Secure Funder™ is an independent certification program for the alternative finance industry. Certification is based on verifiable safeguards applied consistently across participating organizations. Equivalent controls may be accepted when they satisfy the intent of a requirement and can be independently verified.
The program is designed for funders of all sizes and focuses on protecting submissions and the documents associated with them. Enrollment is voluntary.
The annual Secure Funder™ program fee is $2,499 USD. Monthly installments are available upon request. No payment is required to join or to begin verification; payment must be remitted before a final review can be conducted.
The fee covers program administration, independent evidence review, member support, ongoing program development, event sponsorships, and maintenance of the public directory.
Certification is not guaranteed. Participants must meet all program requirements. Open or pending litigation involving misuse, unauthorized sharing, or mishandling of customer data will pause the certification process. Certification status will not be granted while such matters remain outstanding.
Verification may be completed at your own pace.
All submissions go through a final review before certification is granted.
Documents, video recordings, and other materials submitted during verification are retained on file following completion of the review process. All verification materials are stored in SOC 2–secured systems and remain accessible to participants through the Secure Funder™ portal.
Participants who prefer that submitted materials be deleted may submit a written request to Secure Funder™ at any time. Upon receipt of a valid request, the original materials will be removed and replaced with a written summary of the information that was provided. Deletion of original materials does not affect certification status, provided certification has already been granted.
AI-Assisted Review. Secure Funder™ uses AI tools to assist in reviewing submitted materials, including summarizing responses, examining documents and screenshots against program requirements, and preparing draft findings. All certification decisions are made by a human reviewer. Materials processed by these tools are handled under commercial terms that do not permit their use to train AI models, and remain subject to the confidentiality obligations in Section 6.
This approach is intended to support both program integrity and the highest level of security and confidentiality for participant information.
Secure Funder™ treats non-public information shared during verification as confidential and uses such information solely for the purpose of conducting the verification review and administering the program.
Except as required by law, Secure Funder™ does not disclose internal materials, operational details, policies, procedures, or other non-public information obtained during verification to third parties. Access to submitted materials is limited to individuals directly involved in the verification process or program administration, and to service providers that support the review under equivalent confidentiality obligations, in each case on a need-to-know basis.
Secure Funder™ does not publish internal documentation or detailed findings beyond an organization's participation status, verification status, or other limited program-related designation.
Safeguards are not required to be in place at enrollment, but must be fully implemented before verification. Verification must be completed within 90 days of enrollment. Listings may be removed if verification is not scheduled within that period, although extensions may be granted under special circumstances.
By submitting a request to join Secure Funder™, an applicant authorizes Secure Funder™ to list the organization in the public Member Directory and to announce the organization's participation in the program — including enrollment and certification status — through social media, newsletters, and other program communication channels. This authorization covers the fact and status of participation only; it does not extend to non-public verification materials, which remain governed by Section 6, Confidentiality.
No refunds are available once verification has commenced. This applies regardless of outcome, including if the participant does not pass verification or does not complete the verification process.
To support an efficient and fair review, participating organizations are expected to:
Verification depends on the accuracy and completeness of the information made available at the time of assessment. Misrepresentation of information during the verification process is grounds for immediate revocation of certification with no refund.
Digital certification badges are issued upon successful verification and remain valid for the duration of active membership. Badges may only be displayed while the organization holds active Secure Funder™ certified status.
Certification may be revoked if required safeguards are no longer maintained or if information provided during verification is found to be inaccurate. Upon revocation or lapse of certification, organizations must promptly remove all Secure Funder™ badges, marks, and references to certified status from their materials.
Secure Funder™ certification reflects alignment with program requirements at the time of review. It does not constitute:
Certification does not guarantee the prevention of data theft, unauthorized sharing, or misuse. A certification outcome reflects Secure Funder™'s determination that the participating organization demonstrated alignment with applicable program requirements based on the information available during the review period.
Secure Funder™ is designed to evolve alongside emerging regulation and compliance expectations so members can stay ahead of change. Program requirements, policies, and terms may be updated from time to time to reflect industry developments, regulatory changes, or operational improvements.
Participants will be notified of material changes in advance. Continued participation following notice of changes constitutes acceptance of updated terms.
Secure Funder™ collects information necessary to administer the certification program. This may include:
Information is collected through the following channels:
Information collected is used solely for the purpose of administering the Secure Funder™ certification program — including verification, certification status management, program communications, and billing. Information is not used for marketing, advertising, or any purpose unrelated to the program.
Secure Funder™ does not sell, share, or disclose personal or organizational information to third parties. Information is accessible only to individuals directly involved in program administration and verification, and only on a need-to-know basis. Disclosure may occur only if required by law.
Information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to support verification records and program administration. When information is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or destroyed.
Participants may request deletion of their personal information at any time by contacting Secure Funder™ using the information below. Requests will be processed promptly. Deletion of verification materials may affect certification status.
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California residents have the right to know what personal information is collected, request its deletion, and opt out of any sale of personal information. Secure Funder™ does not sell personal information.
Secure Funder™ does not knowingly collect information from individuals under the age of 18. The program is designed for business organizations in the alternative finance industry.
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Questions regarding these terms, privacy practices, verification, or the handling of submitted materials may be directed to:
