Democracy Well (“Democracy Well,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we may collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit democracywell.org, sign up for updates, or communicate with us.
Information We Collect
Information you provide to us
When you sign up to receive Democracy Well updates, we may collect information you voluntarily provide, including your first name, last name, and email address.
If you contact us directly, we may also receive information such as your name, email address, organization, and the contents of your message.
Please do not send sensitive personal information through the website or email unless it is necessary for your communication with us.
Information collected automatically
When you visit our website, our website hosting and technology providers may automatically receive limited technical information necessary to operate, secure, and maintain the site. This may include:
- your Internet Protocol (IP) address;
- browser and device type;
- operating system;
- referring website;
- pages visited;
- approximate date and time of access; and
- technical information used to identify errors, prevent abuse, or maintain website security.
We do not use this technical information to personally identify individual visitors except where necessary to protect the website, comply with law, or investigate misuse.
How We Use Information
We may use information we receive to:
- send Democracy Well news, program updates, invitations, and other communications you have asked to receive;
- maintain and manage our subscriber list;
- respond to questions, partnership inquiries, funding inquiries, or other communications;
- operate, maintain, and improve the website;
- understand generally how the website is being used;
- protect the security and integrity of our website and operations;
- prevent fraud, misuse, or other harmful activity;
- comply with legal obligations; and
- carry out other purposes that we disclose when information is provided.
Email Communications
If you sign up for Democracy Well updates, we may send communications to the email address you provide. You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in those messages or by contacting us.
We may still send non-marketing communications when appropriate, such as responses to messages you send us.
Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website or the service providers that support it may use cookies or similar technologies necessary for basic website functionality, security, spam prevention, or performance.
Democracy Well does not knowingly use the website to sell personal information or to serve targeted advertising based on visitors’ activity across unrelated websites.
If we introduce additional analytics, advertising, fundraising, or other technologies that materially change how information is collected or used, we may update this Privacy Policy accordingly.
How We Share Information
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share limited information with service providers that help us operate the website, manage forms or email communications, provide security, or support our organization. These providers may process information on our behalf in connection with the services they provide.
We may also disclose information if reasonably necessary to:
- comply with applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, or other legal process;
- protect the rights, safety, property, or security of Democracy Well, our partners, our communities, or others;
- investigate or prevent fraud, abuse, security incidents, or unlawful activity; or
- facilitate an organizational restructuring, transfer, or similar transaction, subject to applicable law.
Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may include links to websites, platforms, or services operated by other organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy, security, or content practices of third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing them with personal information.
Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including managing email subscriptions, responding to communications, maintaining appropriate organizational records, resolving disputes, enforcing agreements, and complying with legal obligations.
Retention periods may vary depending on the nature of the information and why we received it.
Data Security
We take reasonable administrative and technical measures to protect information under our control. However, no website, email system, or method of electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Your Privacy Choices and Rights
You may unsubscribe from email updates at any time. Depending on where you live and the laws that apply to you, you may also have rights concerning your personal information, including the ability to request access to, correction of, or deletion of certain personal information we maintain about you.
California residents may also have rights under applicable California privacy laws. The availability and scope of these rights depend on the circumstances and whether a particular law applies to Democracy Well and the information at issue.
To make a privacy-related request, contact us using the information below. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling certain requests. We will not discriminate against you for exercising a privacy right available to you under applicable law.
Children’s Privacy
Our website is intended for a general audience and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13. If we learn that we have received personal information from a child under 13 without appropriate authorization, we will take reasonable steps to delete it.
International Visitors
If you access the website from outside the United States, information associated with your visit, signup, or communications may be processed in the United States or other locations where our service providers operate. Privacy and data protection laws in those jurisdictions may differ from the laws where you live.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time as our website, programs, technology, or legal obligations evolve. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page.