---
sidebar_position: 2
sidebar_label: Data Provider Terms
---

# Data Provider Terms of Service

**Last Updated:** April 28, 2026

:::info[Purpose]
This document provides the complete terms of service, usage policies, and attribution requirements for all third-party data providers used by Open Navigator. **Users of our Service must comply with all applicable provider terms.**
:::

## Overview

Open Navigator aggregates data from multiple sources. Each source has its own terms of service, usage policies, and attribution requirements. This document consolidates all provider terms to help you stay compliant.

## 🏛️ U.S. Government Data Sources (Public Domain)

### 1. IRS (Exempt Organizations Business Master File & Form 990)

**Data Type:** Tax-exempt organization records, Form 990 filings  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Terms of Use:** [IRS.gov Copyright and Reuse Policy](https://www.irs.gov/about-irs/irsgov-privacy-policy)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free to download and redistribute
- ✅ No restrictions on commercial or non-commercial use
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ Attribution recommended but not required

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Must not claim IRS endorsement
- ❌ Must not use for unauthorized commercial solicitation

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Data source: Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Exempt Organizations Business Master File (EO-BMF)
https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organizations-business-master-file-extract-eo-bmf
```

---

### 2. U.S. Census Bureau

**Data Type:** Geographic boundaries, demographics, government entities  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Terms of Use:** [Census Bureau Data Policy](https://www.census.gov/about/policies.html)  
**API Documentation:** [Census Bureau API](https://www.census.gov/data/developers.html)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Public domain data
- ✅ Free API access (API key recommended but not required)
- ✅ No restrictions on use or redistribution
- ✅ Attribution appreciated

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Must not claim U.S. Census Bureau endorsement

**Rate Limits:**
- **Without API key:** 500 requests per IP address per day
- **With free API key:** Higher limits (no specific quota published, typically 500 requests per second burst)
- **Best practice:** Get a free API key from [api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html](https://api.census.gov/data/key_signup.html)

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau
https://www.census.gov/
```

---

### 3. National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

**Data Type:** School district boundaries, demographics, enrollment  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Terms of Use:** [NCES Privacy Policy](https://nces.ed.gov/privacysecurity/)  
**Data Source:** [NCES Common Core of Data](https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Public domain educational data
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ Free download and redistribution
- ✅ No personal student information

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Must not claim NCES endorsement

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Data source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
U.S. Department of Education
https://nces.ed.gov/
```

---

### 4. FEC / OpenFEC API

**Data Type:** Campaign finance, political contributions  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Terms of Use:** [FEC.gov Terms of Use](https://www.fec.gov/updates/sale-or-use-contributor-information/)  
**API Documentation:** [OpenFEC API](https://api.open.fec.gov/developers/)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ FEC data is public domain
- ✅ Free API access with API key

**Rate Limits:**
- With API key: 1,000 requests/hour
- Demo key: 30 requests/hour

**CRITICAL RESTRICTIONS:**
- ❌ **CANNOT use contributor information for commercial solicitation or fundraising**
- ❌ **CANNOT sell contributor lists**
- ❌ Must not violate federal campaign finance laws

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: Federal Election Commission (FEC)
https://www.fec.gov/
```

**API Key:** Free at [api.data.gov](https://api.data.gov/signup/)

---

### 5. Grants.gov API

**Data Type:** Federal grant opportunities  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Terms of Use:** [Grants.gov Terms of Use](https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/terms-of-use.html)  
**API Documentation:** [Grants.gov API](https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/support/technical-support/grantor-technical-support/grants-gov-api.html)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Public government data
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ Free unlimited access

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Must not misrepresent grant opportunities
- ❌ Must not alter grant information

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Data source: Grants.gov
https://www.grants.gov/
```

---

## 💼 Google Services

### 8. Google BigQuery IRS 990 Public Dataset

**Data Type:** IRS Form 990 filings  
**License:** IRS data is Public Domain; BigQuery access subject to Google Cloud Terms  
**Terms of Use:** [Google Cloud Terms of Service](https://cloud.google.com/terms)  
**Dataset:** `bigquery-public-data.irs_990`  
**Documentation:** [Google Cloud Marketplace](https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/internal-revenue-service/irs-990)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ IRS data is public domain
- ✅ BigQuery provides fast SQL-based access
- ✅ First 1 TB of queries per month is FREE

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST comply with Google Cloud Terms of Service**
- ✅ Google Cloud account required
- ✅ Must provide attribution to IRS and Google Cloud

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Subject to BigQuery quotas and pricing (beyond free tier)
- ❌ Must not use for unauthorized commercial solicitation

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: IRS Form 990 Data
Provided by: Google Cloud Public Datasets
https://console.cloud.google.com/marketplace/product/internal-revenue-service/irs-990
```

---

### 9. Google Civic Information API

**Data Type:** Elected officials, polling locations, election information  
**License:** [Google APIs Terms of Service](https://developers.google.com/terms)  
**API Documentation:** [Google Civic Information API](https://developers.google.com/civic-information)  
**Usage Limits:** [Google Civic API Policies](https://developers.google.com/civic-information/docs/usage_limits)

**Free Tier:**
- ✅ 25,000 requests per day
- ✅ API key required (free from Google Cloud Console)

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST comply with Google APIs Terms of Service**
- ✅ **MUST display attribution:** "Data provided by Google"
- ✅ **MUST NOT cache data beyond 30 days**

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Subject to Google API quotas
- ❌ Cannot cache data longer than 30 days
- ❌ Must respect rate limits

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data provided by Google Civic Information API
https://developers.google.com/civic-information
```

**API Key:** Free from [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/)

---

### 10. Google Data Commons

**Data Type:** Demographics, economics, health statistics  
**License:** [Data Commons Terms](https://datacommons.org/about)  
**API Documentation:** [Data Commons API](https://docs.datacommons.org/api/)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free access to aggregated statistical data
- ✅ No API key required for most endpoints

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to Google and original data sources**
- ✅ **MUST comply with Google Terms of Service**

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: Google Data Commons
https://datacommons.org/
[Also cite original data sources as specified]
```

---

## 🏢 Nonprofit Data Providers

### 11. Charity Navigator

**Organization:** Charity Navigator, Inc.  
**Principal Office:** 299 Market Street, Suite 250, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663  
**API Terms:** [Charity Navigator API Terms of Use](https://www.charitynavigator.org/partner/api-terms)  
**Last Updated:** March 2025

**Rate Limit:**
- ❌ **MAXIMUM: 1,000 API calls per day** (strictly enforced)

**MANDATORY Attribution Requirements:**

1. **Text Credit (on ALL pages using CN data):**
   ```
   Powered by Charity Navigator
   ```

2. **Source Citation:**
   ```
   Data provided by Charity Navigator
   ```

3. **Linkback (REQUIRED for all charity names):**
   ```html
   <a href="https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/[EIN]">
     [Organization Name]
   </a>
   ```

4. **Trademark Notice (once per page or in footer/credits):**
   ```
   CHARITY NAVIGATOR and the CHARITY NAVIGATOR logo are registered trademarks 
   of Charity Navigator. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
   ```

**CRITICAL Restrictions:**
- ❌ **CANNOT redistribute Charity Navigator data**
- ❌ **CANNOT create competing rating systems using CN data**
- ❌ **CANNOT exceed 1,000 API calls per day**
- ❌ Caching permitted for performance ONLY (not for redistribution)
- ❌ No ownership rights to cached data
- ❌ CN can terminate access for violations

**Intellectual Property:**
- All Charity Navigator data and ratings are proprietary
- API and database owned by Charity Navigator, Inc.
- Users have NO ownership rights to CN data
- Feedback/suggestions become CN property

**Termination:**
- Charity Navigator may terminate API access at any time for violations
- Upon termination, must cease all use of CN data

**Full Terms:** https://www.charitynavigator.org/partner/api-terms

---

### 12. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API

**Organization:** ProPublica, Inc.  
**API Documentation:** [Nonprofit Explorer API](https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/api)  
**Data Store Terms:** [ProPublica Data Store Terms](https://www.propublica.org/datastore/terms)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free unlimited API access
- ✅ IRS data is public domain
- ✅ Commercial and non-commercial use allowed

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to ProPublica**
- ✅ Respectful rate limiting recommended (~1 request/second)

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ ProPublica's analysis may have separate copyright (distinct from IRS data)

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer
https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/
```

**Note:** API returns maximum 25 results per request with no pagination. For bulk data, use IRS EO-BMF downloads.

---

### 13. ProPublica Congress API

**Organization:** ProPublica, Inc.  
**API Documentation:** [Congress API](https://projects.propublica.org/api-docs/congress-api/)  
**Coverage:** 102nd Congress (1991) to present

**Rate Limit:**
- 5,000 requests per day

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **API key required** (free at https://www.propublica.org/datastore/api/propublica-congress-api)
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to ProPublica**
- ✅ Include as HTTP header: `X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY`

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: ProPublica Congress API
https://projects.propublica.org/api-docs/congress-api/
```

---

### 14. ProPublica Campaign Finance API

**Organization:** ProPublica, Inc.  
**API Documentation:** [Campaign Finance API](https://projects.propublica.org/api-docs/campaign-finance/)  
**Coverage:** FEC data from 2000 to present

**Rate Limit:**
- 5,000 requests per day

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **API key required** (free at https://www.propublica.org/datastore/api/campaign-finance-api)
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to ProPublica**
- ✅ Include as HTTP header: `X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY`

**CRITICAL RESTRICTIONS:**
- ❌ **CANNOT use contributor information for commercial solicitation**
- ❌ **CANNOT use for fundraising purposes**
- ❌ Must comply with FEC regulations

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: ProPublica Campaign Finance API
Federal Election Commission (FEC) data
https://projects.propublica.org/api-docs/campaign-finance/
```

---

### 15. ProPublica Vital Signs API

**Organization:** ProPublica, Inc.  
**API Documentation:** [Vital Signs API](https://projects.propublica.org/api-docs/vital-signs/)  
**Coverage:** 1,000,000+ healthcare providers

**Rate Limit:**
- 5,000 requests per day

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **API key required** (free at https://www.propublica.org/datastore/api/vital-signs-api)
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to ProPublica**
- ✅ Include as HTTP header: `X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY`

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: ProPublica Vital Signs
https://projects.propublica.org/vital-signs/
```

---

### 16. Every.org Charity API

**Organization:** Every.org (Public Benefit Corporation)  
**API Documentation:** [Every.org Nonprofit API](https://www.every.org/nonprofit-api)  
**Coverage:** 1,000,000+ verified nonprofits

**Requirements:**
- ✅ API key required (free tier available)
- ✅ Must comply with Every.org API Terms of Service

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: Every.org
https://www.every.org/
```

**Note:** API authentication required. Contact Every.org for API access.

---

### 17. Logo.dev API

**Organization:** Logo.dev  
**Website:** [Logo.dev](https://www.logo.dev/)  
**API Documentation:** [Logo.dev API Docs](https://docs.logo.dev/)

**Free Tier:**
- 1,000 requests per month

**Requirements:**
- ✅ API key required (free tier available)
- ✅ Must comply with Logo.dev Terms of Service

**Usage:**
- Fetches high-quality organization logos based on domain names
- Multiple size options (32px, 128px, 200px, 400px)
- Automatic format optimization (WebP, PNG, SVG)

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Logos provided by Logo.dev
https://www.logo.dev/
```

**API Key:** Sign up at [Logo.dev](https://www.logo.dev/)

---

### 18. GivingTuesday 990 Data Lake

**Organization:** GivingTuesday  
**Source:** [GivingTuesday 990 Data Infrastructure](https://990data.givingtuesday.org/)  
**Storage:** AWS S3 Public Bucket  
**License:** Public Domain (IRS data)  
**AWS Registry:** [OpenData on AWS](https://registry.opendata.aws/gt990datalake/)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free access via AWS S3
- ✅ No AWS credentials required (`--no-sign-request`)
- ✅ IRS data is public domain

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST attribute to GivingTuesday and IRS**

**Costs:**
- Standard AWS data egress charges may apply

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: GivingTuesday 990 Data Infrastructure
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990 XML Filings
https://990data.givingtuesday.org/
```

---

### 6. GSA .gov Domains List

**Organization:** U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)  
**Data Source:** [.gov Domain Data](https://github.com/cisagov/dotgov-data)  
**License:** Public Domain (U.S. Government Work)  
**Format:** CSV published weekly on GitHub

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Public domain government data
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ Free download and redistribution
- ✅ Updated weekly

**Requirements:**
- ✅ Attribution appreciated (not required)

**Attribution (Recommended):**
```
Data source: U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
.gov Internet Domain Data
https://github.com/cisagov/dotgov-data
```

---

## 🎬 Media & Social Platforms

### 7. YouTube Data API v3

**Organization:** Google LLC  
**API Documentation:** [YouTube Data API](https://developers.google.com/youtube/v3)  
**Terms of Service:** [YouTube API Terms of Service](https://developers.google.com/youtube/terms/api-services-terms-of-service)

**Quota:**
- **10,000 units per day** (free tier)
- Different operations cost different units (e.g., search = 100 units, list = 1 unit)

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **API key required** (free from Google Cloud Console)
- ✅ **MUST comply with YouTube API Terms of Service**
- ✅ **MUST display attribution:** "Powered by YouTube Data API"
- ✅ **MUST NOT cache video metadata longer than allowed**

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Cannot create competing video platform
- ❌ Must respect quota limits (10,000 units/day)
- ❌ Must comply with YouTube Community Guidelines
- ❌ Subject to Google API Terms of Service

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Video data provided by YouTube Data API
https://www.youtube.com/
```

**API Key:** Free from [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/)

**Cost Calculation:**
- Search operation: 100 units
- List videos: 1 unit  
- 10,000 units = ~100 searches or 10,000 video metadata requests per day

---

## 🗳️ Civic & Government APIs

### 19. Open States API & Bulk Data

**Organization:** Open States Foundation (part of Plural)  
**API Documentation:** [Open States API v3](https://docs.openstates.org/api-v3/)  
**Bulk Data:** [Plural Policy Bulk Downloads](https://open.pluralpolicy.com/data/) ⭐ **Recommended**  
**Terms of Service:** [Open States ToS](https://openstates.org/tos/)

**Bulk Download Options (No API Key Required):**

1. **CSV Files** - Complete legislative sessions
   - URL: https://data.openstates.org/session/csv/{state}/{session_id}.csv
   - License: **Public Domain** (encouraged for bulk analysis)
   - No rate limits, no API key required
   - Attribution appreciated but not required

2. **JSON Files** - Bills with full text
   - URL: https://data.openstates.org/session/json/{state}/{session_id}.json.zip
   - License: **Public Domain**
   - Includes complete bill text and metadata

3. **PostgreSQL Dumps** - Complete database
   - URL: https://data.openstates.org/postgres/monthly/YYYY-MM-public.pgdump
   - Monthly snapshots, ~5GB compressed
   - License: **Public Domain**

**Bulk Data Terms:**
- ✅ **Free to download and redistribute**
- ✅ **No API key required**
- ✅ **No rate limits**
- ✅ **Attribution appreciated:** "Data from Open States"
- ✅ **Encouraged for research and analysis**

**API Access (Real-time updates):**

**Free Tier:**
- 50,000 requests per month

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **API key required** (free at https://openstates.org/accounts/signup/)
- ✅ **MUST display attribution:** "Powered by Open States"
- ✅ Must comply with API rate limits

**Restrictions:**
- ❌ Data licenses vary by state jurisdiction
- ❌ Must respect 50,000 requests/month limit on free tier

**Attribution (API Usage):**
```
Powered by Open States
https://openstates.org/
```

**Attribution (Bulk Data Usage - Recommended):**
```
Data source: Open States (Plural Policy)
https://open.pluralpolicy.com/data/
```

**Data Licensing:**
- Bulk downloads: **Public Domain** (no restrictions)
- API data: Licenses vary by state jurisdiction
- Check specific state terms for commercial use

**Recommendation:**  
Use **bulk downloads** for analysis and map generation (faster, no limits).  
Use **API** for real-time bill tracking and search.

---

## 🌐 Linked Open Data Sources

### 20. Wikidata

**Organization:** Wikimedia Foundation  
**SPARQL Endpoint:** [Wikidata Query Service](https://query.wikidata.org/)  
**License:** [CC0 1.0 Public Domain Dedication](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)  
**Terms of Use:** [Wikimedia Terms of Use](https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Terms_of_Use)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ CC0 Public Domain - no restrictions
- ✅ No API key required
- ✅ Free unlimited access
- ✅ Attribution appreciated but not required

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST respect rate limits** (1 request/second recommended)
- ✅ **MUST set descriptive User-Agent header**

**User-Agent Format:**
```
User-Agent: YourApp/1.0 (https://yoursite.com/; contact@example.com)
```

**Attribution (Appreciated):**
```
Data source: Wikidata
https://www.wikidata.org/
License: CC0 Public Domain
```

---

### 21. DBpedia

**Organization:** DBpedia Association  
**Lookup API:** [DBpedia Lookup Service](https://lookup.dbpedia.org/)  
**License:** [CC BY-SA 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) and [GFDL](https://www.gnu.org/licenses/fdl-1.3.html)  
**Terms of Use:** [DBpedia Usage Policies](https://www.dbpedia.org/about/)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free to use with attribution
- ✅ No API key required

**Requirements:**
- ✅ **MUST provide attribution to DBpedia and Wikipedia**
- ✅ **MUST respect rate limits** (1-2 requests/second recommended)
- ✅ **MUST set descriptive User-Agent header**
- ✅ **Share-alike license applies** (CC BY-SA 3.0)

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: DBpedia and Wikipedia
https://www.dbpedia.org/
License: CC BY-SA 3.0 and GFDL
```

**Share-Alike Requirement:**
- If you create derivative works, you must license them under CC BY-SA 3.0 or compatible license

---

## 🎓 Academic & Research Datasets

### 22. MeetingBank Dataset

**Organization:** Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL)  
**Dataset:** [MeetingBank on HuggingFace](https://huggingface.co/datasets/huuuyeah/meetingbank)  
**Paper:** [ACL 2023 Proceedings](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.17529)

**Citation Required:**
```bibtex
@inproceedings{hu-etal-2023-meetingbank,
    title = "MeetingBank: A Benchmark Dataset for Meeting Summarization",
    author = "Yebowen Hu and Tim Ganter and Hanieh Deilamsalehy and 
              Franck Dernoncourt and Hassan Foroosh and Fei Liu",
    booktitle = "Proceedings of the 61st Annual Meeting of the 
                 Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL)",
    month = July,
    year = "2023",
    address = "Toronto, Canada",
    publisher = "Association for Computational Linguistics",
}
```

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Dataset: MeetingBank
Authors: Hu et al. (2023)
https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.17529
```

---

### 23. LocalView Dataset (Harvard Dataverse)

**Organization:** Harvard University Mellon Urbanism Lab  
**Dataverse:** [Harvard Dataverse](https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/NJTBEM)  
**Website:** [LocalView.net](https://www.localview.net/)

**License:** Research use (Harvard Dataverse terms apply)

**Citation Required:**
```bibtex
@dataset{localview_2024,
  author = {{Harvard Mellon Urbanism Lab}},
  title = {LocalView: Municipal Meeting Videos and Transcripts},
  year = {2024},
  publisher = {Harvard Dataverse},
  doi = {10.7910/DVN/NJTBEM},
  url = {https://www.localview.net/}
}
```

**Requirements:**
- ✅ Must cite original research
- ✅ Research use license applies
- ❌ Cannot redistribute without permission

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: LocalView Dataset
Harvard Mellon Urbanism Lab
https://www.localview.net/
```

---

### 24. Council Data Project (CDP)

**Organization:** Open-source civic tech collaboration  
**GitHub:** [CouncilDataProject](https://github.com/CouncilDataProject)  
**Website:** [CouncilDataProject.org](https://councildataproject.org/)  
**License:** Open source (MIT)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ MIT License - permissive use
- ✅ Commercial and non-commercial use allowed

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: Council Data Project
https://councildataproject.org/
License: MIT
```

---

### 25. City Scrapers / Documenters.org

**Organization:** Documenters Network (civic journalism collaboration)  
**GitHub:** [City-Bureau](https://github.com/City-Bureau)  
**Website:** [Documenters.org](https://www.documenters.org/)  
**License:** Open source (MIT)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ MIT License - permissive use
- ✅ Commercial and non-commercial use allowed

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: City Scrapers / Documenters Network
https://www.documenters.org/
License: MIT
```

---

### 26. Roper Center for Public Opinion Research

**Organization:** Cornell University  
**Database:** [iPoll Database](https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/ipoll/)  
**License:** Free public search; full data requires institutional membership

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Metadata and question wording: Free
- ❌ Full survey data: Requires membership

**Citation (Required):**
```
Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, Cornell University.
iPoll Databank. https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/ipoll/
```

---

### 27. Datamuse API (Word-Finding Engine)

**Organization:** Datamuse, Inc.  
**API Documentation:** [Datamuse API](https://www.datamuse.com/api/)  
**Website:** [Datamuse.com](https://www.datamuse.com/)  
**License:** Free tier for most applications; paid tier for high-volume commercial use

**Free Tier:**
- ✅ **100,000 requests per day** - Generous limit for most applications
- ✅ **Commercial use allowed** - Can use in commercial apps under daily limit
- ✅ **No API key required** - Simple HTTP GET requests
- ✅ **Fast response times** - Optimized for real-time applications

**Paid Tier (High-Volume):**
- Exceeding 100,000 requests/day requires paid tier
- Contact Datamuse for custom pricing and SLA
- Dedicated support and guaranteed uptime

**Attribution Requirements:**
- ✅ **Link to Datamuse required** (or strongly requested) for free tier users
- ✅ **Credit in documentation:** "Powered by Datamuse API"
- Example: `<a href="https://www.datamuse.com/">Powered by Datamuse API</a>`

**CRITICAL Restrictions:**
- ❌ **NO automated scraping of web interfaces** - Use official API only
- ❌ **Rate limiting enforced** - Exceeding 100K/day will be throttled
- ✅ **Caching allowed** - Can cache results to reduce API calls

**Terms of Service Key Points:**
1. **Free API Usage:** Up to 100,000 requests per day for commercial and non-commercial use
2. **Attribution:** Link back to Datamuse.com required for free tier
3. **No Scraping:** Prohibited - use the official API endpoints
4. **Data Privacy:** No sale of user-uploaded data to third parties
5. **Commercial Solicitation:** Not applicable (API provides word data, not personal information)

**Attribution (Required for Free Tier):**
```
Powered by Datamuse API
https://www.datamuse.com/api/
```

**Contact:**
For high-volume commercial licensing or API partnerships, contact Datamuse directly.

**Note:** Datamuse.ai is a separate SaaS product with different pricing:
- Starter: ~$29/month (100 queries/month)
- Professional: ~$99/month (unlimited queries + API access)
- Free Trial available

---

### 28. CivicSearch (School Board Meeting Platform)

**Organization:** Datamuse, Inc.  
**Website:** [schools.civicsearch.org](https://schools.civicsearch.org/)  
**Platform:** Datamuse-powered civic search interface for school board meetings  
**License:** Free public access for search; bulk/API access requires partnership agreement

**Free Access:**
- ✅ **Public search interface** - Free for all users
- ✅ **Public record data** - Meeting transcripts are generally public domain
- ✅ **Search functionality** - AI-indexed transcripts across school districts
- ✅ **Video access** - When available, embedded meeting videos

**Bulk Data / API Access:**
- ⚠️ **No standard commercial checkout** - Handled case-by-case
- ⚠️ **Researcher access** - Contact Datamuse for academic partnerships
- ⚠️ **Civic organization partnerships** - Available for civic tech collaborators
- ⚠️ **Commercial licensing** - Required for commercial applications

**Attribution Requirements:**
- ✅ **Link to CivicSearch** - Required when using data from the platform
- ✅ **Source citation:** "Data from CivicSearch (Datamuse, Inc.)"
- ✅ **Attribution for public record data** - While transcripts are public record, Datamuse's indexing and presentation are proprietary

**CRITICAL Restrictions:**
- ❌ **NO automated scraping** - Prohibited by terms of service
- ❌ **NO bulk download without permission** - Requires partnership agreement
- ❌ **NO redistribution** - Cannot redistribute CivicSearch data without license
- ✅ **Use official API when available** - Preferred method for data access

**Terms of Service Key Points:**
1. **Public Search:** Free access via web interface for public use
2. **Attribution:** Link back to CivicSearch required for data used in projects
3. **No Scraping:** Automated scraping prohibited - request API access
4. **Bulk Access:** Requires partnership agreement for large-scale data extraction
5. **Data Privacy:** No user-uploaded data sold to third parties
6. **Public Records:** Meeting transcripts are public record, but indexing/presentation is proprietary
7. **Commercial Use:** Requires licensing agreement for commercial applications

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Public record data (transcripts) generally public domain
- ❌ Datamuse indexing, search, and presentation technology proprietary
- ⚠️ Must not claim data as original work

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: CivicSearch (Datamuse, Inc.)
https://schools.civicsearch.org/
School board meeting transcripts and agendas
```

**Contact for Partnerships:**
For bulk data access, API integration, or civic tech collaborations:
- Identify as "civic technologist" or research organization
- Outline use case and data requirements
- Request case-by-case partnership evaluation
- No standard commercial checkout - custom agreements only

**Example Use Cases:**
- Academic research on education policy
- Civic tech platforms tracking school board decisions
- Parent/community engagement applications
- Policy analysis and advocacy tools

---

## 🗳️ Election Data Sources

### 29. MIT Election Data + Science Lab

**Organization:** Massachusetts Institute of Technology  
**Repository:** [GitHub - MEDSL](https://github.com/MEDSL/official-returns)  
**Website:** [MIT Election Lab](https://electionlab.mit.edu/data)  
**License:** Free for research and commercial use

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free to use and redistribute
- ✅ Commercial and non-commercial use allowed

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: MIT Election Data and Science Lab
https://electionlab.mit.edu/data
```

---

### 30. OpenElections

**Organization:** OpenElections Project  
**GitHub:** [OpenElections](https://github.com/openelections)  
**Website:** [OpenElections.net](https://openelections.net/)  
**License:** Open source (varies by state)

**Usage Rights:**
- ✅ Free to use with attribution
- ⚠️ Licensing varies by state

**Attribution (Required):**
```
Data source: OpenElections
https://openelections.net/
[Include state-specific attribution as applicable]
```

---

## 💰 Paid/Commercial Services (NOT USED)

### 31. Ballotpedia API v3.0

**Organization:** Lucy Burns Institute  
**API Documentation:** [Ballotpedia API](https://ballotpedia.org/API_documentation)  
**License:** **Paid service - requires commercial license**

**Status:** ⚠️ **NOT USED in Open Navigator**

- Code in `discovery/ballotpedia_integration.py` is **reference only**
- Web scraping may violate Ballotpedia terms of service
- **Do not use without paid API license**

**Free Alternatives:**
- ✅ Google Civic Information API (25k requests/day free)
- ✅ Open States API (50k requests/month free)
- ✅ NCES (free for school boards)

**If You Have Paid Access:**
- Must comply with Ballotpedia API Terms of Use
- Contact Ballotpedia for licensing: https://ballotpedia.org/API_documentation

---

## ⚖️ Compliance Summary Table

| Provider | API Key | Rate Limit | Attribution Required | Share-Alike | Commercial Use |
|----------|---------|------------|---------------------|-------------|----------------|
| **1. IRS EO-BMF** | No | None | Recommended | No | Yes |
| **2. Census** | No* | 500 req/IP/day | Recommended | No | Yes |
| **3. NCES** | No | None | Recommended | No | Yes |
| **4. FEC/OpenFEC** | Yes | 1k req/hour | Yes | No | Yes** |
| **5. Grants.gov** | No | None | Recommended | No | Yes |
| **6. GSA Domains** | No | None | No | No | Yes |
| **7. YouTube** | Yes | 10k units/day | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **8. Google BigQuery** | Yes | 1TB/mo free | Yes | No | Yes |
| **9. Google Civic** | Yes | 25k req/day | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **10. Google Data Commons** | No | None | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **11. Charity Navigator** | Yes | **1k req/day** | **YES*** | No | Yes |
| **12. ProPublica Nonprofit** | No | None | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **13. ProPublica Congress** | Yes | 5k req/day | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **14. ProPublica Campaign** | Yes | 5k req/day | **YES** | No | Yes** |
| **15. ProPublica Vital Signs** | Yes | 5k req/day | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **16. Every.org** | Yes | Custom | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **17. Logo.dev** | Yes | **1k req/month** | Recommended | No | Yes |
| **18. GivingTuesday** | No | AWS egress | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **19. Open States** | Yes | 50k req/month | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **20. Wikidata** | No | ~1 req/sec | No | No | Yes |
| **21. DBpedia** | No | ~1-2 req/sec | **YES** | **YES** | Yes |
| **22. MeetingBank** | No | N/A | **YES** | No | Research |
| **23. LocalView** | Yes | Varies | **YES** | No | Research |
| **24. Council Data** | No | N/A | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **25. City Scrapers** | No | N/A | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **26. Roper Center** | No | N/A | **YES** | No | Research |
| **27. MIT Election Lab** | No | N/A | **YES** | No | Yes |
| **28. OpenElections** | No | N/A | **YES** | Varies | Yes |
| **29. Ballotpedia** | Yes | **PAID** | **YES** | No | No |

**Notes:**
- *Census: API key recommended for higher limits
- **FEC: Cannot use contributor data for commercial solicitation
- ***Charity Navigator: Extremely strict - must display "Powered by Charity Navigator", link all names, include trademark notice

---

## 📞 Contact Information for Providers

### U.S. Government Agencies
- **1. IRS:** https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits
- **2. Census Bureau:** https://www.census.gov/data/developers.html
- **3. NCES:** https://nces.ed.gov/
- **4. FEC:** https://www.fec.gov/
- **5. Grants.gov:** https://www.grants.gov/support
- **6. GSA:** https://github.com/cisagov/dotgov-data

### Media & Social Platforms
- **7. YouTube Data API:** https://developers.google.com/youtube

### Google Services
- **8-10. Google Cloud:** https://cloud.google.com/support

### Nonprofit Data Providers
- **11. Charity Navigator:** https://www.charitynavigator.org/about-us/contact/
- **12-15. ProPublica:** data@propublica.org
- **16. Every.org:** https://www.every.org/nonprofit-api
- **17. Logo.dev:** https://www.logo.dev/
- **18. GivingTuesday:** https://990data.givingtuesday.org/

### Civic & Open Data
- **19. Open States:** https://openstates.org/tos/
- **20. Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/
- **21. DBpedia:** https://www.dbpedia.org/

### Academic Datasets
- **22. MeetingBank:** https://huggingface.co/datasets/huuuyeah/meetingbank
- **23. LocalView:** https://dataverse.harvard.edu/
- **24. Council Data Project:** https://councildataproject.org/
- **25. Documenters:** https://www.documenters.org/
- **26. Roper Center:** https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/

### Election Data
- **27. MIT Election Lab:** https://electionlab.mit.edu/
- **28. OpenElections:** https://openelections.net/

---

## ⚠️ Important Reminders

### Always Required
1. **Respect rate limits** - implement caching and delays
2. **Provide attribution** - credit data sources appropriately
3. **Read provider terms** - terms may change over time
4. **Set User-Agent** - identify your application in API requests

### Never Allowed
1. **Commercial solicitation** - Do not use FEC donor data for fundraising
2. **Circumvent limits** - Do not create multiple accounts to bypass quotas
3. **Remove attribution** - Do not strip required credits
4. **Violate redistribution terms** - Respect each provider's redistribution policies

### When in Doubt
- **Provide attribution** - over-attribution is safer than under-attribution
- **Contact the provider** - ask for clarification on unclear terms
- **Document your usage** - keep records of compliance efforts

---

## 🔄 Updates & Changes

This document is updated regularly to reflect:
- New data sources added
- Changes to provider terms of service
- Updated rate limits and pricing
- New attribution requirements

**Last Review Date:** April 28, 2026

**Subscribe to updates:**
- Watch our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/getcommunityone/open-navigator-for-engagement)
- Check this page periodically for updates

---

:::warning[Legal Requirement]
**Compliance with these terms is mandatory.** Violations may result in:
- Loss of API access from providers
- Termination of your use of Open Navigator
- Legal action by data providers
- Damage to the civic tech ecosystem

When in doubt, provide attribution and respect usage limits.
:::