> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.vault.ky/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.vault.ky/contributing/refunds.md).

# Refunds

**Refunds are automatic.** When a campaign fails under its applicable success rules, refunds are processed automatically once the campaign closes. You do not need to monitor the campaign, submit a request, or take any action to recover your contribution.

## When you are refunded

| Situation                                  | Refunded?                             |
| ------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------- |
| Standard campaign misses its goal          | Yes                                   |
| Charity campaign expires below 20% of goal | Yes                                   |
| Charity campaign expires at 20% or more    | **No** — the campaign qualified       |
| Campaign succeeds                          | No — funds fulfill the stated purpose |
| Vault cancels a campaign before release    | Yes                                   |

## What you get back

You recover your escrowed principal, minus the 2% refund processing fee described in [Fees](/contributing/fees.md).

The contribution fee taken at deposit and any tips you added are non-refundable.

## The charity exception

This is the one case that surprises people. A charity campaign that ends at 20% or more of its goal **does not refund its contributors**, even though it never reached 100%.

Check the funding policy on the campaign page before contributing. See [Charity campaigns](/campaigns/charity-campaigns.md).

## Refunds do not depend on Vault staying online

The refund instructions are permissionless. Anyone can submit them, and a contributor can recover their own refund directly. If Vault's infrastructure were unavailable, refunds from a failed campaign would still be recoverable on-chain.

This is a deliberate property of the protocol: Vault cannot stall or block the refund path.

The specific instructions that make this true are listed in [Instructions](/smart-contracts/instructions.md).


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