CitizenDesi (“CitizenDesi,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide to us.

This Privacy Policy explains what information CitizenDesi may collect through CitizenDesi.org, how we use and protect that information, when we may share it with others, and the choices available to you.

This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through CitizenDesi.org and through related communications or services that link to this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with CitizenDesi.org.

Information You Provide to Us

You may voluntarily provide personal information when you:

• Contact us through a website form;

• Send us an email;

• Sign up to receive communications from us;

• Participate in a survey, poll, or other form;

• Make a donation;

• Participate in a CitizenDesi program, event, or activity; or

• Otherwise communicate or interact with CitizenDesi.

Depending on how you interact with us, this information may include:

• Your name;

• Email address;

• Mailing address;

• Telephone number;

• Information contained in your message or communication;

• Information you provide when participating in an event, survey, or other activity; and

• Other information you voluntarily choose to provide.

Please do not submit sensitive personal information through a general contact form unless we specifically request it.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit CitizenDesi.org, we may automatically collect certain information through cookies, analytics tools, server logs, and similar technologies.

This information may include:

• IP address;

• Browser type and version;

• Device type and operating system;

• Approximate geographic location;

• Pages viewed;

• Links or buttons clicked;

• Referring website;

• Date and time of visits;

• Information about how you navigate and interact with the website; and

• Other technical information about your device or use of the website.

Squarespace, our website hosting and technology provider, collects some of this information.

Our Cookie Policy describes our use of cookies and similar technologies.

2. Information You Provide Through Forms

CitizenDesi.org may use Squarespace form blocks and other website forms to allow visitors to contact us, submit questions, provide feedback, register for activities, participate in surveys, or otherwise communicate with CitizenDesi.

When you submit information through a form, we collect the information requested by that form.

We use this information to:

• Respond to your inquiry;

• Provide information or assistance you request;

• Communicate with you about CitizenDesi activities;

• Manage registrations or participation;

• Review feedback and survey responses;

• Maintain records of communications; and

• Operate and improve CitizenDesi's programs and website.

Form submissions may be stored or transmitted through Squarespace or another service connected to the particular form.

We limit access to submitted information to people and service providers who have a legitimate need to use it.

Squarespace provides website hosting and form-storage services and may process information submitted through forms on our website.

3. Donations and Payments

CitizenDesi may accept donations and other payments through CitizenDesi.org.

We use Stripe as a third-party payment processor for donations and payments.

When you make a donation or payment, Stripe may collect information necessary to process the transaction. This may include your name, email address, billing information, payment-method information, transaction amount, transaction date, and other information needed to process, authenticate, secure, or document the transaction.

CitizenDesi does not need to receive or store your full credit-card number in order to process your donation. Payment information is processed by Stripe through its payment services.

Stripe may also collect information about your device, IP address, and interactions with its payment services and may use cookies and similar technologies. Stripe's handling of personal information is governed by its own Privacy Policy.

CitizenDesi may receive information about your donation, such as your name, contact information, donation amount, donation date, and transaction status, as needed to administer donations, maintain financial records, issue acknowledgments, and comply with legal and accounting requirements.

We do not sell donor information.

4. How We Use Personal Information

CitizenDesi may use personal information for purposes including:

• Responding to questions and inquiries;

• Providing information and resources you request;

• Processing and administering donations;

• Communicating with donors, volunteers, participants, and supporters;

• Managing events, programs, surveys, and other activities;

• Sending newsletters or other communications when you have requested or consented to receive them;

• Understanding how visitors use our website;

• Improving our website, content, programs, and services;

• Maintaining website security and preventing fraud, abuse, or unauthorized activity;

• Maintaining appropriate business, financial, and administrative records; and

• Complying with applicable laws and legal obligations.

We will not use personal information for purposes that are materially inconsistent with the purposes described in this Privacy Policy without providing appropriate notice or obtaining consent where required by law.

5. Email Communications

If you choose to subscribe to CitizenDesi email communications, we may use your name and email address to send newsletters, announcements, civic-education information, event information, and other communications related to CitizenDesi.

You may unsubscribe from non-transactional email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the email or by contacting us.

Unsubscribing from marketing or informational emails does not necessarily prevent us from sending administrative or transactional communications that are necessary to respond to your request or administer a donation, event, or other transaction.

If CitizenDesi uses a third-party email service to distribute communications, that service may process your information on our behalf and according to its own privacy practices.

6. Analytics and Website Usage

CitizenDesi.org may use Squarespace Analytics and related technologies to understand how visitors use our website.

This may include information about your browser, device, IP address, referring website, pages visited, clicks, searches, scrolling, timestamps, and other interactions with the site.

We use this information primarily to understand website traffic, evaluate content, improve the website, and identify technical or usability problems.

Squarespace may process this information as part of providing its website and analytics services.

Additional information about cookies and analytics technologies is available in our Cookie Policy.

7. How We Share Personal Information

CitizenDesi does not sell your personal information.

We may share personal information in limited circumstances, including with:

Service Providers

We may share information with companies and individuals that provide services on our behalf, such as:

• Website hosting and technology providers;

• Payment processors such as Stripe;

• Email and communications providers;

• Form and survey providers;

• Website analytics providers;

• Information-storage providers; and

• Other vendors that help us operate CitizenDesi.

These service providers are authorized to use personal information only as reasonably necessary to provide services to CitizenDesi or as otherwise permitted by applicable law.

Legal and Safety Reasons

We may disclose personal information when we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with applicable law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request;

• Protect the rights, property, or safety of CitizenDesi, our visitors, donors, participants, or others;

• Investigate fraud, security issues, or other unlawful activity; or

• Enforce our agreements or protect the operation and integrity of our website.

Organizational Changes

If CitizenDesi undergoes a merger, reorganization, restructuring, dissolution, or similar organizational change, we may transfer personal information as part of that process, subject to applicable law.

8. Third-Party Websites and Services

CitizenDesi.org may contain links to websites, resources, or services operated by third parties.

We may also display or use third-party content or functionality on our website.

Once you leave CitizenDesi.org or interact directly with a third-party service, that service's own privacy policy and practices may apply.

Examples may include payment services, social-media platforms, embedded content, maps, video services, or other external websites.

CitizenDesi does not control the privacy practices of third-party websites or services.

9. Cookies and Similar Technologies

CitizenDesi uses cookies and similar technologies to operate and improve CitizenDesi.org and understand how visitors use the website.

These technologies may be provided by CitizenDesi, Squarespace, Stripe, or other third-party service providers.

For information about the types of cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can manage your choices, please see our Cookie Policy.

10. Data Security

CitizenDesi takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or misuse.

However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically is completely secure. We cannot guarantee that information transmitted to or through our website will be completely secure.

You are responsible for taking reasonable precautions to protect your own devices and accounts.

11. Data Retention

CitizenDesi retains personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, including to:

• Provide requested services or communications;

• Maintain appropriate organizational and financial records;

• Administer donations and transactions;

• Resolve disputes;

• Maintain security;

• Comply with legal, tax, accounting, or other obligations; and

• Enforce our agreements and protect our rights.

The length of time we retain information may vary depending on the type of information and the reason we collected it.

When personal information is no longer reasonably necessary for these purposes, we may delete, anonymize, or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable legal or operational requirements.

12. Your Privacy Choices and Rights

Depending on where you live and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information.

These rights may include, where applicable:

• The right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used;

• The right to request access to personal information we maintain about you;

• The right to request correction of inaccurate personal information;

• The right to request deletion of personal information, subject to applicable exceptions;

• The right to object to or restrict certain processing;

• The right to withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;

• The right to opt out of certain marketing communications; and

• The right to appeal a decision regarding a privacy request, where applicable.

The availability and scope of these rights depend on applicable law and the circumstances of the request.

To exercise a privacy right or ask a privacy-related question, please contact CitizenDesi using the information provided in Section 15.

We may need to verify your identity before completing certain requests in order to protect your information and prevent unauthorized disclosure.

13. U.S. State Privacy Laws

Privacy laws vary by state.

CitizenDesi will comply with applicable state privacy laws to the extent those laws apply to our organization.

Some state laws provide residents with specific rights concerning personal information, including rights of access, correction, deletion, portability, or opting out of certain types of processing.

If you believe a state privacy law gives you rights that apply to information CitizenDesi holds about you, you may contact us using the information in Section 15.

We will evaluate and respond to privacy requests under applicable law.

14. Children's Privacy

CitizenDesi.org is intended for a general audience and is not directed specifically to children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through CitizenDesi.org for purposes prohibited by applicable law.

If you believe that a child has provided personal information to CitizenDesi inappropriately, please contact us so that we can evaluate and, where appropriate, delete the information.

15. International Visitors and Data Transfers

CitizenDesi is based in the United States, and we may process or store information submitted to us in the United States or in other countries where our service providers operate.

Some service providers, including Squarespace and Stripe, may process information in jurisdictions outside the country where you live. Their respective privacy policies describe their approaches to international data transfers and applicable safeguards.

By using CitizenDesi.org or providing us with information, you understand that your information may be processed in the United States or another jurisdiction where CitizenDesi or its service providers operate, subject to applicable law.

16. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, services, information practices, applicable laws, or third-party service providers.

When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the beginning of this policy.

If we make material changes, we may provide additional notice where appropriate.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically.

17. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise an applicable privacy right, or have concerns about how CitizenDesi handles personal information, please contact us through the contact information provided on CitizenDesi.org.

CitizenDesi
CitizenDesi.org

This Privacy Policy should be read together with our Cookie Policy and Terms of Use.