{"id":2055,"date":"2023-12-05T02:37:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T02:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricot.wpengine.com\/?p=2055"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:35","slug":"nonprofit-privacy-policy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/nonprofit-privacy-policy","title":{"rendered":"Does Your Nonprofit Website Need a Privacy Policy?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If your organization collects information from the users of your website \u2014 and the odds are that it does, if little more than the IP addresses scooped up by your site statistics package \u2014 have you posted a site privacy policy? Should you do so?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the service of those web users who are increasingly concerned with issues of<\/span>
\ndata protection, a clear and simple nonprofit privacy policy posted on your organization\u2019s website can go a long way to building trust.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Do Nonprofits Need A Privacy Policy?<\/h2>\n

Yes, nonprofits, like any other organization handling personal information, should have a privacy policy. This is important for several reasons:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Nonprofit Legal Compliance<\/strong>: Depending on the jurisdiction in which the nonprofit operates or the regions where its beneficiaries, donors, or users are located, there may be legal requirements to have a privacy policy. Laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and various other data protection regulations globally mandate certain standards for privacy and the handling of personal data.<\/li>\n
  2. Improve Donor Trust<\/strong>: Having a clear and transparent nonprofit privacy policy helps in building trust with donors, beneficiaries, and the general public. It assures them that their personal data is being handled responsibly and securely.<\/li>\n
  3. Data Management<\/strong>: A privacy policy helps set internal guidelines and procedures for how personal data is collected, used, stored, and shared within the organization. This is crucial for maintaining data security and integrity.<\/li>\n
  4. Funding Requirements<\/strong>: Some grant makers or funding organizations will require a privacy policy as part of their due diligence process.<\/li>\n
  5. Online Presence<\/strong>: If the nonprofit has a website or uses online platforms (like social media or donation platforms), a privacy policy is often required to comply with the terms of service of these platforms. Privacy policies are also needed for SEO of your nonprofit website<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The privacy policy should detail what information is collected, how it is used, how it is protected, and the rights of individuals regarding their personal data. It’s important to tailor the policy to the specific activities and data practices of the nonprofit and to update it as necessary when practices change.<\/p>\n

    Who Cares about Protecting Personal Data?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    A <\/span>study from the Pew Research Center<\/span><\/a> reports that a staggering 71% of Americans are very or somewhat concerned about government use of people\u2019s data. However, 67% of adults have little to no understanding of what companies are doing with their personal data.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The internet has so much information available that anyone can find. I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve found yourself googling colleagues, coworkers, competitor\u2019s businesses, and more to find an email address, name, phone number etc. Chances are, you were successful in your endeavor as well.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    The concept of your digital footprint is on everyone\u2019s minds, no matter your age or occupation. So, it\u2019s important to have a clear privacy policy for individuals to review if you\u2019re collecting any data. Even though <\/span>56% of Americans frequently click \u201cagree\u201d<\/span><\/a> without actually reading their content, having one available for those who want to read through the policy is vital.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    This isn\u2019t the first research to identify a \u201cdisconnect\u201d between what web users <\/span>say<\/span><\/i> is important and the way we actually <\/span>behave<\/span><\/i> when on the internet. It\u2019s been widely attributed to a lack of consumer education to create an understanding of the issue \u2014 consumers may believe that privacy protection is desirable but may not be fully prepared to sacrifice convenience for caution when dealing with \u201ctrusted\u201d sites online.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Whatever the cause of the disparity, the number of adult internet users who are<\/span>
    \nconcerned about privacy issues is significant, and it\u2019s a number that seems to be growing. Especially with the advancements in technology and increased usage of artificial intelligence (AI). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Also from the <\/span>Pew Research Center\u2019s study<\/span><\/a>, of those who are aware of AI, 70% have little to no trust in companies to make responsible decisions about how they use it in their products. Additionally, 81% of those individuals believe this will lead to their personal information being used in ways they aren\u2019t comfortable with.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Online privacy issues, clearly, are not simply going to fade away.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Given the obvious importance of the issue to online business, it follows that privacy protection cannot be overlooked by nonprofit organizations that rely on reputation and relationships in order to raise funds, to build membership, to spread the word about their activities, or to carry out other basic functions of their missions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    How to Create a Nonprofit Privacy Policy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    The first step is to know what your organization’s data collection practices are:<\/p>\n