1. Service Description
Queen City Volunteer Connect (QCVC) is a volunteer-hours tracking platform for high school students in the Charlotte, NC area. The platform allows students to discover and register for volunteer opportunities posted by local employers and nonprofits, submit their completed service hours, and receive official PDF verification letters.
QCVC is operated by Queen City Volunteer Connect and is accessible at qcvc.org. For questions, contact us at queencityvc@gmail.com.
2. Use Case & Message Types
QCVC uses SMS text messaging for two specific, limited purposes. No promotional or marketing messages are ever sent.
A. One-Time Verification Codes (OTP / 2FA)
When a user enters their mobile phone number in the QCVC app and requests a sign-in code, QCVC sends a single SMS containing a 6-digit one-time passcode. This code is used solely to verify the user's identity and access their account. The code expires after a short time window.
Example message:
B. Administrator-Initiated Invitation Messages
QCVC platform administrators may send a one-time SMS invitation to a representative of a new employer organization or to a prospective platform administrator. These messages are sent only to individuals who have a pre-existing relationship with QCVC (e.g., an organization that has contacted QCVC to participate in the platform). Each invitation is sent once and includes instructions to complete onboarding in the app.
Example message (employer invitation):
Example message (admin invitation):
3. Opt-In & Consent
Consent to receive SMS messages is obtained directly and explicitly before any message is sent.
For verification codes (OTP):
A user opts in by entering their mobile phone number on the QCVC sign-in screen and tapping the "Send Code" button. The sign-in screen displays the following consent notice directly below the phone number field:
Tapping "Send Code" without reading and accepting this notice is not possible — the notice is always visible before the action. No messages are sent unless the user explicitly initiates this action.
For employer and admin invitations:
Invitation messages are sent only to individuals who have proactively contacted QCVC or been referred by an existing participant. The invitation SMS itself serves as the initial contact and includes a STOP instruction. Recipients who do not wish to proceed may simply reply STOP or ignore the message.
No third-party opt-in sharing:
QCVC does not purchase phone number lists, does not obtain consent through third-party websites, and does not share opt-in data with other organizations. All consent is collected directly by QCVC through its own mobile application.
4. Message Frequency
Verification code messages are sent on demand, only when a user requests them by tapping "Send Code." The frequency is entirely user-controlled — QCVC does not initiate verification codes without a user request.
Invitation messages are sent at most once per recipient per invitation event. Administrators may only send invitations to new contacts who are not yet on the platform.
QCVC does not send recurring messages, newsletters, promotions, or any other scheduled communications via SMS.
5. How to Opt Out
You may opt out of QCVC SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message received from QCVC. After opting out:
- You will receive a confirmation that your number has been removed.
- No further SMS messages will be sent to your number.
- Note: opting out of verification codes will prevent you from signing in to the QCVC app via phone authentication.
To re-enable messages, reply START to the confirmation message, or email us at queencityvc@gmail.com and we will restore messaging for your number.
6. Help
Reply HELP to any QCVC text message to receive assistance information, including our contact email and a link to this page.
You may also contact us directly at any time: queencityvc@gmail.com
7. Message & Data Rates
QCVC does not charge for SMS messages. However, message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and plan. QCVC is not responsible for any charges imposed by your carrier.
Contact your mobile carrier for details about your messaging plan.
8. Privacy & Phone Number Use
Phone numbers collected by QCVC are used solely for the authentication and platform communication purposes described in this document.
- Student phone numbers are never shared with employers.
- Phone numbers are not sold, rented, or shared with third-party marketers.
- Numbers are stored securely in QCVC's database and are not included in any public-facing data.
For complete information on how QCVC handles your personal data, see our Privacy Policy.
9. Supported Carriers
QCVC SMS messages are delivered via Twilio and are compatible with all major U.S. carriers, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and regional carriers. Carrier support for short code or long code delivery may vary.
10. Contact & Policy Updates
For questions about this policy or QCVC's messaging practices, contact:
- Email: queencityvc@gmail.com
- Website: qcvc.org
QCVC reserves the right to update this SMS Terms & Messaging Policy at any time. Changes will be posted to this page with the effective date noted above. Continued use of the QCVC app after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
Effective Date: June 1, 2025