GiftDrive Privacy Policy
Effective Date: June 1, 2025
This Privacy Policy ("Policy") describes how GiftDrive ("we," "us," or "our"), a Vermont limited liability company, collects, uses, processes, stores, protects, and shares your personal information when you access or use the GiftDrive platform and its associated services (collectively, the "Service").
We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data transparently. By accessing or using the Service, you signify your acceptance of the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with the practices described in this Policy, you should not use the Service.
1. Information We Collect
We collect various types of information to provide and improve our Service, including:
1.1. Information You Provide Directly to Us:
- Account Registration Data: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, password (hashed), and potentially phone number.
- Page Creator Profile Data: If you register as a Page Creator, we collect additional information such as your organization's name, official registration details (e.g., EIN/Tax ID, 501(c)(3) status documentation), physical address, contact person's name and email, mission statement, and verification documents as required for eligibility. For individual Page Creators, this may include personal identification details to verify need.
- Donation Information: When you act as a Donor, we collect your name, email address, billing address, and payment information. Note that GiftDrive does not directly store full payment card details; these are securely transmitted to our Payment Processor (Rye Pay).
- Requested Item Details: Page Creators provide descriptions, images, quantities, and other specifications for the physical items they need.
- Communications: Records of your correspondence with us (e.g., support inquiries, feedback, bug reports) and communications with other users through the Service.
- User Content: Any content you upload, post, or submit to the Service, including comments, reviews, or other interactive features.
1.2. Information We Collect Automatically:
- Usage Data: Information about how you access and use the Service, such as the pages you visit, the features you use, the time and date of your visit, the time spent on those pages, and other diagnostic data.
- Device Data: Information about the device you use to access the Service, including your Internet Protocol (IP) address, browser type, operating system, unique device identifiers, mobile network information, and referrer URLs.
- Location Data: Depending on your device settings, we may collect general location information (e.g., inferred from IP address) to provide localized content or features.
1.3. Information from Third Parties:
- Payment Processor (Rye Pay): We receive transaction confirmations and limited payment data (e.g., last four digits of card, transaction ID) from Rye Pay to confirm successful payments and manage transactions, but not full payment card details.
- Verification Services: We may receive information from third-party services used to verify the legitimacy of Page Creators or users.
- Analytics Providers: We receive aggregated and anonymized data from analytics providers regarding user behavior on the Service.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:
2.1. To Provide and Maintain the Service:
To operate, manage, and facilitate the core functions of the GiftDrive platform, including displaying item needs, processing transactions, and connecting Donors with Page Creators.
2.2. To Process Transactions:
To facilitate the purchase of Requested Items by Donors. This involves transmitting necessary payment details to our Payment Processor (Rye Pay) and order fulfillment details (Donor name, Page Creator's shipping address, item specifics) to our Fulfillment Partner.
2.3. To Verify and Validate Page Creators:
To ensure the legitimacy and eligibility of organizations and individuals displaying needs on the platform, fostering trust and preventing fraud.
2.4. To Personalize User Experience:
To tailor content, features, and recommendations based on your preferences and interactions with the Service.
2.5. To Communicate with You:
- To send transactional emails (e.g., account confirmations, password resets, order confirmations, shipping updates).
- To respond to your inquiries, provide customer support, and address technical issues.
- To send you updates, newsletters, and promotional materials about GiftDrive or related initiatives, where you have opted to receive such communications.
2.6. For Analytics and Service Improvement:
To monitor and analyze usage patterns, diagnose technical problems, conduct research, and develop new features to enhance the functionality and user experience of the Service.
2.7. For Security and Fraud Prevention:
To protect the integrity and security of the Service, detect and prevent fraudulent activities, unauthorized access, and other malicious conduct.
2.8. To Comply with Legal Obligations:
To meet our legal, regulatory, and compliance requirements, including responding to lawful requests from government or law enforcement agencies.
3. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information with third parties in the following circumstances:
3.1. With Page Creators and Donors:
- For Donors: Your name (and optionally, your email, if you consent or it's necessary for fulfillment communication) and details of your donation will be shared with the Page Creator to whom you've donated.
- For Page Creators: Your public profile information, including your organization's name, mission, and requested items, will be visible to Donors and other users on the Service. Necessary contact and shipping details will be shared with Fulfillment Partners.
3.2. With Service Providers:
We engage trusted third-party service providers to perform functions on our behalf and to assist us in operating the Service. These include:
- Payment Processor (Rye Pay): Your payment information is securely shared with Rye Pay for the purpose of processing transactions. GiftDrive does not directly process or store your full payment card details.
- Fulfillment Partner: Necessary order details, including the Page Creator's shipping address and the Donor's name, are shared with our Fulfillment Partner(s) to facilitate the packing and shipment of Requested Items.
- Hosting, cloud storage, analytics, customer support, email delivery, and identity verification services.
These service providers are obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed.
3.3. For Legal Reasons:
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such action is necessary to: (i) comply with a legal obligation; (ii) protect and defend the rights or property of GiftDrive; (iii) prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with the Service; (iv) protect the personal safety of Users of the Service or the public; or (v) protect against legal liability.
3.4. Business Transfers:
In the event that GiftDrive is involved in a merger, acquisition, asset sale, or other corporate transaction, your personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will provide notice before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different Privacy Policy.
3.5. With Your Consent:
We may share your information with third parties when we have your explicit consent to do so.
3.6. Aggregated or Anonymized Data:
We may share aggregated or anonymized data that does not directly identify you for research, analytics, marketing, or other business purposes.
4. Data Security
We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, or disclosure. These measures include:
- Encryption of data in transit and at rest where appropriate.
- Access controls and authentication protocols.
- Regular security assessments and updates.
- Secure processing of financial data through our PCI-compliant Payment Processor (Rye Pay).
However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account password and for all activities that occur under your account.
5. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purpose of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. This typically includes the period during which you maintain an active account with us. We may also retain certain information for a longer period as required by law or to prevent fraud or abuse. When your personal information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.
6. Your Data Rights
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include:
6.1. Right to Access:
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you.
6.2. Right to Rectification:
You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
6.3. Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"):
You have the right to request the deletion of your personal information, subject to certain legal exceptions (e.g., necessity for legal compliance, fraud prevention).
6.4. Right to Restrict Processing:
You have the right to request that we limit the way we use your personal information.
6.5. Right to Data Portability:
You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
6.6. Right to Object:
You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for certain purposes, such as direct marketing.
6.7. Right to Withdraw Consent:
Where we rely on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing based on consent before its withdrawal.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the contact information provided in Section 11 of this Policy. We will respond to your request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Service and hold certain information.
Cookies: Small data files stored on your device that enable us to recognize your browser and capture certain information.
Web Beacons (or pixels): Small electronic files that permit GiftDrive to count users who have visited certain pages or opened emails.
We use these technologies for:
- Essential/Strictly Necessary Cookies: Required for the operation of the Service (e.g., for account login, security).
- Analytical/Performance Cookies: To collect information about how you use the Service, helping us to improve its functionality.
- Functional Cookies: To remember your preferences and choices (e.g., language selection).
- Targeting/Advertising Cookies: To deliver relevant advertisements to you based on your interests.
You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Service.
8. Children's Privacy
The Service is not intended for use by individuals under the age of eighteen (18), or the age of legal majority in their jurisdiction. We do not knowingly collect personally identifiable information from anyone under the age of 18. If you are a parent or guardian and you become aware that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without verification of parental consent, we will take steps to remove that information from our servers.
9. International Data Transfers
GiftDrive is based in the United States. If you are accessing the Service from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using the Service, you consent to such transfer and processing of your information. We implement appropriate safeguards to ensure that your personal information receives an adequate level of protection when transferred outside your jurisdiction, such as standard contractual clauses where applicable.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this Policy. We will also inform you via email and/or a prominent notice on our Service prior to the change becoming effective, allowing you to review the changes before they take effect. Your continued use of the Service after any modifications to this Policy constitutes your acknowledgment and acceptance of the revised Policy.
11. Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, or to exercise your data rights, please contact us:
By Email:
support@giftdrive.org