1. INTRODUCTION

Ebenezer Methodist Church ('Church', 'we', 'us', or 'our') is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring you have a positive experience on our website and donation portal. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our digital properties and make donations.

2. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

2.1 Personal Information

When you make a donation, we collect the following personal information:

Full name

Email address

Donation amount and date

Designated fund or purpose of donation

2.2 Payment Information

We do not directly collect or store credit card or bank account information. Payment processing is handled by third-party payment processors (such as Stripe) that comply with PCI Data Security Standards. We receive only a confirmation of the transaction and the donor's name and contact information.

2.3 Technical Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect limited technical information including your IP address, browser type, and pages visited. This information helps us maintain and improve our website.

3. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

3.1 Processing Donations

Your personal information is used to process your donation, send you a donation receipt and tax acknowledgment, and maintain accurate records for accounting purposes.

3.2 Communication

We may use your email address or phone number to send you:

Donation confirmations and receipts

Church newsletters and updates (with your consent)

Information about church events and ministries

Occasional prayer requests or spiritual content

You can unsubscribe from non-essential communications at any time by contacting the church office.

3.3 Record Keeping

We maintain donation records for financial accountability, audit purposes, and tax-deductibility documentation in accordance with legal requirements.

3.4 Improvement of Services

We use collected information to analyze donation patterns, improve our portal experience, and better serve our congregation.

4. SHARING OF INFORMATION

4.1 Limited Sharing

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We share your information only as necessary to process your donation and fulfill the purposes described in this policy.

4.2 Third-Party Service Providers

We may share your information with trusted third parties who assist us with:

Payment processing

Email communication

Website hosting and maintenance

Financial recordkeeping and auditing

These service providers are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information.

4.3 Legal Compliance

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or to protect the rights and safety of the church and its members.

5. DATA SECURITY

5.1 Security Measures

We employ industry-standard security measures, including SSL encryption, secure servers, and access controls to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, and disclosure.

5.2 Limitations

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your personal information.

5.3 Payment Security

Payment information is processed through certified payment gateways that comply with PCI Data Security Standards, the highest standard for credit card processing security.

6. DATA RETENTION

6.1 Retention Period

We retain your donation records for a minimum of seven (7) years to comply with IRS regulations and church accounting standards. You may request the deletion of your information at any time, except where retention is required by law.

6.2 Inactive Accounts

If you have not made a donation or contacted the church for five (5) years, we will retain your contact information in our inactive records but will not use it for communications unless you reactivate your relationship with the church.

7. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES

7.1 Access and Correction

You have the right to access, review, and request corrections to your personal information. Contact the church office to exercise this right.

7.2 Opt-Out of Communications

You may opt out of receiving non-essential communications from the church by:

Clicking the 'unsubscribe' link in any email

Contacting the church office directly

Updating your preferences through your donor account (if available)

7.3 Deletion Request

You may request the deletion of your personal information, except where retention is required by law or for legitimate church purposes.

8. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

Our donation portal is not intended for children under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent. If we become aware that a child has provided information without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly.

9. THIRD-PARTY LINKS

Our website may contain links to external websites and social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

10. INTERNATIONAL USERS

Our donation portal is designed for users within the United States. If you are accessing our portal from outside the US, please note that your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States, which may have different privacy protections than your home country.

11. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to our website. Your continued use of the donation portal following the posting of revised Privacy Policy means that you accept and agree to the changes.

12. CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions about this Privacy Policy, your personal information, or to exercise your privacy rights, please contact:

Ebenezer Methodist Church

5112 Berwyn Road

College Park, MD 20740

301-345-6100