PRIVACY POLICY

1. Our Approach to Privacy

We believe personal information should be collected and used responsibly. We seek to collect information that is reasonably necessary for our work, use it for clear purposes, protect it with reasonable safeguards and give individuals meaningful choices and rights regarding their information.

This policy is intended to provide a national privacy framework. Depending on where you live, applicable law may provide additional rights or impose additional requirements.

2. Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

• Contact and identity information, such as name, email, mobile number, mailing address, state, county, city or community, school district and 500 ID.
• Membership and participation information, including interests, volunteer preferences, organizational affiliations, referrals, applications, roles and training participation.
• Application and program information submitted in connection with CORE, RISE, candidate, organizational, leadership, verification or other programs.
• Submitted content, including messages, reports, photographs, documents, meeting minutes, agendas, source links and attachments.
• Communications information, including scheduling information and email or text preferences.
• Website and device information, which may include IP address, browser/device type, pages viewed, referring pages, approximate location derived from IP address and similar technical information collected through cookies, logs or analytics technologies.
• Other information you provide voluntarily or that we collect with consent or as otherwise permitted by law.

We do not ask you to provide sensitive personal information unless reasonably necessary for a specific program, function or lawful purpose. Where required, we may provide additional notice or request consent.

3. How We Collect Information

We may collect information directly from you when you complete a form, join the network, apply for a role, submit information through a portal, attend training or events, schedule a meeting, communicate with us or otherwise participate in The 500 Project.

We may also receive information from service providers, participating organizations, referrals, public sources or other lawful sources, and may automatically collect limited technical information when you use our websites.

4. How We Use Information

• Operate, maintain and improve our websites, programs, portals and member resources.
• Process memberships, applications, submissions and requests.
• Communicate about programs, training, events, opportunities and updates.
• Connect people with relevant resources, opportunities or programs based on information they provide.
• Review and administer CORE, RISE, candidate, organizational, verification and other participation pathways.
• Authenticate users, maintain member records and administer 500 IDs and access permissions.
• Respond to questions, privacy requests and support needs.
• Protect users, systems and programs from misuse, fraud or security threats.
• Analyze and improve our services.
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms and policies.
• Carry out other purposes disclosed when information is collected or with your consent.

5. How We Disclose Information

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to:

• Service providers supporting hosting, communications, email, text messaging, scheduling, security, storage, analytics and technology.
• Professional advisers such as attorneys, accountants, auditors and compliance advisers.
• Government authorities or other parties when required by law or reasonably necessary to protect rights, safety or security.
• A successor organization in connection with a merger, reorganization, transfer of assets or similar transaction, subject to applicable law.
• Other parties at your direction or with your consent.

Participation in The 500 Project does not, by itself, mean your personal information will automatically be provided to participating organizations or other members.

6. Sale, Sharing and Targeted Advertising

The 500 Project does not intend to sell personal information for money. We also do not intend to exchange member lists or personal information with participating organizations merely because they participate in the network.

Some laws define “sale,” “sharing” or “targeted advertising” more broadly. If our practices trigger an applicable opt-out right, we will provide required notice and a method to exercise that right. Where required, we will honor recognized universal opt-out preference signals.

7. Cookies and Similar Technologies

Our websites may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, server logs and similar technologies to operate the site, remember preferences, understand usage, improve performance and support communications or outreach. Where required by law, we will provide appropriate choices regarding non-essential technologies.

8. Email and Text Communications

You may unsubscribe from marketing emails using the instructions in the message. You may opt out of text messages using the instructions provided, including replying STOP where supported. Opting out of promotional communications does not prevent non-promotional messages reasonably necessary for an application, account, program, security matter or requested transaction.

9. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Subject to applicable law and appropriate verification, you may request that we:

• confirm whether we process information about you;
• provide access to or a copy of information we maintain about you;
• correct inaccurate information;
• delete information, subject to lawful exceptions;
• provide information about categories collected, purposes and recipients;
• provide information about third parties that received information where required by law;
• allow withdrawal of consent where processing is based on consent;
• allow opt-out of sale, sharing, targeted advertising or certain profiling where applicable; and
• allow an appeal of a privacy-request decision where applicable law provides that right.

We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

10. Data Minimization and Retention

We seek to collect and retain information reasonably necessary for the purposes described here. Retention varies based on the information, program, operational needs, legal requirements, security considerations and the need to establish or defend legal rights. When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete, de-identify or securely archive it as appropriate and permitted by law.

11. Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information. No system can be guaranteed completely secure. If you believe information you provided has been compromised, please contact us promptly.

12. Sensitive Information and Private Submissions

Certain programs may allow users to submit information they consider sensitive, confidential or non-public. Marking a submission as sensitive helps us identify it for additional review, but does not create a legal privilege or guarantee confidentiality.

Please do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account credentials, medical records or other highly sensitive information unless specifically requested through an appropriate secure process.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our websites and membership programs are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without authorization required by law. If you believe a child has provided information improperly, please contact us.

14. Third-Party Websites and Services

Our websites may link to or integrate with third-party scheduling, communications, training, payment, social-media or other services. Their privacy practices are governed by their own policies.

15. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our programs, technology or legal obligations change. When we make material changes, we will update the effective date and provide additional notice or obtain consent when required by law.

16. Contact Us

For privacy questions or to exercise a privacy right, contact The 500 Project through the privacy contact method published on this website.

Privacy contact: connect@the500project.com

Operator: The 500 Project LLC