FAQ — One Euro Journey

A: The One Euro Journey is a public social experiment and transparency-first fundraising project built around one question: Can one person unite 1,000,000 strangers to contribute €1 each? Every step—progress, costs, and milestone releases—is documented publicly.

A: The project is operated by OEJ OÜ, an Estonian private limited company based in Tallinn, Estonia, founded by Meelis.

A: No. OEJ OÜ is not a charity, and your payment is not a tax-deductible charitable donation.

A: Your €1 is a voluntary contribution that supports the project and may include a digital participation status (for example, a Producer number / Producer credit) and access to community features such as voting (once enabled). It is not an investment, and it does not grant ownership or equity in OEJ OÜ.

A: Because €1 is accessible to almost everyone. The point is proving the power of scale + trust, not relying on big donors.

A: Yes. The project is built around €1, but you can contribute more if you choose.

A: The project pledge is:

• 25% of total funds raised are allocated for animal shelters (released at milestones).
• 75% supports operations (payment fees, hosting, tools, content production, marketing, legal/accounting, taxes/compliance, and project sustainability).

A: Shelter donations happen when specific totals are reached. The milestone model is:

• €1,000 → €250 released
• €10,000 → €2,500 released (nominations + voting begins)
• €100,000 → €25,000 released
• €500,000 → €125,000 released (adds independent verification layer)
• €1,000,000 → €250,000 released + final transparency report

A: Funds are held in OEJ OÜ’s dedicated business accounts (including business bank account and payment processor accounts) and are separated from personal funds.

A: The shelter allocation accumulates until the next milestone is reached and released.

A: If operations cease, the project’s stated intent is to honor the 25% shelter pledge with remaining allocated amounts before closure, following the Terms and legal obligations.

A: The project messaging aims for high transparency (including how the project is funded and run). If compensation is introduced or changed, it should be disclosed publicly before it happens as part of the transparency commitment.

A: Small payments often include fixed processing fees, which can look large as a percentage of €1.

A: Use direct bank transfer (manual verification may take 24–48 hours to appear on the tracker):

• Beneficiary: OEJ OÜ
• IBAN: EE51 7700 7710 1247 0342
• Bank: LHV (Estonia)

A: The transparency standard includes:

• Total raised, participant count, shelter allocation totals
• Expense categories + explanations
• Proof of milestone transfers (receipts/confirmations)
• Governance/voting results (when enabled)
• Clear notes about timing delays (e.g., bank transfers)

A: The website shows progress and donation options, and the transparency dashboard/reporting will continue expanding as the project grows.

A: Card/Apple Pay/Google Pay payments usually update quickly. Bank transfers may take 24–48 hours because they’re manually verified.

A: Shelter funding is released at milestones. From later milestones onward, the community helps choose recipients through nominations and voting.

A: Voting begins from the €10,000 milestone (“Community Voice”), after basic eligibility checks.

A: The process is:

1. Community nominations
2. Eligibility verification
3. Community vote
4. Transfer + publicly posted proof

A: Eligibility is designed to keep donations safe and verifiable. Typically eligible organizations are:

• Registered non-profit/NGO/charity
• Animal welfare/rescue/shelter/sanctuary focused
• Verifiable online presence and official bank account (IBAN)
• Able to legally receive funds from Estonia/EU channels

A: Examples include:

• Private individuals
• Political or religious organizations
• Breeders
• Opaque/unverifiable operations

A: Yes—only if the chosen organization is ineligible, unethical, unverifiable, or cannot legally receive funds. In that case, the next eligible option is chosen.

A: Yes. Payments are processed via third-party providers (e.g., Stripe/PayPal). OEJ OÜ does not store full card details.

A: Card payments via Stripe (and Apple Pay/Google Pay where available) plus direct bank transfer.

A: Yes. After a successful payment, you receive a receipt by email.

A: Yes. If public display features exist (like a Producer wall), you can choose an anonymous display name or opt out.

A: Contributions are generally voluntary and non-refundable, but exceptional refunds may be considered for duplicate charges, fraud, or clear processing errors if requested promptly.

A: Contact support with the date, amount, and payment method so the case can be reviewed.

A: Depending on your interaction, the project may collect:

• Name/display name and email (for receipts/updates)
• Transaction metadata (amount, date, transaction ID)
• Basic technical data (for security/analytics)
• Voting/participation records (when enabled)

A: No. Data is used only to operate the project and is shared only with necessary service providers (payments, email, hosting) or authorities if legally required.

A: Yes—contact support. Note that some records may still be retained internally for legal and accounting obligations.

A: Accounting and transaction records may be retained for several years to meet legal and compliance requirements.

A: The project runs under an Estonian company (OEJ OÜ) and follows a public transparency model: progress tracking, categorized expenses, and proof of milestone transfers.

A: No. The goal is ambitious, and results are not guaranteed. The commitment is to run the journey publicly and transparently.

A: People often call it a donation in everyday language, but the important point is: it’s not a tax-deductible charity donation. It’s a contribution that powers the mission and may include participation features.

A: Trust is the project’s currency. Any material change (including allocation, governance rules, compensation, etc.) must be disclosed publicly and archived prior to taking effect.

A: The best help is to contribute and share. If you’re a creator, business, or media outlet, you can also collaborate or run a transparent matching campaign.

A: Email: info@oneeurojourney.com