Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Unheard Child Organization, a Colorado 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation (EIN 41-4621534), ("Unheard Child Organization," "Organization," "we," "us," or "our") operates the website at unheardchild.org (the "Site"). We respect your privacy and are committed to handling your information with care, particularly given the sensitive nature of our mission.

This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have. By using the Site, you agree to the practices described here.

This Privacy Policy applies solely to the public-facing informational and marketing website currently operated at unheardchild.org and does not apply to any future online community platform, consent forms, member portal, counseling services, support forums, or other interactive services that may later be offered by the Organization. By using this Site, you agree to the practices described here.

2. Information We Collect

Information you provide to us directly. When you contact us, subscribe to our newsletter, request information, or make a donation, you may provide:

• Name and contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)
• The content of messages you send us
• Donation information (note: payment card details are processed by our payment processor and are not stored on our servers — see Section 4)
• Any other information you choose to share

Information collected automatically. When you visit the Site, we and our service providers may collect:

• Device and browser information (browser type, operating system, screen size)
• IP address and approximate location
• Pages visited, time spent, links clicked, referring website
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5)

We do not knowingly collect sensitive personal information through the marketing Site. If you choose to share personal experiences with us by email or through a contact form, we attempt to handle voluntarily submitted information with care and discretion. However, submitting information through the Site or communicating with us electronically does not create a counselor-client, therapist-patient, attorney-client, fiduciary, or other confidential or professional relationship between you and the Organization. The Site is not intended for emergency communications, crisis intervention, or therapeutic services, and we cannot guarantee the confidentiality or security of information transmitted electronically.

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to your inquiries and communications
• Send newsletters, updates, and educational content when you have requested them
• Process and acknowledge donations
• Understand how the Site is used and improve its content and performance
• Comply with legal obligations and protect the rights, safety, and property of the organization, our visitors, and others
• Carry out our mission as described on the Site

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not use it for advertising or for purposes unrelated to our mission. By providing your email address, you consent to receive communications from us, which may include newsletters, updates, fundraising communications, and mission-related information. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our emails or by contacting us directly.

4. How We Share Information

We share information only in limited circumstances:

• Service providers. We use trusted third parties to operate the Site and our communications — for example, web hosting, email delivery, analytics, and payment processing. These providers receive only the information they need to perform their services and are obligated to protect it.
• Legal compliance. We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, safety, or property of any person, including in connection with mandated reporting obligations applicable to our staff or volunteers. In addition, certain communications may trigger legal or ethical reporting obligations under applicable law, including obligations relating to abuse, neglect, threats of harm, or exploitation.
• With your consent. We may share information for other purposes when you direct us to do so.
• Aggregate or de-identified information. We may share information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for research, reporting, or educational purposes.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information.

5. Cookies and Similar Technologies

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies to remember your preferences, understand how the Site is used, and improve your experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings. If you disable cookies, some parts of the Site may not function as intended.

We do not currently respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals because no common standard for honoring such signals has been adopted.

6. Third-Party Services and Links

The Site may link to or embed third-party services, including donation platforms, social media, and educational resources. Those services have their own privacy practices, and we are not responsible for the privacy, security, content, or practices of third-party websites, platforms, processors, or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party services you use.

Our "email your legislator" tool uses Google's address autocomplete service and the U.S. Census Bureau geocoder to suggest valid addresses and to determine your state legislative districts. When you use this tool, the address you enter (and, to determine your districts, its corresponding map location) is sent to these providers to perform the lookup. We do not store your address or location, or keep a log of it. These providers process this information under their own privacy terms; we encourage you to review Google's Privacy Policy and the U.S. Census Bureau's privacy practices.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. When information is no longer needed, we take reasonable steps to delete or anonymize it.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet, through our Site, or electronic storage is guaranteed to be secure or confidential, and we cannot guarantee absolute security or confidentiality. Accordingly, we disclaim any warranty or guarantee regarding the absolute security of information submitted through the Site.

9. Children's Privacy

The Site is intended for adults — including survivors, advocates, educators, donors, and supporters of our mission. It is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at the email address below and we will take prompt steps to delete it.

If you are between 13 and 17, please review this policy with a parent or guardian before sharing any information with us.

10. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your information
• Opt out of marketing communications (you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in our emails)
• Receive a copy of your information in a portable format
• Lodge a complaint with a data protection authority

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at the email address below. We will respond within the time required by applicable law. We will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights.

California residents: You have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the rights described above. We do not currently sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as those terms are defined under applicable California law.

European Economic Area, United Kingdom, and similar jurisdictions: If you are located in a region with comprehensive data protection laws, you may have additional rights under those laws. Our legal bases for processing include your consent, our legitimate interests in operating our mission, and compliance with legal obligations.

11. International Visitors

The Site is operated from the United States. If you access it from another country, your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States, which may have different data protection rules than your home country.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last Updated" date above and, for material changes, provide additional notice through the Site or by email where appropriate. Your continued use of the Site after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Organization shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising out of or related to the use of the Site or the collection, processing, storage, or disclosure of information.

14. Governing Law and Venue

This Privacy Policy shall be governed by the laws of the state of Colorado, without regard to conflict of law principles.

15. Dispute Resolution and Arbitration

By using the Site, you agree that any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to this Privacy Policy, the Site, or the collection or use of information by the Organization shall first be attempted to be resolved through good-faith informal discussions. If a dispute cannot be resolved informally, it shall be resolved by binding arbitration. The arbitration shall take place in Montezuma county Colorado, unless the parties agree otherwise. You agree that any arbitration shall be conducted on an individual basis only and not as part of a class, consolidated, or representative action.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you waive any right to a jury trial or to participate in a class action relating to any dispute arising from or related to the Site or this Privacy Policy.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Organization may seek injunctive or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to protect its rights, property, or confidential information.

16. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our information practices, please contact us: