and against any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, judgments, costs, expenses, or legal fees arising from or related to:

• the accuracy or inaccuracy of submitted information;

• the publication or public display of submitted materials;

• alleged infringement of intellectual property rights;

• privacy or publicity claims;

• reputational, financial, operational, business, or other damages; or

• any dispute involving the organization or any third party arising from the submitted information or materials.

20. Badge Display Requirement

Organizations receiving a GrantWatch Verification Badge agree to display the badge on their official website, if applicable, within thirty (30) days of issuance and to maintain the badge's visibility for as long as the verification remains active.

GrantWatch may periodically verify that the badge continues to be displayed in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.

21. Ownership and Non-Transferability

The GrantWatch Verification Badge remains the exclusive property of GrantWatch.

GrantWatch grants the verified organization a limited, non-exclusive, revocable, non-transferable license to display the badge solely in connection with the verified organization.

The Verification Badge may not be sold, assigned, transferred, licensed, sublicensed, shared, loaned, or otherwise provided to any other individual, organization, entity, or third party for use or display.

22. No Alteration or Modification

The organization shall not alter, modify, edit, distort, animate, recolor, redesign, recreate, crop, remove embedded elements, or otherwise change the Verification Badge in any manner.

The badge must be displayed exactly as provided by GrantWatch. Proportional resizing for display purposes is permitted, provided that the badge's appearance, proportions, embedded functionality, and identifying information remain unchanged.

23. Proper Use on Websites, Social Media, and Digital Platforms

When displaying the Verification Badge on websites, social media platforms, newsletters, presentations, email signatures, or any other digital or printed materials, the organization must use the original badge image or official embed code supplied by GrantWatch.

The badge contains embedded verification information and may include a direct link to the organization's Official GrantWatch Profile.

Copying, recreating, tracing, screenshotting, reproducing, or displaying the badge in any manner that removes, disables, obscures, or interferes with the embedded verification information or profile link is prohibited and may result in immediate revocation of the Verification Badge.

24. License to Use Organization Name, Logo, and Verification Status

The organization grants GrantWatch a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to publish, reproduce, display, distribute, and use the organization's name, logo, Verification Badge, Visibility Tier™, verification status, and publicly submitted materials for promotional, marketing, educational, informational, directory, partnership, and editorial purposes.

Such use may occur on the organization's Official GrantWatch Profile and elsewhere across GrantWatch websites, directories, search results, newsletters, social media channels, press releases, marketing materials, educational content, communications, mobile applications, and other GrantWatch products and services for the purpose of promoting the organization, the GrantWatch verification program, the GrantWatch ecosystem, and GrantWatch services.

GrantWatch may identify verified organizations through search results, category listings, directories, badges, Visibility Tier™, promotional campaigns, and other features across the GrantWatch ecosystem.

25. Revocation of Verification Badge

GrantWatch reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without prior notice, to suspend, revoke, remove, or refuse a Verification Badge at any time, including, but not limited to, if:

• the organization provides false, misleading, incomplete, or inaccurate information;

• the organization violates these Terms and Conditions;

• the organization no longer satisfies GrantWatch's verification requirements;

• the Verification Badge is misused;

• the organization engages in conduct that could reasonably harm the integrity, reputation, or credibility of GrantWatch or its verification program; or

• GrantWatch determines that continued verification is no longer appropriate.

Upon revocation, the organization must promptly remove the Verification Badge from all websites, social media accounts, printed materials, marketing materials, and other locations under its control.

26. Ownership of Verification Badge Intellectual Property

The GrantWatch Verification Badge, Visibility Tier™, GrantWatch®, GrantWatch Intelligence™, GrantWatch logos, trademarks, service marks, graphics, designs, and all related branding are the exclusive intellectual property of GrantWatch.

Except for the limited license expressly granted under this Verification Badge Program section, no ownership rights, licenses, or other rights are granted to the organization.

The organization may not copy, imitate, reproduce, register, do ant reverse engineering, create derivative works from, or otherwise use any GrantWatch intellectual property without GrantWatch's prior written permission.

27. Verification Does Not Constitute Endorsement

Receipt of a GrantWatch Verification Badge signifies only that GrantWatch has completed its verification review process based upon the information and materials submitted by the organization at the time of review.

A GrantWatch Verification Badge does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, accreditation, certification, guarantee, warranty, approval, or representation by GrantWatch regarding the organization's qualifications, financial condition, legal compliance, tax-exempt status, charitable status, governance, business practices, integrity, operational performance, or ongoing activities.

GrantWatch makes no representation or warranty that information provided by a verified organization will remain accurate, complete, or current after verification has been completed. Verification reflects only the information reviewed at the time of approval.

The organization shall not state, imply, advertise, or otherwise represent that GrantWatch endorses, sponsors, recommends, certifies, guarantees, approves of, or assumes responsibility for the organization, its officers, directors, employees, programs, fundraising activities, grant opportunities, products, services, or operations.

Any misuse of the Verification Badge or any false or misleading representation regarding the meaning or scope of verification may result in the immediate suspension or revocation of the Verification Badge, Visibility Tier™, and any associated GrantWatch benefits.

28. Acceptance of Verification Badge Terms

By submitting materials for verification, applying for verification, accepting a Verification Badge, or displaying or otherwise using a Verification Badge, the organization acknowledges that it has read, understood, and agrees to be bound by this Verification Badge Program section.

GrantWatch reserves the right to modify this Verification Badge Program section at any time. Continued participation in the verification program or continued use of the Verification Badge following any modification constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

29. Mailing List

GrantWatch, Inc. reserves the right to send electronic mail to any and all Registered Users, for the purpose of informing them of changes or additions to GrantWatch.com. Your information will not be provided to third-party vendors.

Users may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe From This List" link to opt out of specific email alerts, or the "Manage Email Preferences" link to manage all email subscriptions, both located in the email footer, or by replying to the email with "unsubscribe" or "stop."

Free account holders ("Members") may subscribe to the weekly newsletter for one selected location. Paid account holders ("MemberPlus+") may subscribe to newsletters for up to three locations.

GrantWatch does not customize newsletters based on user type or individual grant preferences. Each newsletter includes up to 25 grant listings added within the preceding seven days for the selected location(s). Newsletters may be filtered into spam, junk, or promotions folders or blocked by third-party email filters.

Users are advised not to rely solely on the newsletter and should visit GrantWatch.com directly for the most current and comprehensive grant information. GrantWatch disclaims any responsibility for the non-delivery or delayed receipt of newsletters.

30. Privacy

We are committed to maintaining your privacy. Personal information collected during registration is used in accordance with our Privacy Policy. We do not share your personal information with third-party vendors.

31. Cookie Policy

By accepting these Terms and Conditions, you also consent to our Cookie Policy, which governs the use of cookies on our website.

32. Limitation of Liability

Under no circumstances, including but not limited to negligence, shall GrantWatch, Inc. or its agencies, instrumentalities, or their directors, officers, or employees, be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, the GrantWatch.com service or any reliance thereupon. The information contained therein is subject to typographical error. Information contained in this publication is intended only as notification of available funding opportunities.

33. Disclaimers

GrantWatch.com does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, relevance, or timeliness of the information contained on this website. It is the user's responsibility to contact the funding source directly and manage all grant submissions. Throughout GrantWatch.com, you will find links to information on other websites. We provide these links solely to help users find additional information that may be useful. Once you leave the GrantWatch.com website, you will be subject to the privacy and security policies of the owners/sponsors of the outside website.

34. Security

GrantWatch employs industry-leading security measures, including SHA-256 encryption and a minimum 2048-bit RSA key length. Our IPv6-enabled global infrastructure ensures fast and secure site performance. Additionally, our SSL certificates provide continuous protection, including a phishing alert service that notifies users if a phishing threat is detected related to the site.

35. Acceptance

Registered and Subscription Users, by his/her/their access to and/or use of GrantWatch.com hereby acknowledge their acceptance to the above-stated Terms of Service and agree to be bound hereby.

36. Modifications

We reserve the right to change, modify, or update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of those changes.

37. Survival

Any provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination, including but not limited to intellectual property rights, payment obligations, indemnification, limitations of liability, dispute resolution, verification badge terms, and releases of liability, shall survive the termination of your account or use of the Service.

38. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

39. Venue

Any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the use of GrantWatch shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Palm Beach County, Florida, and the parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

40. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

41. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with any policies incorporated by reference, including the Privacy Policy, Refund Policy, Cookie Policy, and any additional published GrantWatch policies, constitute the entire agreement between the parties regarding the Service and supersede all prior or contemporaneous communications or agreements relating thereto.

42. Contact and Customer Support

If you have questions about these Terms or your account, please contact our support team at support@GrantWatch.com.

You can also contact GrantWatch via the website's contact form, or by calling (561) 249-4129 during our business hours.

GrantWatch customer service is available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), excluding public and religious holidays. You may also use the live chat feature on our website to connect with a representative during business hours.

By using GrantWatch.com, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to abide by these Terms and Conditions.