Privacy Notice

The Poston Foundation ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information in a thoughtful and responsible manner. This Privacy Notice explains how we may collect, use, share, and protect information through our website, www.thepostonfoundation.org, and through related online communications, donation pages, and forms.

By visiting our website or submitting information to us online, you acknowledge this Privacy Notice.

1. Who We Are

The Poston Foundation is a South Carolina nonprofit corporation and IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) public charity. EIN: 85-0559047.

Contact Information:

The Poston Foundation
1901 Main Street, 18th Floor #4040
Columbia, SC 29201
Email: carolinacares@thepostonfoundation.org
Phone: 803-365-3054
Website: www.thepostonfoundation.org

2. Information We May Collect

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• your name
• email address
• mailing address
• telephone number
• donation information
• sponsorship or partnership inquiry information
• volunteer inquiry information
• information submitted by email, through Zeffy, or through other communications
• any other information you choose to provide

We may also receive limited transaction-related or technical information through third-party service providers that support our website, donation processing, communications, or operations.

3. How We Use Information

We may use information we collect to:

• respond to questions or requests
• communicate with donors, supporters, sponsors, volunteers, or community partners
• process donations and provide donation receipts
• maintain records relating to donations, sponsorships, or inquiries
• provide updates about our programs, activities, or fundraising efforts
• improve website functionality, communications, and user experience
• comply with legal, tax, accounting, reporting, or regulatory obligations
• protect the security and integrity of our website and operations

4. Donations and Zeffy Payment Processing

Online donations are processed through Zeffy. The donation page uses an embedded Zeffy form and also links to the Carolina Cares donation form on Zeffy's website. When you donate, Zeffy collects and processes the contact, payment, transaction, and other information you provide under Zeffy's own privacy practices and terms.

The Poston Foundation does not directly collect or store full payment card numbers through this static website. The Foundation may receive donor and transaction information from Zeffy for receipting, acknowledgment, stewardship, recordkeeping, compliance, and mission-related communications.

During checkout, Zeffy may invite donors to make an optional contribution to support Zeffy's platform. That optional amount is separate from your donation to The Poston Foundation.

5. Website Platform and Third-Party Services

This is a static website hosted through Netlify. Netlify may process technical information such as IP address, browser or device information, request details, and security or access logs as part of hosting and delivering the site. The site also links to external social, news, map, and nonprofit-profile services.

At the effective date of this notice, the site code does not include a Foundation-configured advertising tracker or analytics service. The embedded Zeffy donation form and other third-party services may use their own cookies or similar technologies under their own privacy practices.

6. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Netlify, Zeffy, and other third-party services may use cookies, log data, or similar technologies to support site delivery, security, performance, donation processing, and service functionality.

You may be able to manage some cookie preferences through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies or technologies may affect website functionality.

7. Email Communications and Inquiries

The public site does not currently provide a Foundation-hosted account system or general contact form. If you contact us by email, phone, through Zeffy, or through another linked service, we may retain your communication and contact information to respond, maintain records, and continue communications where appropriate.

If you sign up to receive updates or otherwise provide your email address, we may send you mission-related communications, subject to any unsubscribe options we make available.

8. Donor Information

We value donor privacy. We may use donor information for receipting, acknowledgment, stewardship, recordkeeping, compliance, and mission-related communications.

We do not sell donor personal information or donor lists for unrelated third-party marketing purposes.

9. Volunteer, Sponsor, and Partner Information

If you submit an inquiry about volunteering, sponsorship, partnership, or community coordination, we may use the information you provide to evaluate and respond to your request, communicate with you, and maintain internal records.

10. Program-Related Privacy and Dignity

The Poston Foundation seeks to approach community-facing work with dignity and care. We do not intend to publicly disclose sensitive personal information about program participants or beneficiaries through our website without an appropriate basis to do so.

If photographs, testimonials, stories, or similar materials are used in connection with our work, we seek to do so respectfully and with appropriate permission where needed.

11. How We May Share Information

We may share information:

• with service providers supporting our website, fundraising, communications, or administration
• with accountants, legal counsel, auditors, or other professional advisors as reasonably necessary
• when required by law, court order, subpoena, regulatory inquiry, or lawful governmental request
• when reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety, property, or operations
• in connection with recordkeeping, tax compliance, reporting, or grant administration

We do not share personal information more broadly than reasonably necessary for these purposes.

12. Data Security

We make reasonable efforts, appropriate to our size and resources, to protect information from unauthorized access, misuse, loss, or disclosure. However, no website, email system, or electronic transmission can be guaranteed to be completely secure, and users should exercise appropriate caution when submitting information online.

13. Data Retention

We may retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for charitable operations, donor stewardship, volunteer coordination, legal compliance, tax recordkeeping, dispute resolution, security, or other legitimate organizational purposes.

14. Your Choices

You may contact us to:

• ask questions about this Privacy Notice
• request that we update or correct contact information you submitted to us
• opt out of certain future communications, where applicable

Please note that we may still retain information as necessary for legal, tax, security, or recordkeeping reasons.

15. Links to Other Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, platforms, or donation pages. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party sites. You should review the privacy notice of any third-party site you visit.

16. Children's Privacy

Our website is not intended to knowingly collect personal information from children through online forms without appropriate oversight. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our website without appropriate authorization, please contact us so we can review the matter.

17. Changes to This Privacy Notice

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. Any updated version may be posted on this page with a revised effective date.

18. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Notice or our website practices, please contact:

The Poston Foundation
1901 Main Street, 18th Floor #4040
Columbia, SC 29201
carolinacares@thepostonfoundation.org
803-365-3054
www.thepostonfoundation.org