Last Updated: January 12, 2024

This Privacy Policy explains how information about you is collected, used and disclosed by Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation.  This Privacy Policy applies to information collected when you use the Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation websites (the “Sites”) and other Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation online services (collectively, the “Services”) or when you otherwise interact with Democracy Forward or Democracy Forward Foundation.

We may change this Privacy Policy from time to time.  If we make changes, we will notify you by revising the date at the top of the policy and, in some cases, we may provide you with additional notice (such as adding a statement to our homepage or sending you a notification).  We encourage you to review the Privacy Policy whenever you access the Services or otherwise interact with us to stay informed about our information practices and the ways you can help protect your privacy.

 

What Is Personal Information?

As used herein, the term “personal information” means information that specifically identifies an individual (such as a name, address, telephone number, mobile number, e-mail address, or credit card number) and information about that individual or his or her activities that is directly linked to personally identifiable information. We may use personal information and other information about you to create de-identified and/or aggregated information, such as de-identified demographic information, de-identified location information, information about the device from which you access the Site, or other analyses we create.

 

What Personal Information Do We Collect?

Active Collection:

Personal information may be collected in a number of ways when you visit our Sites. We collect certain information you directly provide to us, such as when you make a donation, send us an email, sign up to receive email or text message updates, fill out a form, complete a petition, connect through a social feed, apply for a job, create an account, or request information. Such information may include personal information, such as your name, mailing address, employer name, job title, location information, email address, phone number, username, and credit card information. Personal and demographic information may also be collected if you provide such information in connection with sending an email or message. In addition, from time to time we may collect demographic, contact, or other personal information you provide in connection with your activities on the Sites.

Passive Collection:

When you use the Sites, some information is also automatically collected, such as your Internet Protocol (IP) address, your operating system, the browser type, the address of a referring web site, and your activity on our Sites. We treat this information as personal information if we combine it with or link it to any of the identifying information mentioned above. Otherwise, it is used in the aggregate only.

Technologies:

  • Automatic Data Collection. We may collect certain information automatically when you use our Sites, such as your Internet protocol (IP) address, user settings, MAC address, cookie identifiers, mobile carrier, mobile advertising and other unique identifiers, browser or device information, location information (including approximate location derived from IP address), and Internet service provider. We may also automatically collect information regarding your use of our Sites, such as pages that you visit before, during and after using our Sites, information about the links you click, the types of content you interact with, the frequency and duration of your activities, and other information about how you use our Sites.
  • Cookies, Pixel Tags/Web Beacons, and Other Technologies. We, as well as third parties that provide other functionality on our Sites, may use cookies, pixel tags, local storage, and other technologies (“Technologies”) to automatically collect information through your use of our Sites.
  • Cookies. Cookies are small text files placed in device browsers that store preferences and facilitate and enhance your experience.
  • Pixel Tags/Web Beacons. A pixel tag (also known as a web beacon) is a piece of code embedded in our Sites that collects information about engagement on our Sites. The use of a pixel tag allows us to record, for example, that a user has visited a particular web page. We may also include web beacons in e-mails to understand whether messages have been opened, acted on, or forwarded.

Our uses of these Technologies fall into the following general categories:

  • Operationally Necessary. This includes Technologies that allow you access to our Sites, applications, and tools that are required to identify irregular website behavior, prevent fraudulent activity and improve security or that allow you to make use of our functionality;
  • Performance-Related. We may use Technologies to assess the performance of our Sites, including as part of our analytic practices to help us understand how individuals use our Sites (see Analytics below);
  • Functionality-Related. We may use Technologies that allow us to offer you enhanced functionality when accessing or using our Sites. This may include identifying you when you sign into our Sites or keeping track of your specified preferences, interests, or past items viewed;
  • Analytics. We may use Technologies and other third-party tools to process analytics information on our Sites. Some of our analytics partners include:
    • Google Analytics. For more information, please visit Google Analytics’ Privacy Policy. To learn more about how to opt-out of Google Analytics’ use of your information, please click here.
    • Meta Pixel. For more information, please visit Meta’s Data Policy. You can object to the collection of your data by Meta Pixel, or to the use of your data for the purpose of displaying Facebook ads by contacting the following address while logged into your Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads.
  • Adobe Flash. When you view a video on our Sites, a third party may also set a “flash cookie” on your computer. Removing and rejecting browser cookies does not necessarily affect third party flash cookies used in connection with our Sites. To delete or disable flash cookies, please visit http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/securityfor more information. However, if you choose to remove or reject browser or flash cookies, this could affect certain features on our Sites. Web beacons are small, invisible graphic images that may be used on the Sites or in emails relating to the Sites to collect certain information about usage and campaign effectiveness and monitor user activity on the Sites.

 

Collection By Third Parties

Third party vendors, including but not limited to Google, may use cookies or other technologies to provide analytics services to help us analyze use of the Sites and to serve ads on other websites based on your visits to this site and other sites on the Internet. Google Analytics features based on Display Advertising, including Google Analytics Demographics and Interests Reporting, may use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookie) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) to provide an overview of the age and gender of users, along with the interests they express in their online activities. These third parties may automatically collect information about your visits to this and other websites, your IP address, your ISP, and the browser you use to visit our Site. Information collected may be used, among other things, to analyze and track data, determine the popularity of certain content, deliver advertising and content on other websites targeted to your interests and to better understand the usage and visitation of our Sites and the other sites tracked by these third parties. This Policy does not apply to, and we are not responsible for, cookies or other technologies used by third parties. If you would like to opt out of Google Analytics for Display Advertising, use the Google Ad Settings tool: https://www.google.com/settings/ads. If you would like to opt out of cookies relating to advertising networks or obtain more information related to third party advertising networks, click here: http://www.networkadvertising.org.

 

Use of Information

We do not sell your data. We use personal information collected through our Sites for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or described elsewhere on the Sites. For example, we may use personal information we collect to:

  • Monitor and analyze site usage and trends and to personalize and improve the Site and our users’ experiences on the Site, such as providing content or features that match your interests, and to increase the Site’s functionality and user friendliness;
  • Provide you use of the services;
  • Provide and deliver the information you request, process donations and send you related information, including confirmations and receipts;
  • Send you technical notices, updates, security alerts, and support and administrative messages;
  • Respond to your comments, questions and requests, and provide customer service;
  • Send you newsletters and otherwise communicate with you about jobs, issues, resources, products, services, and events offered by Democracy Forward, Democracy Forward Foundation, and others, and provide news and information we think will be of interest to you;
  • Connect you with other supporters and solicit donations and support for Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation issues and organizations that we support;
  • Respond to your emails, submissions, questions, comments, and requests and to provide customer service;
  • Assess and pursue potential business opportunities;
  • Assess your qualifications if you reply to any job postings or other opportunities on the Sites;
  • Request feedback and otherwise contact you about your use of the Services;
  • Monitor and analyze trends, usage and activities in connection with our Services;
  • Detect, investigate and prevent fraudulent transactions and other illegal activities and protect the rights and property of Democracy Forward, Democracy Forward Foundation, and others;
  • Personalize and improve the Services and your experience using the Services and provide content or features that match user profiles or interests;
  • Link or combine with information we get from others to help understand your needs and provide you with better service; and
  • Carry out any other purpose for which the information was collected.

We also use your information for various administrative purposes, such as:

  • Pursuing our legitimate interests such as direct marketing, research and development (including marketing research), network and information security, and fraud prevention;
  • Detecting security incidents, protecting against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent or illegal activity, and prosecuting those responsible for that activity;
  • Measuring interest and engagement in our Sites;
  • Improving, upgrading or enhancing the Site or our internal business purposes;
  • Ensuring internal quality control and safety;
  • Authenticating and verifying individual identities, including requests under this policy;
  • Debugging to identify and repair errors with our Sites;
  • Auditing relating to interactions, transactions, and other compliance activities;
  • Enforcing our agreements and policies; and
  • Complying with our legal obligations.

 

Sharing of Information

We may share information about you as follows or as otherwise described in this Privacy Policy:

  • With vendors, consultants, and other service providers who need access to such information to carry out work on our behalf, including without limitation Google Cloud platform and Amazon Web Services, who we use for data storage; Paragon, who processes credit card payments for our donations; and AirTable, who we use for database management related to employment applications.
  • to assess your qualifications if you reply to any job postings or other opportunities on the Sites;
  • With organizations, groups or causes that we believe have similar viewpoints, principles or objectives;
  • When we believe in good faith that we are lawfully authorized or required to do so or that doing so is reasonably necessary or appropriate to comply with the law or legal processes or respond to lawful requests, claims or legal authorities, including responding to lawful requests for information, subpoenas, warrants, or court orders;
  • If we believe your actions are inconsistent with our user agreements or policies, or to protect the rights, property and safety of Democracy Forward, Democracy Forward Foundation, or others;
  • To enforce or apply this Privacy Policy, our Terms of Service, or our other policies or agreements;
  • in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, reorganization, asset sale or transfer, financing or lending transaction or in any other situation where personal information may be disclosed or transferred as one of the assets of Democracy Forward Foundation.
  • Between and among Democracy Forward Foundation and its current and future parents, affiliates, subsidiaries, and other companies under common control and ownership; and
  • With your consent or at your direction, including if we notify you on the Sites that the information you provide will be shared in a particular manner and you provide such information.
  • We are not responsible for the actions of any service providers or other third parties, nor are we responsible for any additional information you provide directly to any third parties, and we encourage you to become familiar with their privacy practices before disclosing information directly to any such parties. Nothing herein restricts the sharing of aggregated or anonymized information, which may be shared with third parties without your consent.

 

Online Petitions

In the event that we have any online petitions, you understand that such petition are public information and that we may make the petition, and your name, city, state, and any comments provided in connection therewith publicly available. In addition, we may provide such petitions or compilations thereof, including your comments, name, city, and state to national, state or local leaders, or to the press.

 

Interactive Features:

You understand that when you use the Sites, information you share with us or share through social network sites, may be available to other users and, in some cases, may be publicly available. We recommend you be cautious about giving out personal information to others or sharing personal information in public or private online forums.

 

Links To Other Websites

Our Services may contain links to other websites.  Any personal information you provide on the linked pages is provided directly to that third party and is subject to that third party’s privacy policy. This Privacy Policy does not apply to such linked sites, and we are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of these websites or any other sites that are linked to from our Services. We encourage you to learn about their privacy and security practices and policies before providing them with personal information.

 

Social Plugins

The Sites may use social plugins (“Plugins”), which lets friends share actions they take across web sites (e.g. the Facebook “Like” button). Plugins are generally identifiable by the logo for the applicable social network or other notice indicating the use of a Plugin. When you visit a page of our website that contains a Plugin, your browser establishes a direct connection to the servers of the social network providing the Plugin, which enables that social network to receive certain information, such as information about your having accessed the respective page of our Site. If you are logged into the applicable social network, your visit can be assigned to the account of such social network. If you interact with the Plugins, for example by clicking “Like,” the corresponding information is transmitted from your browser directly to the social network providing the Plugin and is stored by it. Even if you are not logged into that social network, there is possibility that the Plugins transmit certain information, such as your IP-address, to the applicable social networks. For information on the purpose and scope of data collection and processing by such social networks, as well as your rights in this respect and settings options for protecting your privacy please visit the privacy policy page for the social network providing the Plugin. If you do not want the social networks providing the Plugins to connect the data concerning your visit to our website with your member data already stored by such social networks, you must log off all such social networks before entering our website. Simply closing the social network page does not suffice.

 

Security

Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation take reasonable measures to help protect information about you from loss, theft, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. Please be aware, however, that despite our efforts, no security measures are perfect or impenetrable and no method of data transmission can guarantee against any interception or other type of misuse.

 

Transfer of Information to the U.S. and Other Countries

Democracy Forward and Democracy Forward Foundation are based in the United States and the information we collect is governed by U.S. law.  By accessing or using the Services or otherwise providing information to us, you consent to the processing, transfer and storage of information in and to the U.S. and other countries, where you may not have the same rights and protections as you do under local law.

 

Your Privacy Choices

The privacy choices you may have about your personal information are determined by applicable law and are described below.

  • Email and Telephone Communications. If you receive an unwanted email from us, you can email us at info@democracyforward.org with the word “remove” in the subject line to opt out of receiving future emails. Note that you will continue to receive transaction-related emails and we may also send you certain non-promotional communications regarding us or the services we provide, and you will not be able to opt out of those communications (e.g., communications regarding the Site or updates to our Terms of Service or this Privacy Policy). We process requests to be placed on do-not-mail, do-not-phone, and do-not-contact lists as required by applicable law.
  • Text Messages. You may opt out of receiving text messages from us by following the instructions in the text message you have received from us or by otherwise contacting us.
  • “Do Not Track.” Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that users can set in certain web browsers. Please note that we do not respond to or honor DNT signals or similar mechanisms transmitted by web browsers.
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Advertising. You may stop or restrict the placement of Technologies on your device or remove them by adjusting your preferences as your browser or device permits. However, if you adjust your preferences, our Site may not work properly. Please note that cookie-based opt-outs are not effective on mobile applications. However, you may opt-out of personalized advertisements on some mobile applications by following the instructions for Android, iOS and others.

The online advertising industry also provides websites from which you may opt out of receiving targeted ads from data partners and other advertising partners that participate in self-regulatory programs. You can access these and learn more about targeted advertising and consumer choice and privacy by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative and the Digital Advertising Alliance.

Please note you must separately opt out in each browser and on each device.

 

Children’s Information

The Site is not directed to children under 13 (or other age as required by local law), and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that a child has provided us with personal information in violation of applicable law, we will delete any personal information we have collected, unless we have a legal obligation to keep it, and terminate the child’s account if applicable.

 

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:  info@democracyforward.org.

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