Privacy Policy

Last Updated: April 2019

Public Welfare Foundation (“PWF” or “we”) provides this privacy policy statement (“Privacy Policy”) to assist visitors to or end-users of (referenced herein with “you” or “your” or generally, as a “user”) both (a) its website(s) (located at publicwelfare.org) (and mobile version(s) thereof)) and PWF social media page(s) (referenced together herein as the “PWF Site”) in understanding the personally identifiable information (“PII”) collection and use practices for the PWF Site. PII, as such term is used herein, includes information that can identify a specific individual, such as a name, address, phone number, or email address. Please review this Privacy Policy before using or submitting PII to or through the PWF Site. If you do not agree with the Privacy Policy, do not use the PWF Site.

Information We Collect.

THE TYPES OF DATA COLLECTED BY PWF WILL VARY WITH YOUR PARTICULAR USE OF THE PWF SITE. Below, PWF provides general detail on the type(s) of PII (or related information) PWF may collect through the PWF Site.

Contact Information:  PWF may collect certain contact information, such as, without limitation, your name, phone number, address, and email address.

Demographic & Survey Information:  PWF may collect demographic and general profile data (e.g., educational, professional, accounting, and geographic information).

Transactional Information:  PWF may collect information about the transactions that occur on the PWF Site (e.g., tool or feature (and related database) utilization and activity, navigation, exit page tracking, or content selection data).

Technical Information:  PWF may collect Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or a unique identifier for a mobile device from users of the PWF Site as well as the date and time of access and the Web page(s) or feature accessed. PWF may also catalog the type of computer, browser, wireless network, mobile network, or operating system used by you.

Use of Information.

PWF may use PII collected from the PWF Site to operate the PWF Site, provide, and/or enhance certain of its features, tools, and functionality, and to otherwise provide and improve the quality of the PWF Site. Below please find additional information on how PWF may use PII collected from the PWF Site.

Contact Information:  PWF may use your contact information in connection with the provision of its services, programs, information, and materials. PWF may also use your contact information to (i) promote programs, information, and materials in furtherance of PWF’s mission, (ii) create a personalized experience for you when using the PWF Site, (iii) provide you with news, materials, and information, (iv) assist with security or fraud prevention or response measures, (v) facilitate a PWF Site feature or tool, (vi) get in touch with you with respect to any (a) transaction(s) conducted through the PWF Site, (b) support request or question you bring to PWF’s attention, (c) changes made to the PWF Site, including updates or its terms, policies, and/or agreements, or (d) new services, programs, information, or materials offered by PWF, or (vii) for any other lawful purposes as determined by PWF in its sole discretion.

PWF also may share your contact information with third parties including, without limitation, PWF’s vendors, members, or business partners, to (i) facilitate or implement the foregoing, (ii) promote the products or services of others, (iii) allow for online registration or submission, and/or (iv) for other internal business purposes. In addition, PWF may (x) supplement the PII collected from you with information about you obtained from other sources, such as, without limitation, from PWF’s contractors, vendors, or business partners, or (y) engage in cross-border transfers of PII for the foregoing purposes.

For news meetings and special event announcements posted on the PWF Site, PWF may also provide the contact information of authors of contributed articles or blog postings.

Further, membership rosters may be displayed through the PWF Site and such display may publish your contact information including your (or your organization’s) name, address, and phone number.

Demographic & Survey Information:  PWF may use demographic information in connection with the provision of its PWF Site or for administrative, management, and monitoring purposes. In addition, PWF may generate, maintain, and share survey results and aggregated demographic data collected through the Site with its affiliates, business partners, the general public, the news media, and with the U.S. Government and state governments, not only as may be required by law, but also for promotional purposes, for release to third parties, and to participate in government programs and initiatives. But, such survey or aggregated information will not identify any particular user. Moreover, participation in a survey is voluntary.

 Transactional Information: PWF may use transactional information for marketing, administrative, and support purposes in order to provide or improve the PWF Site or any of its other services, programs, information, or materials. In addition, PWF may also share such transactional data on an aggregated basis (which will not identify any particular user) with or to third parties, including, without limitation, vendors, advertisers, or business partners. PWF will also share information when using a credit card processing company to bill or process payment from users.

Technical Information:  PWF may use technical information, such as your IP address (i.e., number assigned to your computer or network when linked to the Internet) or browser type, for system administration and to help diagnose problems with PWF’s servers, analyze PWF Site usage trends, e.g., when you access a particular page or feature, track navigation on the PWF Site, and to otherwise improve, troubleshoot, manage, and monitor the PWF Site. We may associate your IP address with the PII you provide in order to allow the PWF Site to recognize you. We also may share aggregated technical information with our business partners, but only on a de-identified basis.

Business Transactions:  In the event that PWF goes through a business transaction, such as a bankruptcy event, merger, investment transaction, or acquisition by another entity involving the sale of all or a portion of its assets, please note that certain or all of the PII collected and retained by PWF may be among the assets transferred or reviewed.

Legal Action:  PWF may disclose certain or all PII when legally required to do so in accordance with subpoenas, government requests or regulations, or legal proceedings. PWF may also disclose certain or all PII to protect against misuse or unauthorized use of the PWF Site or as is otherwise required to limit legal liability, protect or defend PWF’s rights, property, or interests, or protect the safety, rights, or property of others.

Cookies & Similar Identifier Technologies.

PWF or its vendors may use cookies, identifiers, and/or other similar data collection or tracking techniques to enhance and/or monitor your experience while using the PWF Site. Cookies and other related techniques are generally pieces of information or processes, which PWF uses for record-keeping purposes and which the PWF Site may transfer to PWF and/or your computer’s mobile device or Web browser for storage on PWF’s server(s) or your device or computer’s memory. We may use different types of cookies (small, storable text file), namely, those that are “session” oriented (and temporary) and those that are “persistent.” Session cookies expire when you stop use, e.g., close your app or browser. Persistent cookies are stored by your app or browser in order to retain information for later use until deletion or expiration. In connection with the PWF Site, we may also employ proprietary or third party ad serving technologies that use cookies, clear GIFs, web beacons, tracking pixels or other technologies to collect information as a result of ad serving through the PWF Site.

Cookies and other related techniques (web beacons) enable PWF to manage and/or customize your experience on the PWF Site. Cookies and other related techniques also ease use and navigation of the PWF Site by automatically performing certain functions, such as identifying account holders, saving personal preferences, optimizing the usage experience, and by providing targeted content. In addition, PWF may use cookies and other related techniques to monitor and maintain aggregated information about your use of the PWF Site to assist with monitoring and management and to compile statics regarding usage.

Many consider the use of cookies or similar data collection to be industry standard practices. Consequently, your mobile device or Web browser is likely set to accept cookies or allow other identifiers. If you would prefer not to receive cookies or allow identifiers, however, you can alter the configuration of your mobile device or browser to refuse cookies or surf anonymously. If you choose to have your mobile device or browser refuse cookies (or other identifiers) or surf or use the PWF Site anonymously, you should understand that it is possible that some areas or aspects of the PWF Site will not function properly or as quickly.

Links to Third Party Sites.

To the extent hyperlinks or gateways are utilized to access external or third party sites (not controlled, owned, or operated by PWF), you should be aware that these external or third party sites may collect PII and are not subject to this Privacy Policy. This Privacy Policy applies only to the PWF Site. PWF suggests that you check the privacy policies of other Web sites to determine how the proprietors of these third party sites will utilize your PII.

Social Media.

The PWF Site may include or enable connection to a social media network(s) and its features with which you create or have an existing account. These features may enable the collection or sharing of certain PII with the social media network operator(s), such as integrating contact information or sharing certain transactional information, such as which page you are visiting on PWF’s Site. These social media arrangements may also set a cookie or other identifier to facilitate the sharing of PII or integration of certain social media features. Social media features are either hosted by a third party or accessed through the PWF Site. Your interactions with these social media features are governed by the privacy policy of the social media network operator providing them. Please review the privacy policy of any social media network to which you connect.

Data Security.

You should maintain your password or other access credentials in a confidential manner. PWF maintains commercially reasonable data security measures for the PWF Site to protect the PII under its control against unauthorized access, loss, and disclosure. These measures include the implementation of reasonable (or required by law) technical, physical and administrative data security safeguards.

Enhanced security measures are utilized to protect financial information collected or processed through the PWF Site. Unfortunately, no security is 100% secure, particularly data transmission over the Internet or any wireless network over which PWF has not control. As a result, while PWF strives to protect information, PWF cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information and particularly, any information transmitted using the PWF Site. You use the PWF Site at your own risk.

Records Retention.

We retain information for as long as is required, allowed or PWF believes it useful, but we are not otherwise obligated to retain information for any period of time. Subject to applicable law, PWF may dispose of your information in our sole discretion without notice. If you contact us by mail, voice, email or any other form for transmission, we may keep a record of your correspondence, including any information contained therein.

Opt-Out.

The collection, use, and sharing of your PII may be necessary for PWF to provide certain services, programs, information, or materials made available on the PWF Site, and to operate and/or improve the PWF Site. However, upon request, PWF will (a) correct or update your personal information; (b) stop sharing your personal information with other entities for their marketing purposes; (c) disable your account to prevent any future correspondence through that account; and (d) honor any opt-out request made in accordance with the terms of this Privacy Policy. You can make any such request by emailing info@publicwelfare.org. Users may specifically opt-out of including the PII they provide to PWF and in particular, in connection with the following activities:  (i) surveys, (ii) email communications (with the exception PWF Site updates), newsletters, or postal or facsimile communications sent by PWF, and (iii) sharing arrangements with PWF’s vendors or business partners to facilitate communication or advertising. PWF also recommends reviewing your mobile device or browser settings to determine if additional opt-outs are available.

What about Children?

PWF cares about the safety of children on its PWF Site and encourages parents and guardians to monitor their children’s use of the Internet. Although the PWF Site is suitable for a general audience, the PWF Site is intended for use only by users who are over eighteen (18) years of age. Accordingly, PWF does not knowingly solicit PII from or send direct requests for PII to children. If you become aware that your child has provided PII to PWF, please contact PWF immediately.

Governing Law.

This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the District of Columbia. If you are located outside of the United States when you use the PWF Site, any information you submit or provide to or through the PWF Site will be transferred to the United States. Accordingly, you therefore authorize the transfer of your PII to the United States.

Changes in PWF’s Privacy Policy.

PWF reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to change this Privacy Policy from time to time. If PWF makes changes to this Privacy Policy, PWF will post those changes at this location or otherwise provide you notice of any material changes. Please review this Privacy Policy on a periodic basis. If you do not agree with the Privacy Policy, do not use the PWF Site.

Contact Us.

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to opt-out or have the PII under PWF’s control deleted or modified, you can contact PWF at Attn:  Privacy, Director of Strategy & New Ventures, 1200 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, (202) 965-1800, or amarshall@publicwelfare.org.