Thank you for being part of the intentional community movement. At FIC, we believe in transparency, trust, and treating each other with respect and that includes how we handle your personal information.
This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. We’ve written this in plain language because we want you to actually read it and understand your rights. We collect only what we need to provide our services, we never sell your data, and you’re always in control of your information.
The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and connecting people exploring cooperative, intentional, and regenerative ways of living. We’re based in Missouri, USA, and we operate ic.org as a service to the global intentional communities movement.
When we say “we,” “us,” or “FIC,” we mean the Foundation for Intentional Community. When we say “you,” we mean anyone using our website or services.
This Privacy Policy applies to all information we collect through:
FIC reserves the right to update or modify this agreement at any time without prior notice. Any changes to its terms will be reflected on this page and we will indicate at the top of this page the date these terms were last revised. Your continued use of our services after changes become effective shall mean that you accept those changes. Any revised policy shall supersede all previous policies.
When you interact with this website and our other services, we may collect data from you. The types of data that we collect fall under two general categories: Personally Identifiable Information (“Personal Data”) and non-Personally Identifiable Information (“non-PII”).
In addition to existing services, users may now submit data when using the Directory’s three profile types (Individual, Community, and Network), the Needs & Offers classifieds section, community Groups (chat features), and Reviews. This data may include community affiliations, descriptions, chat messages, listings, and evaluations associated with a user profile. Some of this information may be visible publicly, depending on the service.
Personal Data is collected by us or by our third parties from you when you voluntarily provide such information, such as when you create a user profile, create a profile or listing in the Directory, sign up for our Newsletter, email us with an inquiry, make a purchase or donation, respond to a survey, register for events, add a needs and offers, leave a review etc. and may use the Personal Data in connection with the reason for which it was provided. By voluntarily providing us with Personal Data, you are consenting to its use in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
For interactive services where you may choose to have a public profile (such as Individual, Community, or Network), or submit content to Groups, Needs & Offers, or Reviews, by providing content you agree that we may make that content available to other members and visitors. You can modify or remove this content by contacting us or using profile settings where available. For interactive services where you may choose to have a public profile, by providing profile content you agree that we may make that content available to other members and visitors.
FIC provides users with options for changing and modifying information previously submitted. At any time, you may contact us as detailed below to have your data deleted from our database and we will do so promptly.
To process payments, you must provide your name, address, phone number, email address and credit card information. Credit card transactions are processed directly using industry standard practices. Your payment information is not stored on our website, nor does it pass through our server. It goes directly to the third-party payment processor, which then communicates to us whether the payment has been approved or declined. You consent to allowing a third-party processor accessing your financial information, agree to be bound by that processor’s terms of use, and hold harmless the FIC for any damages related to your financial information, including fraud, theft, or misappropriation.
We require an email address from you when you register for our services. We use your email address for both transactional (e.g. order confirmation and renewal processing) and promotional (e.g., newsletters, new product offerings, special discounts, event notifications, special third-party offers) purposes. Email messages we send you may contain code that enables our database to track your usage of the emails, including whether the email was opened and what links (if any) were clicked.
If you would rather not receive emails from us, you may opt-out at any time. We reserve the right to send you certain communications relating to our services, such as service announcements and administrative messages, without offering you the opportunity to opt out of receiving them, unless you unsubscribe and discontinue all use of our services and this website.
We may also contact you by telephone or text message (including to any wireless number you may provide to us) in connection with our services. If you would rather not receive telephone calls or text messages from us, you may ask to be removed from our contact list. We fully comply with the requirements of the U.S. CAN-SPAM Act.
We will not share your personal data with any third party without your explicit consent except as described below.
In addition to the Directory, we may make discussion boards, needs & offers and reviews available to our users and visitors. Any information that you disclose publicly becomes public information and you should exercise caution when deciding to disclose Personal Data in the content you provide. You agree to hold FIC harmless for any damages related to Personal Data you publicly disclosed, either on our website or otherwise.
There are certain circumstances in which FIC may share your Personal Data with certain third parties without further notice to you, as set forth below:
When you use this website, we receive and store certain Non-PII. We may use such information to track, for example, the total number of visitors to this website, the number of visitors to each page, and the domain names of our visitors’ Internet Service Providers. No Personal Data is available or used in this process.
Any time you visit any of our websites, our server automatically gathers information from your browser (such as your IP addresses, browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, number of clicks, unique device identifiers and other diagnostic data) to analyze trends, administer the site, prevent fraud, track visitor movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information. For example, we may log your IP address for system administration purposes. IP addresses are logged to track a user’s session. This gives us an idea of which parts of the site users are visiting. We do not share the log files externally.
We may periodically conduct voluntary user surveys. We encourage our users to participate in such surveys because they provide us with important information regarding the improvement of our services. You may also volunteer for certain surveys that we may offer to our users, and any additional rules regarding the conduct of such surveys will be disclosed to you prior to your participation. We do not link the survey responses to any Personal Data, and all responses are anonymous.
Google Analytics is a web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic. Google uses the data collected to track and monitor the use of this website or our services. This data is shared with other Google services. Google may use the collected data to contextualize and personalize the ads of its own advertising network.
You can opt out of having made your activity on this website available to Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on. The add-on prevents the Google Analytics JavaScript (ga.js, analytics.js, and dc.js) from sharing information with Google Analytics about visit activity.
For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms.
Our website uses third‑party plugins and services (including WooCommerce, WooCommerce Subscriptions, Mailchimp, Metorik, etc.) to provide features such as payments, subscriptions, email communications, analytics, couponing, affiliate tracking, community reviews, etc. These services may collect or process personal data as part of those features. We review and require that these services meet applicable data protection laws, including provision for data subject rights (access, correction, deletion), transparency, and secure handling.
We may allow third- party service providers to use cookies or similar technologies to collect information about your browsing activities to help us analyze and improve user experience.
We may at times partner with third-party advertising agencies or other service providers to serve ads on our website. These companies may employ cookies and web beacons to measure advertising effectiveness. Any information that these third parties collect via cookies and web beacons is completely anonymous.
If you would like to see how a particular plugin or service treats your data, please review the policy for that service. If you have difficulties finding or understanding those, we are here to help: contact us at support@ic.org.
With your consent, certain data you provide (such as profiles, listings, event participation, or newsletter signups) may also be shared with select partner organizations that support our mission, for the purpose of collaboration, promotion, or service enhancement.
We seek your explicit consent before sharing any personal data with third-party partner organizations or platforms not directly acting as FIC processors. You may provide consent by checking a box at the time of submission, signup, or profile creation. Consent is always optional and not required to use our core services.
If you have provided consent but wish to withdraw it, you may do so by contacting support@ic.org or updating your preferences if such settings are available in your account dashboard.
This sharing is OPT-IN only. When you create or edit your Directory listing, you’ll see a clear checkbox like this:
☐ I agree to allow my contact details and submitted content – specifically my Listings, Timeline, and User Profile – to be shared with partner organizations aligned with FIC’s mission (Optional)
These partners support the growth and visibility of intentional communities. Learn more in our Privacy Policy.
If you check this box we’ll share your listing with current and future partners who align with our mission and are committed to respecting your information and using it only for directory purposes. This means your listing may appear on multiple directories simultaneously (which means more visibility for you!). You can always check which partners have your listing by contacting us at support@ic.org
If you DON’T check this box, your listing stays on ic.org only.
If you want to change your listing settings at any time, you can do so by emailing us at support@ic.org.
We use Cookies to keep track of some types of information while you are using our website. Cookies are very small files placed on your computer, and they allow us to count the number of visitors to our website and distinguish repeat visitors from new visitors. They also allow us to save user preferences and track user trends. We rely on cookies for the proper operation of our website; therefore, if your browser is set to reject all cookies, the website may not function properly. Users who refuse cookies assume all responsibility for any resulting loss of functionality. We do not link the cookies to any Personal Data.
We have security measures in place to protect against the loss, misuse, and alteration of information stored in our databases. These measures include use of Secure Socket Layer during any data transfer with this website.
The security of your data is important to us, but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your Personal Data, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.
If we suspect a personal data breach, we will notify you and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.
We do not target any of our sites or services to children under the age of 13, and in compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, any information we may receive from users we believe to be under the age of 13 will be purged from our database. Use of our website by anyone under the age of 13 is strictly prohibited.
All users, regardless of location, may at any time:
To exercise any of these rights, contact support@ic.org. We will verify your identity before processing your request and will respond promptly and within the timeframes required by law.
Profile, listing, review, and chat data are retained until the user removes them or their account becomes inactive. Some data may persist in backups for a limited period. You may request deletion at any time by contacting support. We will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy. We will retain and use your Personal Data to the extent necessary to comply with our legal obligations (for example, if we are required to retain your data to comply with applicable laws), resolve disputes, and enforce our legal agreements and policies.
FIC believes in treating all users with equal dignity and care, regardless of where you live. While data protection laws grant different rights depending on your location, we extend the strongest protections to everyone. The rights described in this section apply to all users worldwide.
What Sensitive Data We Collect
Some of FIC’s services, particularly community and network listings in the ic.org Directory, may involve the collection and publication of certain categories of sensitive personal information, including:
Under various data protection laws—including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), UK GDPR, and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA)—this type of information is considered “special category data” or “sensitive personal information” and requires heightened protection.
Why We Collect It
This information is collected solely to help you describe your community accurately to prospective members and visitors. Sensitive data serves important purposes:
Your Consent and Control
All sensitive information is submitted voluntarily by you or an authorized representative of your community. You are never required to provide sensitive information to create or maintain a listing.
By submitting sensitive information to a public-facing listing, you provide explicit consent to:
You retain full control and may at any time:
Removing sensitive information from your public listing does not affect your standing or visibility in the Directory.
How We Protect Sensitive Data
FIC applies enhanced security measures to all sensitive personal information:
Sharing with Partners
We will never share your sensitive personal information with partner organizations unless you have provided separate, explicit opt-in consent via checkbox. This sharing is always:
We do not sell or share sensitive personal information for advertising, cross-context behavioral tracking, or any commercial purpose unrelated to our nonprofit mission.
Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Information
Consistent with California’s CPRA and similar state laws, you have the right to limit FIC’s use and disclosure of your sensitive personal information. To exercise this right, contact support@ic.org. We will honor your request promptly and will not discriminate against you for exercising this right.
Demographic and Aggregate Data
FIC may also collect optional demographic information through surveys, profile questions, or community forms to better understand and serve the diversity of the intentional communities movement. This may include:
Demographic data is typically reported only in aggregate and anonymized form (e.g., “35% of listed communities identify as multigenerational” or “20% of communities report wheelchair accessibility or other accommodations for people with disabilities”). We never share individual-level demographic data with third parties without your explicit consent, and we do not use demographic data for advertising or commercial purposes.
Legal Basis for Processing (All Jurisdictions)
While data protection laws vary, FIC ensures compliance with the strictest standards globally. We process sensitive data based on:
Explicit consent (primary basis): Your voluntary submission of sensitive information to a public listing, with clear notice of how it will be used
Not-for-profit body processing (where applicable): FIC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating in the public interest, and processing relates to members or former members of communities (as contemplated by GDPR Article 9(2)(d))
Performance of our services: Providing the Directory functionality you have requested
Legitimate interests: Platform security, fraud prevention, and service improvement—but only where these interests do not override your fundamental rights
Your Rights Are Universal
No matter where you live, you have the right to:
✓ Know what sensitive data we hold about you
✓ Access a copy of your sensitive data
✓ Correct inaccurate sensitive data
✓ Delete your sensitive data (“right to be forgotten”)
✓ Restrict how we process your sensitive data
✓ Object to processing of your sensitive data
✓ Receive your data in a portable format
✓ Withdraw consent at any time
✓ Limit use and disclosure of sensitive information
✓ Not be discriminated against for exercising these rights
✓ Lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if you believe your rights have been violated
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any rights regarding sensitive data:
Scope and Limitations
Access requests include all sensitive data associated with your account and public listings. They do not include:
We are committed to transparency while protecting the privacy and safety of all community members, including those who come forward with sensitive concerns.
Questions or Concerns
If you have questions about what information is considered sensitive, how it’s protected, how to remove it, or how to exercise your rights, please contact support@ic.org.
Our Commitment
Data protection law says you have different rights depending on where you live. We say you all have the same rights, and we hold ourselves to the most strict standards globally. Your trust is sacred to us, and we don’t take it lightly.
The Fellowship for Intentional Community, DBA the Foundation for Intentional Community, is a corporation registered in Indiana, USA and is registered as a 501(c)3 by the IRS. If you have any questions you can contact:
Email – support@ic.org
Phone – (443) 422-3741
Mailing – 1 Dancing Rabbit Lane, Box 23, Rutledge, Missouri 63563-9720, USA
We’re grateful you’re part of this movement, and we don’t take your trust lightly.
If something in this policy is unclear, or if you have suggestions for improvement, please let us know. We’re always learning and growing together.
In community,
The FIC Team
Welcome to ic.org, operated by the Foundation for Intentional Community (“FIC,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). By accessing or using our website, services, or platforms (collectively, the “Services”), you (“User” or “you”) agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”), our Privacy Policy, Submission Guidelines, and any additional terms applicable to specific features.
Your use of the Services constitutes acceptance of these Terms as they exist at the time of use. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time, and continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.
FIC provides a platform connecting individuals and communities exploring intentional, cooperative, and regenerative living. Our Services include:
Community Listings: Public profiles for forming (from dream to early years) or established intentional communities (4+ adults & 2+ years living together)
Individual Profiles: Personal profiles for those exploring, seeking, or living in community
Network Profiles: Organizational or network-level profiles
Classified-style listings for resources, opportunities, services, and requests related to intentional community living.
Real-time chat rooms and community hubs for discussion, collaboration, and connection (subject to separate Community Agreement below).
Real-time chat rooms and community hubs for discussion, collaboration, and connection (subject to separate Community Agreement below).
A peer-feedback system allowing users to rate and review communities and experiences (subject to separate Reviews & Ratings Policy below).
You must be at least 13 years of age to use our Services. Users between 13-17 must have parental or guardian consent. If we learn that a user under 13 has created an account, we will terminate that account immediately.
For users in jurisdictions requiring parental consent for minors under 16, such consent must be obtained before using the Services.
To access certain features, you must create an account. You agree to:
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms or provide false information.
The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) is proud to host a platform that brings together individuals and communities exploring cooperative, regenerative, and intentional ways of living. Whether you’re submitting a community listing, creating a personal profile, or sharing services, images, or updates, we ask that you follow the guidelines below. These standards help ensure that our shared space remains inclusive, truthful, and aligned with the purpose of this network.
We ask that all submissions be clearly connected to intentional community or adjacent movements,such as permaculture, sustainable housing, cooperative economics, or social justice organizing. Community listings must describe a forming or established group (4 or more adults, or at least 2 years of history), and focus on the group’s collective values,not just the vision of a single individual.
Individual profiles should reflect a sincere interest in community life, whether you’re exploring, seeking, offering support, or already living in community. Submissions that fall outside these themes may be removed.
FIC does not allow content that discriminates against others based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, family structure, disability, national origin, or any other protected identity. We are also required to uphold the Fair Housing Act, and this applies to all listings, no matter where you’re located. Communities with religious or spiritual foundations are welcome, but public listings must meet the legal criteria for religious housing in order to be featured.
We believe intentional community starts with how we speak and listen. Submissions should not include language that shames, judges, or harms others. This includes both overt threats and subtle put-downs, especially when directed at marginalized identities. We will not publish content that promotes or condones hate, exclusion, or ideologies rooted in anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, transphobia, ableism, or other forms of oppression. Our goal is to foster honest, respectful connection,even when values differ.
We ask that all submissions reflect the truth of your current situation, to the best of your ability. While we do not fact-check every detail, we will remove content that we know to be false, deceptive, or misleading. Submissions should not impersonate others, misrepresent affiliations, or include copyrighted material without permission. If your listing or profile includes content that infringes on intellectual property or someone’s privacy, it may be taken down.
By submitting a listing or profile, you confirm that the information you’ve shared is accurate and that you have the right to publish it. If you’re submitting on behalf of a group or organization, you must have permission from that group to do so. Images, testimonials, or quotes that involve others should only be shared with their consent.
Community listings are published publicly and appear in our searchable Directory. Individual profiles can be made public or kept private within the FIC network,this setting is up to you. Please ensure any content you choose to make public is appropriate for a wide audience.
All submissions are reviewed by FIC staff before being published. If we have concerns, we may ask for edits or clarification. After publication, we reserve the right to remove content that violates these guidelines or receives credible reports from community members. Repeat or serious violations may lead to removal from the platform.
We’re grateful to have you here, and we appreciate your help in keeping this platform thoughtful, honest, and inclusive. Together, we’re building not just a directory, but a culture rooted in mutual respect and possibility.
If you have questions about these guidelines, or you’re unsure about whether something is appropriate to share, please contact us at directory@ic.org.
The Needs & Offers platform is a classified-style exchange designed to connect members of the intentional community movement with resources, opportunities, skills, and support. Whether you’re offering land, seeking housemates, sharing tools, or requesting expertise, this space helps facilitate the practical exchanges that make community life possible.
Users may post listings in two categories:
Listings may include descriptions, images, location information, and contact preferences. All listings are publicly visible in our searchable directory unless you specify otherwise in your privacy settings.
Listings may only be submitted by logged-in, verified members. You must:
All Needs & Offers listings must comply with our Submission Guidelines and Acceptable Use Policy. Specifically:
Relevance: Listings must relate to intentional community living, cooperative housing, regenerative practices, or adjacent movements.
Truthfulness: Describe your need or offer accurately. Do not misrepresent availability, conditions, costs, or expectations.
Respect & Inclusion: Listings must not discriminate based on protected characteristics. Housing-related posts must comply with Fair Housing Act requirements (see Fair Housing Act Compliance section).
No Exploitation: Listings may not solicit or promote:
Illegal activities or controlled substances
Sexual services or adult content
Exploitative labor arrangements
Pyramid schemes or fraudulent opportunities
Harmful or dangerous products/practices
Transparency in Exchange: Clearly state whether an offer is free, for trade, for rent, for sale, or requires work exchange. If compensation is involved, specify terms upfront.
By posting in Needs & Offers, you agree to:
Respond to inquiries in a timely and respectful manner
Update or remove your listing when it’s no longer active
Honor commitments made through the platform
Respect others’ privacy and boundaries
Handle all transactions and agreements directly with other users
FIC provides the platform but does not:
Verify the accuracy of listings
Guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any exchange
Mediate disputes between users
Assume liability for transactions, agreements, or interactions
You engage with other users at your own risk. We strongly encourage you to:
Communicate thoroughly before committing
Meet in safe, public spaces when appropriate
Trust your instincts
Report concerning behavior to our moderation team
FIC staff reserves the right to review, edit, or remove any listing that:
Violates these Terms or our Submission Guidelines
Generates credible complaints from users
Appears fraudulent, misleading, or harmful
Violates applicable laws (including fair housing regulations)
Repeat violations may result in account suspension or termination.
You agree to hold FIC harmless for any disputes, damages, losses, or legal issues arising from your use of Needs & Offers, including but not limited to:
Failed transactions or unfulfilled agreements
Misrepresentation by other users
Property damage or personal injury
Privacy violations or safety concerns
All exchanges are conducted at your own discretion and risk.
If you encounter a listing or user that violates these guidelines, or if you have concerns about safety or appropriateness, please contact us at directory@ic.org.
We’re committed to maintaining a trustworthy and supportive exchange space for our community.
Groups is a real-time community platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and connection. Groups support constructive discussion related to intentional living, cooperative practices, and community building. By using Groups, you agree to these additional terms:
We expect all users to follow these principles when participating in discussions or creating content:
The following behaviors are strictly prohibited in Groups:
Harassment and Discrimination This community will not tolerate harassment of any kind. Examples include but are not limited to:
Spam and Self-Promotion
Other Prohibited Content
How to Report
If you are being harassed by a member of our community, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact us immediately at connect@ic.org.
If the person who is harassing you is on the moderation or admin team, they will not be involved in handling or resolving the incident.
What Happens Next
Bad Faith Reports: To protect volunteers from abuse and burnout, we reserve the right to reject any report we believe to have been made in bad faith. Reports intended to silence legitimate criticism may be deleted without response.
You are responsible for:
Immediate Safety Situations If a member’s immediate safety and security is threatened, an individual admin may take any action they deem appropriate, up to and including temporarily banning the offender from Groups.
Standard Enforcement Process In less urgent situations:
Possible Consequences Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. Consequences may include:
We reserve the right to exclude people from Groups based on their past behavior, including behavior outside our spaces and behavior towards people who are not in this community.
You retain ownership of content you post but grant FIC a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display and distribute your contributions within the platform and for promotional purposes.
Do not post copyrighted content without permission. Attribution is appreciated and expected when referencing others’ work.
Your Information: We collect basic data such as your username, email address, and profile details to support account functionality.
Public Visibility: Posts and replies are publicly viewable unless posted in private groups (if applicable).
Analytics: We may use anonymized data to improve the platform experience.
Third Parties: We do not sell your personal data. Trusted third-party services may be used for platform performance and security.
For full details, see our Privacy Policy above.
FIC may update these terms at any time. We will notify users of significant changes through the platform. Continued use of Groups constitutes acceptance of revised terms.
Have questions or want to report an issue? Please contact us at connect@ic.org.
This Code of Conduct is adapted from the Community Covenant version 1.0, an open source effort built on codes of conduct including the Contributor Covenant and the LGBTQ in Tech community code of conduct.
Thank you for helping build a healthy and inclusive community space. We’re glad you’re here.
The Ratings & Reviews system is designed to support transparency, trust, and connection across our directory. It gives both individuals and communities the opportunity to reflect on their experiences, help others make informed decisions, and build accountability within the intentional communities ecosystem.
You will be asked to rate your experience in three categories:
Each category uses a 1–5 star visual scale. Numeric scores will be averaged publicly.
You may add a written comment (max 500 characters) to give context to your rating. We encourage thoughtful, constructive, and respectful feedback. All written reviews will be publicly visible, pending moderation.
Both parties (visitor and community) are encouraged to submit a review within 14 days. Reviews will be published after review.
Reviews may only be submitted by logged-in, verified members who have had a direct experience with the community (e.g., visit, event, or stay).
Posting reviews on behalf of others, or based on hearsay, is not permitted.
Multiple reviews from the same individual should only be submitted after a significant new interaction.
All reviews are subject to automated and/or human moderation to ensure compliance with guidelines.
Communities may flag reviews they believe to be inappropriate, but cannot remove reviews directly.
Flagged reviews remain hidden until reviewed by ic.org staff. Final decisions on removal, reinstatement, or edits rest with ic.org staff.
If a review is removed or edited, both the reviewer and the community will receive an explanation. Either party may appeal moderation decisions to ic.org staff for reconsideration by writing an email to directory@ic.org. Please allow 14 days for us to respond to your appeal. Again, the final decision on reinstatement rests with ic.org staff.
Violations may result in removal of the review and possible suspension or expulsion from ic.org.
You agree not to:
All content on ic.org, including text, graphics, logos, software, and design, is owned by FIC or our licensors and protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without written permission.
You retain ownership of content you submit. However, by submitting content, you grant FIC a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to:
This license ends when you delete your content, subject to reasonable caching and backup retention periods.
We reserve the right to remove any content that:
For specific information on the process of content removal, please refer to the section for the type of conflict removed.
FIC respects intellectual property rights. If you believe content on our site infringes your copyright, submit a DMCA notice to:
Email: support@ic.org
Subject Line: DMCA Takedown Request
Include:
We will respond to valid DMCA notices per 17 U.S.C. § 512.
FIC offers products, memberships, and subscriptions through WooCommerce. By making a purchase, you agree to:
We use third-party processors (Stripe, PayPal) to handle transactions securely. Your payment information:
You consent to the processor accessing your financial information and agree to hold FIC harmless for any issues related to payment processing.
Refund and cancellation policies vary by product. Generally:
Contact support@ic.org for questions about specific purchases.
We reserve the right to change prices at any time. Price changes do not affect existing subscriptions until renewal.
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless FIC, its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from:
This indemnification survives termination of your account or these Terms.
FIC is committed to compliance with the Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.) and state fair housing laws. Community listings must not:
Religious or Spiritual Communities: Communities with bona fide religious purposes may qualify for exemptions under 42 U.S.C. § 3607. To claim this exemption, listings must meet legal criteria and clearly disclose the religious nature.
Violations of fair housing law may result in:
For guidance on fair housing compliance, contact directory@ic.org.
FIC reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to ic.org, with the “Last Updated” date revised accordingly.
For material changes, we will:
Your continued use of the Services after changes constitutes acceptance. If you do not agree to revised Terms, discontinue use immediately.
You agree that by registering, accessing, or using our services, you are agreeing to enter into a legally binding contract with the FIC. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not register, access, or otherwise use any of our services. By using our services, you acknowledge that you are over the age of 18 and are capable of entering into a contract with us.
These Terms (including any agreements and policies linked from these Terms) constitute the entire agreement between you and us.
If any part of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable by applicable law, then that provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision and the remainder of these Terms will continue in effect.
Even if we are delayed in exercising our rights or fail to exercise a right in one case, it doesn’t mean we waive our rights under these Terms, and we may decide to enforce them in the future. If we decide to waive any of our rights in a particular instance, it doesn’t mean we waive our rights generally or in the future.
Our organization is an equal employment opportunity employer and does not discriminate with respect to employment or provision of services based on age, race, color, ancestry, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, pregnancy, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other class or characteristic protected by law.
For questions, concerns, or to exercise your rights under these Terms:
Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC)
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation registered in Rutledge, MO
Email: support@ic.org
Phone: (443) 422-3741
Mail: 1 Dancing Rabbit Lane, Box 23, Rutledge, Missouri 63563-9720, USA
Feature-Specific Contacts:
By using ic.org and our Services, you acknowledge that:
Thank you for being part of the intentional community movement. Together, we’re building a culture of mutual respect, transparency, and possibility.
You may be required to create a user profile with FIC in order to access and use certain services. If you create a user profile, you agree to provide and maintain true, accurate, current and complete information about yourself as prompted by any registration forms. Registration data and certain other information about you are governed by our Privacy Policy. If you are under 13 years of age, you are not authorized to use our services, with or without registering. In addition, if you are under 18 years old, you may use the services, with or without registering, only with the approval of a parent or guardian.
You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password and account, if any, and are fully responsible for any and all activities that occur under your password or account. You agree to (a) immediately notify FIC of any unauthorized use of your password or account or any other breach of security, and (b) ensure that you exit from your account at the end of each session. FIC will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your failure to comply with these terms.
When using this website or our services you are solely responsible for all content or data that you upload, post, email, or otherwise use. You are solely responsible for your interactions with other users of this website or our services. FIC has no liability or responsibility for those interactions or any conflict or dispute that might occur as a result. We do not monitor interactions between you and other members as a matter of course and have no obligation to do so. We do however reserve the right to do so if we wish.
You agree that all content or data and interactions with other users must not:
You are solely responsible for your use and participation in all interactive areas of this website and agree that your use of these services is at your own risk.
FIC reserves the right to investigate and take appropriate action against anyone who violates these Terms, including but not limited to, removing the offending content from our services, suspending or terminating the account of such violators, and reporting you to law enforcement authorities.
We encourage you to report misconduct. If you interact with anyone through this website or our services who you feel is acting or has acted inappropriately, including but not limited to offensive, violent or sexually inappropriate behavior, who steals from you, or engages in any other disturbing conduct, or in any way violates the User Conduct described above, we strongly encourage you to immediately report such person to us and any appropriate authorities.
Products sold at Communities Bookstore are sent from multiple locations. In many cases, an order will require 10-14 days to print, ship and deliver. Shipping is calculated based on current rates and zip codes. Returns for in-print products are offered for all orders within 30 days of order date. Items damaged during shipping will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Returns are not accepted on digital products. Contact bookstore@ic.org for any questions or concerns.
All FIC event participants agree to conform to User Conduct in these Terms of Use. The term “event” includes the online workshops, webinars, interviews, panels, networking experiences, and other types of events hosted by the FIC and publicized on ic.org.
The FIC may cancel or deny access to an event at its discretion. Refunds for events are only available within 14 days after the event takes place. If you need to request a refund for whatever reason, please contact events@ic.org.
Unless otherwise noted, all FIC events are conducted on Zoom and are recorded. Please keep your video and audio off if you do not wish to be recorded. The recordings may be posted on social media, distributed to registrants, and otherwise used in the FIC’s public promotional materials. Similarly, the chat feed and event transcript may be shared publicly.
The FIC may contract or engage third party-presenters and facilitators for events. The opinions expressed by third parties during events are solely the opinions of the contributors and do not represent the opinions of the FIC, its officers, directors, staff, representatives and/or its affiliates.
To access the online courses and events offered by the FIC, you must attest that you have read and agree to the terms and conditions below (“Course Terms”), and our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, including any rights to intellectual property, incorporated herein. The term “course” includes the e-course web pages, courses and all associated materials presented on ic.org and learn.ic.org.
All courses and materials, along with references used in or related to the courses, are the property of the FIC or of third parties and used under permission granted to the FIC and may only be used in the manner detailed in this Course Terms. Permission to use the material in any other way must be obtained in writing from the FIC and/or the publisher or author of the material. These materials are for the sole use of individuals registered for the e-course or others as approved by the FIC.
As a course registrant, you may view and read all materials that are part of the course facility. You may also print any or all screen and pdf file pages for your personal use in taking the course, but you may not share, communicate, publish or in any manner distribute to other parties the course, login and password, readings, references, links or any other materials.
The terms and conditions regarding use of materials apply upon registration for the course, while you are taking the course, and upon and after completing, withdrawing from or terminating the course.
Only course registrants and organizational members of the FIC (such as Staff, Instructors, and Board Members) have access to the discussion forums.
Course participants are eligible for a refund prior to the start date of the live course and prior to being setup in the learning area of the on-demand course. As soon as the course has begun, FIC will not issue a refund. However, we can offer credit towards another course. Please contact us if you are in need of a refund.
The courses are designed to be completed within a period of 8 weeks, including 5 weeks of live instruction and 3 weeks of review. Registrants have access to each course 8 weeks from the starting date of the course. After the 8-week period, access to the course and all course materials will end.
You are responsible for and will indemnify and hold the FIC harmless from and against any and all liability, claims and losses resulting from your actions in connection with taking the courses and your breach of any terms and conditions of these Course Terms.
Reference materials and links provided in the courses are provided by the FIC. The FIC does not assume responsibility or liability for the accuracy or completeness of content contained in reference materials or links. The FIC does not endorse any product, service or organization referenced. The opinions expressed in learning materials for courses are solely the opinions of the contributors and do not represent the opinions of the FIC, its officers, directors, staff, representatives and/or its affiliates.
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and view the courses and associated content, solely for your personal, non-commercial, educational purposes through our services, in accordance with these Terms and any conditions or restrictions associated with a particular course or feature of our services, including other websites and applications associated with our website. All other uses are expressly prohibited. You may not reproduce, redistribute, transmit, assign, sell, broadcast, rent, share, lend, modify, adapt, edit, create derivative works of, sublicense, or otherwise transfer or use any content unless we give you explicit permission to do so in a written agreement signed by FIC. Content derived from other websites and applications associated with our website shall be governed by the terms of use as specified by those websites and applications. Any license granted by the organization is revocable at any time for any reason.
The FIC will deny course access to any individual who does not agree to these Course Terms. Further, the FIC reserves the right to terminate access to any individual who does not abide by these terms and conditions.
You agree that you will not use any robot, spider or other device, process or means to access the FIC courses. Nor shall you use any process to monitor or copy our web pages or the content contained thereon or for any other unauthorized purpose without our prior expressed written permission. You agree that you will not compromise or circumvent the security controls of the FIC courses or otherwise gain unauthorized access to FIC courses. You agree that you will not use any device, software or routine that interferes with the proper working of the FIC courses, nor shall you attempt to interfere with the proper working of the FIC courses.
You agree that you will not take any action that imposes an unreasonable or disproportionately large load on our infrastructure. You agree that you will not copy, reproduce, alter, modify, create derivative works or publicly display any content from the FIC courses without the prior expressed written permission of the FIC.
All of the live classes included in the FIC courses are conducted on Zoom and are recorded. Please keep your video and audio off if you do not wish to be recorded. The recordings will be posted on learn.ic.org for other course registrants to view and may be used in the FIC’s public promotional materials.
Any information or content included with any classified, banner, or other ads must conform to User Conduct in FIC’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
If the subject of the Ad is an intentional community, forming or established, that community must not violate any of the Restrictions described under Criteria For Listing, Directory in these Terms of Use. The community must also abide by Fair Housing Law.
By use of this directory (“Directory) you explicitly agree that the Foundation for Intentional Community (“FIC”) shall be held harmless from any damages, injuries, liabilities, or claims arising from use of this website, including interactions with any group listed here or elsewhere.
While the FIC reviews each listing before publishing, we do not examine communities firsthand to assess the accuracy or validity of the information provided. A published listing in the Directory is not a verification or endorsement of that group by the FIC, nor does the FIC have any control, influence, or authority over groups listed in the Directory other than the listing itself. Similarly, individuals who contact a group through their published listing are not verified or endorsed by the FIC.
Individuals using the Directory are encouraged to thoroughly research published listings using means beyond the Directory when seeking to ascertain the validity of information and any unmentioned details not described in each listing. As an individual, you are responsible for your safety and well-being when communicating with or visiting any group published in the Directory. We strongly recommend that you take any steps necessary to make sure you are not harmed in any way.
As a group with a published listing, you are responsible for the safety of your group and anyone living in or connected to your group. We strongly recommend that you take any steps necessary to ensure your safety when communicating with or allowing physical site access by individuals who contact you through this website or our services.
By listing in the Directory, you explicitly agree to follow all FIC policies and terms of use, and that FIC shall be held harmless from any damages, injuries, liabilities, or claims arising from listing on this website, including interactions with any individuals, or communities listed here or elsewhere.
When filling out the listing form for a group in the Directory, by submitting your information you agree to have that information made public, unless noted in the form, and to follow our policies. You also agree to allow contact from those viewing this website and/or using print versions of the Directory, and to be honest and respectful in your responses.
In order to provide a useful and secure service, communities are required to provide current and accurate information. Please clearly distinguish between your current reality and your plans for the future.
If you are acting on behalf of a group, you represent and warrant that you have the authority to bind that group to FIC’s Terms of Use by submitting a listing to be published in this Directory.
Definition
Intentional community can be defined in many ways. These definitions help us identify the kinds of groups that are within the scope of our mission. Our goal is to serve groups to whom this definition could reasonably be applied.
A group of people who live together or share common facilities and who regularly associate with each other on the basis of explicit common values.
The social and economic relationships of a group of people who share values, physical space, and resources.
An organization providing the governance and management of shared resources by a group of people with a shared mission or purpose.
Restrictions
To be listed in the Directory, groups must not:
Engage in, advocate for, or condone any kind of physical, sexual, mental, financial, and/or emotional violence, coercion, manipulation, abuse and/or harassment, directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, towards any person or people
Retaliate against individuals for raising legitimate concerns regarding potential physical, sexual, mental, financial, and/or emotional violence, coercion, manipulation, abuse and/or harassment, directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, towards any person or people
Prevent or interfere with anyone attempting to leave the group or to contact people outside the group
Misrepresent themselves in any way, intentionally or unintentionally
Violate any federal, state, or local laws in the jurisdiction in which a group is located
Discriminate against individuals based on certain protected classes as defined by the Fair Housing Law. See next section for more detail.
Furthermore, any information or content included with your listing must conform to User Conduct in these Terms of Use.
While our goal is to allow communities to speak for themselves and to require modifications as minimally as possible, we do retain final editorial control, according to these policies, over any content in Directory Listings. FIC retains the sole discretion to remove or edit a listing from the Directory at any time. The Directory Manager may make editing suggestions to Listing Editors to help improve the listing, which are completely optional. The Directory Manager will make it clear whether a requested modification is an editing suggestion or a requirement.
Listings must be regularly updated to keep the Directory accurate and useful. We recommend that all listings be updated at least annually. For listings that have not been updated per FIC requirements, an automated email reminder will go out to the listing editor asking that they visit the listing and verify its accuracy and update it as necessary. Listings of communities that do not respond to this request will be put in Draft Mode, where they will not be seen by website visitors until they are updated.
The Directory Manager may at their discretion use other methods to contact the community, including phone calls or looking for contact forms or alternative email addresses on the community’s website. The Directory Manager may also choose to extend listing update deadlines if there are extenuating circumstances that justify an extension, or they may choose to terminate a community’s listing immediately if there is clear evidence the community no longer exists.
We will contact the Editor and/or Contact person for a listed community regarding the content of their listing or changes to policy as needed.
We reserve the right to send occasional communications for other purposes including but not limited to surveys, events, and fundraising. By listing in the Directory, you agree to receive these communications.
With permission, the FIC may share public listing information with values and mission-aligned organizations who also operate directories of intentional communities and/or other similar organizations so that groups listed in the Directory will be listed in those directories.
We periodically provide condensed public listing information to researchers and journalists. By using this Directory, you agree to allow FIC to share public information with third parties.
We do our best on this site to prevent your email address from being harvestable by spammers. Your email address will only be displayed in such a way that it does not appear in clear text in the source code of a page.
We are using a variety of javascript systems for obscuring email addresses, so they are not easily harvestable, but are still visible to users and clickable as links on a web page.
This is not an invincible system. We can’t guarantee that your address will not be collected by spammers but we will do our best to prevent it. (Our address is posted in the same way.) Please see our Privacy Policy for more information.
You will be required to remove any information or content that violates Fair Housing Law.
The 1968 Fair Housing Act is a federal act in the United States intended to protect the buyer or renter of a dwelling from seller or landlord discrimination. Its primary prohibition makes it unlawful to refuse to sell to, rent to, provide financing to, or negotiate with any person because of that person’s inclusion in a protected class. It also prohibits publishing any advertisement involving access to housing that indicates the intent to discriminate unlawfully.
Because the Directory provides a platform for housing options, the FIC must comply with U.S. Fair Housing Law. Federally protected classes are race, color, religion, national origin, handicap/disability, and familial status. Some states have further protected classes, such as gender, sexual orientation, or marital status. Because the FIC operates in all 50 states via its website, the FIC cannot provide any information or content in any listing in the Directory by any group, regardless of whether they are in the U.S. or another country, that discriminates against any Federal or state-specific classes protected by Fair Housing Law.
For more information about state specific protected classes and a good FAQ, visit the Craigslist webpage on Fair housing Law.
If someone believes a group with a listing published in the Directory is in violation of any of these policies, or wants to address other issues about a community, they may contact the Directory manager at directory@ic.org. We will do our best to provide resources that support resolution of the issue as our capacity allows and keep a record of the incident. Depending on the nature and severity of any accusations, we may seek further information. It should be understood that our capacity to evaluate accusations is limited, but we will do our best to understand the situation and respond accordingly. This process is intended to provide a reasonable avenue for people to address legitimate concerns about a community.
FIC will not engage directly in a dispute, and the listing community agrees by using FIC’s services that they will not involve FIC in any litigation or lawsuit, nor will they join FIC as a party to any claim. Please keep in mind we are neither a law-enforcing authority nor do we have the capacity as an organization to function as a mediator. Other than communicating with the parties involved and attempting to provide resources that support resolution, our only power in the case of a policy violation is to require modifications to a listing in the Directory or refuse service. In some cases we may go as far as to communicate the issues we’re aware of to other organizations that list communities.
A community entry may be considered for delisting if it meets one or more of the following criteria:
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