Privacy
Policy

Effective Date: March 16, 2026

The Maria Fortner Foundation ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard the personal information you provide to us through our website.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you interact with our site:

Personal Identifiers: Name, email address, mailing address, and phone number (collected via contact forms, volunteer sign-ups, or event registrations).
Financial Information: When you donate or register for an event, our third-party payment processors collect payment details (credit card numbers, billing addresses). We do not store your full financial details on our servers.
Engagement Data: Records of your volunteer history, event attendance, or specific interests you’ve shared (e.g., interest in the Golf Outing or the CWRU scholarship).
Automated Data: Like most websites, we collect basic technical data such as your IP address, browser type, and how you navigated our site via cookies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data strictly to further our mission and serve our community:

To process your donations and issue tax receipts.
To manage event registrations (e.g., organizing foursomes for the Golf Outing).
To send you "Maria’s Warriors" updates, newsletters, or foundation news (you may opt out at any time).
To coordinate volunteer opportunities based on your expressed interests.

3. How Your Information is Shared

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties. We only share data with trusted service providers as necessary to operate:

Wix.com: Our website is hosted on the Wix platform. Your data may be stored through Wix’s secure data storage and databases.
Payment Processors: Information is shared with secure gateways (like Wix Payments, Stripe, or PayPal) to complete transactions. These processors adhere to PCI-DSS standards.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the safety and rights of the Foundation and its community.

4. Donor Privacy

We maintain a high standard of "Donor Privacy." We will not send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations, and we will only share donor information internally to manage foundation business unless you give us specific permission to do otherwise.

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have control over your data. You may contact us at any time to:

Request a copy of the personal information we have on file for you.
Request that we correct or update inaccurate information.
Ask us to delete your personal data from our active marketing lists.
Opt out of future email communications by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link in any email.

6. Data Security

We and our hosting partner, Wix, implement a variety of security measures—including firewalls and encryption—to maintain the safety of your personal information. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Third-Party Links

Our site contains links to partners like Case Western Reserve University. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites.

8. Updates to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal obligations. We will notify you of any significant changes by posting the new policy on this page with an updated "Effective Date."

9. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact us at: The Maria Fortner Foundation mariafortnerfoundation@gmail.com