Privacy Policy
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Overview
Common Defense Civic Engagement and Common Defense Education Fund (together, “Common Defense”) are committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This privacy policy (the “Policy”) explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you interact with us through www.commondefense.us or www.commondefenseeducation.us (the “Websites”), over email, and offline.
Please read this Policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how we collect, use, protect, or otherwise handle personal information we collect from you. By using our Websites or providing Personal Information (as defined below) through online and offline interactions with us, you consent to the use and collection of Personal Information in the manner described in this Policy. If you do not agree to all the information contained in this Policy, you should not use the Websites or provide us with any Personal Information.
The Types of Information We May Collect
We may collect personally identifiable information about you, such as non-public information that helps us identify and interact with you (“Personal Information”). The types of Personal Information we may collect include, but are not limited to, your:
Name;
Contact information (email, phone number, address);
Veteran or military family member status;
Website account username and password;
Payment or donation details, such as contribution amounts and some payment details;
Event attendance records;
Survey responses; and
Any other information you voluntarily provide.
We also may collect non-personally identifiable information, that is, information that does not personally identify you as the individual to whom the information relates, including without limitation information about your use of the Websites, the device from which you access the Websites, usage statistics, browsing, search and navigational history when visiting the Websites, content you access when on the Websites, general geographic location such as the city from which your computer or device is connecting to the Internet, webpages requested and visited, timestamps, sites you visit prior to and after visiting the Websites, type of operating system you use on your computer (e.g., Microsoft Windows or Mac OS) or other device (e.g., iOS or Android) to access a Websites, the type of browser you use (e.g., Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari), the domain name of your internet service provider, and information regarding the demographics and interests of users of the Websites (collectively, “Non-Personal Information”). If any Non-Personal Information is used or shared in a manner that associates it with your name, contact information or other Personal Information, it will be treated as Personal Information.
How We Collect Information
We may collect certain information you voluntarily provide when you:
Browse our Websites;
Sign up as a member of Common Defense Civic Engagement, Common Defense Education Fund, and Common Defense Action Fund (together, “Common Defense”);
Sign up for newsletters or updates;
Take actions on the Websites;
Register, enroll, or participate in our events or programs;
Contact us by mail, telephone, e-mail, or other communications channels;
Place orders through the Websites or donate to us;
Interact with our staff, whether in person or virtually;
Participate in surveys or feedback forms; or
We also may collect information using cookies, web beacons, pixels, gifs, tags, browser web storage, application data caches or similar technologies (collectively, “Cookies”) or through third parties using Cookies. A cookie is a piece of code stored on your computer or device. When you visit the Sites, your web browser may store Cookies on your computer or device, or your computer or device may be exposed to other Cookies which work independently or together. Cookies better enable you to navigate the Websites upon an initial visit or return visit and collect certain information about you. You may use the Websites even if you choose to reject or delete Cookies.
The Websites may use Google Analytics or other similar analytics tools, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. Google Analytics uses Cookies and similar tracking technology to collect and store anonymous information about you, which may include non-personally identifiable information. You can read Google Analytics’ privacy policy at http://www.google.com/analytics/learn/privacy.html and Google Analytics Terms of Use at http://www.google.com/analytics/tos.html. You can opt-out from being tracked by Google Analytics in the future by downloading and installing Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on for your current web browser at: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=en.
We also may acquire information about you from other sources (such as offline records or publicly available information), from third parties such as our business partners, activity partners and sponsors, vendors, merchants and other third parties, or from inferences based upon the sites you visit, third party data, information you share on other sites, social media platforms and applications, or demographics derived from profiles or accounts that you create, to the extent permitted in their privacy policies.
How We May Use Your Personal Information
We may use your Personal information:
For the purposes for which you provide the information;
To process orders and donations and issue receipts;
To send newsletters, updates, and relevant communications;
To organize and manage events or programs;
To analyze our users’ demographics and interests;
To diagnose issues with the Websites;
To improve our activities, services, and Websites;
To respond to inquiries or requests; and
For fraud prevention, legal compliance, and other public and security related purposes.
How We Share Your Personal Information
We do not sell, trade, rent, or distribute your personal information to third parties for direct marketing purposes. We may engage in one-time list exchanges with aligned nonprofit organizations or advocacy partners to collaborate on shared goals. These are secure and limited exchanges. Your contact information is not sold or permanently transferred, and partner organizations only gain access if you choose to engage with their outreach.
We may share your information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our organization and delivering services, all of which are bound by confidentiality agreements. Additionally, we may disclose your Personal Information to others, including (i) for donations that are not anonymous, in a list of donors (name only) and provide other information about your donation to the public or in our annual report to board members, donors, and supporters, among others; (ii) to vendors and service providers we engage to work on our behalf to process orders or donations, respond to requests, manage or administer our activities, or to handle our other functions; (iii) to allied organizations or business partners participating in our activities and projects; (iv) in the event of a reorganization, merger, sale, joint venture, assignment, transfer or disposition of all or any portion of our business or operations (including without limitation in connection with bankruptcy or any similar proceedings); (v) in response to a subpoena, legal order or official request, suspected violation of the Terms of Use, to investigate, prevent or take action regarding suspected illegal activities, fraud or potential threats, or to exercise legal rights or defend against claims, when we believe that doing so may protect your safety, our safety, or the safety of others; (vi) to allow us to pursue available remedies or to limit the damage we may sustain; (vii) to respond to requests from public and government authorities; (viii) as otherwise required by law; or (ix) as otherwise authorized by you.
How We Secure Your Personal Information
We take reasonable administrative, physical and electronic security measures to protect against the loss, misuse and alteration of your Personal Information. No transmission of data over the internet or text message is guaranteed to be completely secure. It may be possible for third parties not under our control to intercept or access these transmissions or private communications unlawfully. While we strive to protect your Personal Information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is entirely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Any such transmission of information to us is at your own risk.
How We Store and Retain Your Personal Information
Your Personal Information generally is stored and processed through third-party providers. However, we may store your name, address, and/or e-mail address temporarily on our local systems when conducting a mailing campaign.
We retain your Personal Information unless and until you ask us to remove your information.
How You May Access, Change, or Remove Your Personal Information
Please contact us at <privacy@commondefense.us> to review and update your personal data. You may request the deletion of some or all of your personal information, subject to legal obligations. In your request, please make clear what information you would like to have changed or removed. We will comply with your request as soon as reasonably practicable.
Additionally, you have the option to update your e-mail communication preferences or to opt out from receiving any e-mail communications from us by clicking the appropriate link at the bottom of any e-mail sent by us.
Third-Party Links
We link to third-party service providers that include but are not limited to payment processors and social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, and X. We are not responsible for third-party websites’ privacy practices, policies, or content. If you click on a link to a third-party website, you are subject to the terms of service and privacy policy of that individual site. This Policy will not apply to any of your activity on that third-party website. Clicking on a third-party website is a voluntary action and is strictly up to you. You are encouraged to review the individual privacy policies of all websites you visit.
Use of Website by Minors
Our Website is not directed to individuals under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly, directly, or passively, collect information from children under the age of 18.
Updates to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our Websites with the updated effective date. If you continue to access or use our Websites after the changes are posted to the Policy, you will be deemed to have accepted the changes.
Jurisdictional Issues
The Websites are controlled and operated from the United States and are not intended to subject us to the laws or jurisdiction of any state, country, or territory other than that of the United States.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about our privacy practices, please contact us at <privacy@commondefense.us>. Please note that email communications are not always secure, so please do not include sensitive information in your message(s) to us.