The Conservation Fund understands your concerns about privacy and your interest in knowing how your information is used. This Privacy Policy (the “Privacy Policy”) describes the practices and policies for our websites located at www.conservationfund.org and www.workingforestfund.org (collectively, the “Website”).  The Website is owned and operated by The Conservation Fund (hereinafter referred to as “TCF,” or “we” or “us”).  This Privacy Policy applies only to TCF’s online information-gathering and sharing practices occurring on the Website and does not apply to any of TCF’s practices conducted offline.  By visiting the Website, you are accepting the practices and policies described in this Privacy Policy, and are further indicating that you agree to be bound by the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy, you should not visit this Website or use any of the “links” on this Website.  We periodically update this Privacy Policy, so please check it for changes. The date this Privacy Policy was last updated is stated at the end of this document.

SUMMARY

The notifications provided by this Privacy Policy include:

• What personally identifiable information we collect from you through the Website.
• How we use the information we collect.
• With whom the information may be shared.
• The kind of procedures we employ in an effort to hinder the unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of information you provide to us.
• Information related to third-party websites.
• The laws that apply to those accessing our Website from outside of the United States.
• How you can learn about changes to our privacy policies, practices and procedures.
• How you can make changes to the information we collect on you.
• Other rights that you may have.
• Special provisions related to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation.
  
  
  

THE INFORMATION WE COLLECT

Personal Information You Provide and How It Is Used: You may visit our Website anonymously and without being required to provide us with any personal information.   However, a few requests and features do require that you provide us with some personally identifying information and are described below. Personal information is data that can be used to identify or contact you.  Please do not send confidential information, such as a credit card number, to us directly via the contact email addresses listed on this Website.

Donate: If you make a donation through the Website via the “donate” button, you will be asked to provide personally identifying information, such as your name and home address, as well as your credit card billing information, in order to process the donation. The credit card information that you provide at the time of donation is used only to process your donation and will not be stored or used for any other purpose.  However, if you opt to make a recurring donation, your credit card information will be encrypted and securely stored and used for the purpose of processing your recurring donation. Your personal information will not be sold, shared, or traded with any individual or entity.

E-Newsletter:  If you opt to join our mailing list to receive the latest updates on news and events, we will ask you to provide your name, home and email addresses. You may unsubscribe from these emails at any time by using the link provided in the footer of all such emails. Your personal information will not be sold, shared, or traded with any individual or entity.

If you currently receive our quarterly newsletter, Common Ground, by mail, and would like to stop receiving a hard copy mailing, e-mail us your full name and the address where you are receiving it with the subject line, "Please remove me from the Common Ground snail mail list."

Contact Us: The Website provides “contact us” links for questions visitors may have about the work we do and our Website.  If you contact us through any of these contact forms, we will collect your email address and any other personal information that you provide to us only as it is necessary to respond to your request and/or questions.

Non-Personal Information We Collect by Automated Means and How We Use It: We also collect certain non-personal information (data in a form that does not support direct association with any specific person or individual) by automated means when you visit the Website.  Much of this information is collected through the use of third-party tracking services, which includes Google Analytics. You may opt out from the collection of navigation information about your visit to the Website by Google Analytics by using the Google Analytics Opt-out feature.

The information collected may include usage information, such as the numbers and frequency of users to the Website, pages visited, web browsing histories, your location and device, social networking activities and similar data. When gathered, this data is used in the aggregate, and not in a manner that is intended to identify you personally. In addition to the third-party tracking services mentioned above, we also collect this information through various other means, including "cookies," "web beacons" and IP addresses, as further explained below.
 
Cookies - A cookie is a piece of information that a web server may place on your computer when you visit a Website. Cookies are commonly used by websites to improve the user experience.  Many cookies last only through a single Website session or visit. Others may have an expiration date or may remain on your computer until you delete them. We may use "session cookies" in order to enhance the user experience and for other web-related purposes.  These session cookies are not linked to personally identifiable information.   Most browsers will tell you how to stop accepting new cookie, how to be notified when you receive a new cookie, and how to disable existing cookies.
 
Web Beacons – Our Website may contain "web beacons" (also known as Internet tags, pixel tags and clear GIFs). These web beacons allow third parties to obtain information such as the IP address of the computer that downloaded the page on which the beacon appears, the URL of the page on which the beacon appears, the time the page containing the beacon was viewed, and the type of browser used to view the page.
 
IP Addresses - When you visit and interact with the Website, third parties with whom we have contracted to provide services for us may collect Internet Protocol addresses (each an "IP Address"), as well as browser type, Internet service provider (ISP), referring/exit pages, platform type, date/time stamp, and page navigation. An IP Address is a unique identifying number that certain electronic devices use to identify and to communicate with each other on the Internet; your Internet Service Provider automatically assigns an IP Address to the computer that you are using.  We gather this information to track Website visitor movement in the aggregate, and to gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. We may use this information to enhance our Website or for other lawful purposes.

RESPONSE TO "DO-NOT-TRACK" SIGNALS

Every time your computer sends or receives information over the Web, the request begins with some short pieces of information called “headers.”  These headers include information like what browser you are using, what language your computer is set to, and other details. The Do Not Track technology provides individual users with the ability to include a simple, machine-readable header indicating that they don't want to be tracked, and sends a signal to websites' visited requesting that the website disable either its tracking or cross-site user tracking of an individual user. Currently, various browsers – including Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera and Safari – offer a “do not track” option.   Presently, there is no consensus on how Do Not Track should be interpreted, and no common or accepted industry standard for implementing.  Consequently, we do not respond to Web browser “do not track” signals.

HOW WE MAY SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

We may disclose all of the information (described herein) that we collect, as stated in this Privacy Policy including in accordance with the terms set forth in this section. TCF works with a variety of third-party partners in order to allow us to make the Website available to you, to host and store the information we collect from you, and to provide certain functionality and features.

Except as stated in this Privacy Policy, we do not reveal personally identifiable information about you to third parties for their independent use unless: (1) you expressly authorize TCF to do so, (2) it is necessary to allow TCF and its service providers or agents to provide services on TCF’s behalf, (3) it is to provide products or services to you, (4) it is disclosed to entities that perform marketing or data aggregation services for TCF, (5) it is necessary in connection with a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of TCF or the merger of TCF into another entity or any consolidation, share exchange, combination, reorganization, or like transaction in which TCF is not the survivor, (6) TCF is required or permitted to do so for any or all of the following reasons: (i) to comply with a subpoena, legal process, government request or any other legal obligation, (ii) to prevent, investigate, detect, or prosecute criminal offenses or attacks on the technical integrity of the Website or our network, and/or (iii) to protect the rights, privacy, property, business, or safety of TCF, its partners and employees or the visitors to the Website. 

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY/NOTE TO PARENTS

The Conservation Fund Website does not intentionally or knowingly collect, use, or disclose personally identifiable information about visitors to our Website who are less than 13 years of age. If a child under the age of 13 submits information to us through any part of the Website and TCF becomes aware that the user submitting the information is under the age of 13, the information provided will be deleted as soon as it is discovered and not used for any purpose. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 13 years of age and believe that they have disclosed personally identifiable information to us, please contact us at webmaster@conservationfund.org and be sure to include in your message the name and email address that you believe your child submitted, if applicable.

Please note, if you reside in the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the United Kingdom, users must be 16 years of age or older, and any use of or access to the Website by anyone under 16 is unauthorized, as further clarified below.   

THIRD PARTY WEBSITES/LINKS

We provide a variety of links on the Website, including those related to courses and events.  We may also provide links to a variety of third-party social media sites and/or websites – such as Facebook, Twitter Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn and others - as a service to you, and in order to provide you i) additional information and/or content related TCF, or ii) additional venues in which you can learn about and discuss the activities of TCF.  Please note that we have no affiliation with any of these other websites and cannot control and are not responsible for the information collection, use, and disclosure practices of such third parties. We encourage you to review and understand their privacy practices and policies, if any, before using providing any personally identifying information to them.  We are not responsible for the content or information of these websites, or any other use of the linked website. 

HOW WE ATTEMPT TO SAFEGUARD YOUR INFORMATION

We maintain – and ask that any third-party partners who may store information on our behalf to maintain – administrative, technical and physical safeguards for the Website designed to protect your personal information against theft, loss, misuse or unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration or destruction of the personal information that we collect from you.  We restrict access to personal information collected about you on the Website to our employees, our affiliates' employees, those who are otherwise specified in this Privacy Policy, or others who need to know such information to provide services to you or in the course of conducting our business operations or activities. Sensitive data, such as credit card and other financial information, are collected on secure forms and transmitted using industry-standard Secure Socket Layer Encryption (SSL) technology. Credit card information is retained only as long as necessary to complete the donation or purchase request of the user.

However, no website, application or transmission can guarantee security.  For those users who prefer not to use credit cards for online donations can complete this donation form and mail or email to:

Katie Fisher
The Conservation Fund
1655 North Fort Myer Drive
Suite 1300
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 908-5834
kfisher@conservationfund.org

USE OF THE WEBSITE FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

We do not represent or warrant that the Website, or any part thereof, is appropriate or available for use in any particular geographic location. If you choose to access our Website, you do so on your own initiative and at your own risk, and are responsible for complying with all local laws, rules, and regulations applicable in your jurisdiction. The Website is hosted in the United States and is governed by United States law. If you are visiting the Website from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored and processed in the United States where our servers are located and our central database is operated. The data protection and other laws of the United States and other countries might not be as comprehensive as those in your country. By using the Website, you consent to your information being transferred to our facilities and to the facilities of those third parties with whom we share it as described in this Privacy Policy.

PRIVACY QUESTIONS AND CONTACTING US

If you have any questions or concerns about our Privacy Policy or data processing, please contact us at webmaster@conservationfund.org.

 

CHANGES TO OUR PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to revise this Privacy Policy at any time. Please check back regularly to see if there have been changes to this policy, which you can determine by reviewing the Effective Date listed below. By continuing to use the Website after those changes become effective, you consent and agree to be bound by the revised Privacy Policy.  

SPECIAL NOTICE TO EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AREA, SWITZERLAND AND UNITED KINGDOM USERS

The following provisions applies only to users residing in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

In May of 2018 a new data privacy law known as the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) went into effect.  Pursuant to GDPR, we are required to provide those residing in the EEA, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (hereinafter, the “EU Visitors”) additional information and rights related to the “Personal Information” we collect about them. We summarize such information and rights below.

HOW TO CONTACT US

The Conservation Fund, Inc. (the Data Controller), is the owner and operator of the Website. If you need to contact us for any reason related to this Privacy Policy or your use of the Website, please contact us at webmaster@conservationfund.org.

 

PURPOSE FOR INFORMATION COLLECTION

As noted in this Privacy Policy, you may visit our Website without being required to provide us with any Personal Data.  However, should you decide to provide such information, the information we collect will be used to meet your requests, or to provide you with the applicable information or service requested, and as further described herein.

LEGAL GROUNDS FOR PROCESSING PERSONAL DATA

TCF will process personal data that we receive from EU Visitors on the ground that it is in our legitimate interest for the effective administration of the Website, or to fulfill and/or address your requests. 

YOUR INFORMATION AND YOUR CHOICES; WITHDRAWAL OF CONSENT

GDPR provides EU Visitors with additional rights in respect to the Personal Data we hold about you, including the right i) to be informed about the Personal Data we have collected, and ii) to request a copy of the Personal Data, and iii) to have your Personal Data deleted, and iv) to lodge a complaint about our processing of your Personal Data with your local supervisory authority.  Upon appropriate written request we will update or amend your Personal Data, but we reserve the right to use any information previously obtained to verify your identity or take other actions that we believe are appropriate and lawful. You may access, correct, or request deletion of your Personal Data – or request that we stop any processing of your Personal Data - by contacting us. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.  Certain requests – like being removed from our E-Newsletter mailing list – can also be accomplished via our unsubscribe links.

We may need to retain certain information for record keeping purposes, and there may also be residual information that will remain within our databases and other records, which will not be removed from such locations.  Additionally, there may be circumstances in which we are not legally required to comply with your request because of the laws in your jurisdiction or because of exemptions provided in data protection legislation in general, and GDPR in particular. Finally, we are not responsible for removing or deleting information from the databases of third parties (such as service providers) with whom we have shared information about you, but we will make the request on your behalf for such removal/deletion.

DATA RETENTION

We will retain your information for as long as needed to provide you services, or otherwise as is reasonable and customary given the nature of the relationship you have with TCF. We may need to retain certain information for record keeping purposes, and there may also be residual information that will remain within our databases and other records, which will not be removed from such locations.   Otherwise, we will retain and use your information as necessary to comply with our legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. We have a data retention and destruction plan that dictates the policies and procedures related to deletion and/or destruction of all information/data.

CHILDREN’S PRIVACY/NOTE TO PARENTS OF CHILDREN RESIDING IN THE EEA, SWITZERLAND AND UK

We do not intentionally or knowingly collect, use, or disclose personally identifiable information about EU Visitors to our Website that are less than 16 years of age. If a child under the age of 16 submits information to us through any part of the Websites and TCF becomes aware that the user submitting the information is under the age of 16, the information provided will be deleted as soon as it is discovered and not used for any purpose. If you are the parent or guardian of a child under 16 years of age and believe that they have disclosed personally identifiable information to us, please contact us at webmaster@conservationfund.org and be sure to include in your message the same name and email address that you believe your child submitted, if applicable.

PRIVACY POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE

This Privacy Policy is effective as of August 1, 2020.