> 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/security/contributor-protection.md). # Contributor protection ## What you are guaranteed **Your contribution is held in escrow, not by the creator.** It sits in a campaign-specific Solana account you can inspect yourself. **The rules cannot change after you contribute.** Goal, deadline, and fee rates are locked at campaign creation. **Refunds are automatic if the campaign fails.** You do not need to claim them, monitor the campaign, or contact support. **The refund path cannot be blocked.** Refund instructions are permissionless. A contributor can recover their own refund on-chain even if Vault's infrastructure is unavailable. **The outcome is not Vault's decision.** Success and failure are determined by the campaign's rules. ## Where protection ends Escrow protects the funding process. It does not extend to: * whether a funded project delivers what it promised * whether a token performs * whether a third-party vendor completes fulfillment on time * the conduct or legitimacy of any creator, beneficiary, or project A successful campaign means the funding conditions were met. It does not mean the underlying project is sound. ## Read the funding policy The single most important thing to check before contributing is the campaign's funding policy. A standard campaign refunds you if it misses its goal. A charity campaign that ends at 20% or more of its goal **does not refund you**, even though it fell short of 100%. Both are legitimate structures. They have very different consequences for you. ## Your wallet is your responsibility Every action on Vault is a transaction you sign yourself. Vault never asks for a seed phrase, recovery phrase, or private key. Read the transaction preview before approving, and confirm you are on `app.vault.ky` before signing anything. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.vault.ky/security/contributor-protection.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.