Humane Concepts Foundation, Inc.
Effective Date: May 18, 2026
Last Updated: May 18, 2026
INTRODUCTION AND COMMITMENT TO PRIVACY
Humane Concepts Foundation, Inc., referred to herein as the Foundation, we, us, or our, is a nonprofit umbrella organization dedicated to advocacy and human services enterprises across Indiana, Illinois, and the United States. We provide orphanage services, homecare, health support, shelter programs, and advocacy for vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, individuals with disabilities, homeless persons, ex-convicts, and families affected by emergencies.
Your trust is foundational to our mission. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share personal information when you interact with us via our website, donation portals, program applications, volunteer sign-ups, or communications. We adhere to our core values of Quality Focus, Social Accountability, Teamwork, Mutual Growth, and Fairness in all data practices.
By accessing our digital platforms, submitting applications, processing donations, or participating in Foundation programs, you acknowledge that you have read this policy and consent to the practices described herein. If you do not agree with any provision, please discontinue use of our services and contact our administration for clarification.
INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect only the information necessary to deliver humane services, process support, and comply with legal obligations. The categories of information we may collect include the following.
Personal Identifiers. We may collect your full name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, date of birth, and emergency contact information. This data enables program eligibility assessment, service coordination, and essential communications regarding your engagement with the Foundation.
Sensitive Demographics. When voluntarily provided and relevant to service delivery, we may collect information regarding age, disability status, housing circumstances, veteran or justice-system involvement, and other demographic factors. This information helps us tailor shelter placements, advocacy support, and recovery programs to meet individual needs with dignity and cultural competence.
Donation and Financial Data. When you make a financial contribution, we collect the donation amount, payment method details, billing address, transaction identifiers, and donation frequency preferences. Full payment card data is processed securely by PCI-DSS-compliant third-party payment processors. The Foundation does not store complete credit card numbers, security verification codes, or banking credentials on our internal servers.
Program Application and Service Data. Applicants for shelter, homecare, orphanage services, or advocacy support may provide health history limited to service needs, housing history, crisis circumstances, guardian consent documentation for minors, and social service referrals. This information is collected solely to assess eligibility, ensure appropriate care placements, and coordinate with community partners.
Volunteer and Partner Information. Individuals who register as volunteers or represent partner organizations may provide skills inventories, availability schedules, background check consent where legally permitted, professional affiliations, and communication preferences. This data supports volunteer placement, training coordination, and partnership management.
Technical and Usage Data. When you visit our website, we may collect IP addresses, browser types, device information, operating systems, pages visited, time spent on site, referral URLs, and cookie identifiers. This information is gathered through analytics tools and server logs to improve website functionality, accessibility, and user experience.
Communications and Correspondence. We may retain records of emails, call logs, form submissions, survey responses, and feedback provided through official channels. This information helps us respond to inquiries, provide program updates, measure impact, and improve service delivery.
HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION
We use collected data solely for lawful, mission-driven purposes that align with our organizational objectives and legal obligations.
Service Delivery and Program Coordination. We use personal information to evaluate eligibility for shelter placements, homecare assistance, health support navigation, orphanage services, and advocacy representation. Data enables us to coordinate care plans, schedule appointments, facilitate referrals, and ensure continuity of support for beneficiaries.
Donation Processing and Donor Stewardship. Financial information is used to process contributions, issue tax-deductible receipts, manage recurring donations, and provide donors with impact updates and acknowledgment communications. We maintain accurate records to comply with IRS reporting requirements and charitable solicitation regulations.
Communication and Engagement. With your consent where required, we may use contact information to send newsletters, program updates, volunteer opportunities, emergency alerts, and fundraising communications. You may opt out of non-essential communications at any time through the links provided in emails or by contacting our administration directly.
Website Improvement and Analytics. Technical and usage data help us understand how visitors interact with our digital platforms. We use this information to enhance navigation, improve accessibility features, optimize content delivery, and ensure compatibility across devices and browsers.
Legal Compliance and Regulatory Reporting. We process personal information to fulfill obligations under federal, state, and local laws, including charitable registration requirements, tax reporting mandates, child welfare statutes, emergency response protocols, and human services regulations.
Security and Fraud Prevention. We use collected data to monitor for unauthorized access, detect suspicious activity, protect against fraud, and maintain the integrity of our digital infrastructure and physical facilities.
Research and Impact Measurement. Aggregated and anonymized data may be used for program evaluation, impact reporting, grant applications, and community needs assessments. Individual identities are never disclosed in research outputs or public reports.
LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING
As a United States-based nonprofit organization, we process personal information based on the following legal grounds.
Consent. When you voluntarily submit information through forms, donation portals, volunteer registrations, or program applications, you provide explicit consent for the collection and use of that information for the purposes disclosed at the point of collection.
Contractual Necessity. Processing is necessary to fulfill service agreements, such as shelter intake procedures, homecare coordination contracts, volunteer engagement terms, or partnership arrangements executed between you and the Foundation.
Legal Obligation. We process information to comply with applicable laws, including charitable solicitation statutes, tax reporting requirements, child welfare regulations, emergency management protocols, and human services licensing standards.
Vital Interests. In emergency situations, such as natural disasters or immediate safety concerns, we may process personal information to protect the health, safety, or well-being of beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, or the public.
Legitimate Interests. We process data to improve service delivery, enhance donor engagement, strengthen operational efficiency, and advance our mission. These interests are always balanced against individual privacy rights and implemented with appropriate safeguards.
SHARING AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for commercial or marketing purposes. We may share data only under the following limited and transparent circumstances.
Trusted Service Providers. We engage third-party vendors to support payment processing, email communications, customer relationship management, website hosting, and analytics services. These providers are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality, implement appropriate security measures, and use data solely for the purposes specified by the Foundation.
Government and Regulatory Authorities. We may disclose information to state charity regulators, the Internal Revenue Service, child welfare agencies, emergency management authorities, or law enforcement agencies when required by law, subpoena, court order, or legitimate regulatory inquiry. Disclosures are limited to the minimum information necessary to fulfill the legal requirement.
Program Partners and Referral Networks. With your consent where required, we may share relevant information with shelter networks, healthcare providers, advocacy coalitions, or community organizations to coordinate care, facilitate referrals, or enhance service delivery. Data sharing agreements ensure that partners adhere to confidentiality standards aligned with Foundation values.
Legal Protection and Enforcement. We may disclose information to enforce these Terms and Conditions, protect the rights, property, or safety of the Foundation, our beneficiaries, staff, volunteers, or the public, or respond to lawful requests from authorities. Such disclosures undergo internal review and are limited to what is legally compelled.
Organizational Transitions. In the unlikely event of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, personal information may be transferred to a successor entity. Any such transfer would be subject to confidentiality obligations, and affected individuals would receive advance notice where practicable.
SPECIAL PROTECTIONS FOR VULNERABLE POPULATIONS
Given our service to minors, seniors, individuals with disabilities, and others in crisis, we implement enhanced safeguards for sensitive information.
Minors and Youth Programs. We never knowingly collect personal information from children under thirteen without verified parental or guardian consent. For orphanage services, youth shelter programs, or educational initiatives, all intake procedures require legal guardian authorization and comply with state child welfare statutes. Records pertaining to minors are maintained with heightened security and access controls.
Sensitive Health and Housing Information. Health history, disability status, housing circumstances, or justice-system involvement is collected only when essential to service delivery. Such information is stored with encryption, accessed only by authorized personnel with legitimate need, and disclosed only with consent or as required by law.
Confidentiality Obligations. All staff, volunteers, contractors, and partner representatives with access to beneficiary records or sensitive data sign confidentiality agreements. Information is shared internally strictly on a need-to-know basis, and unauthorized disclosure may result in disciplinary action or termination.
Crisis and Emergency Situations. In emergencies, such as natural disasters or immediate safety threats, we may coordinate with first responders or emergency management agencies using minimal necessary information to ensure beneficiary safety. Consent is prioritized where feasible, but vital interests may justify limited disclosure without prior authorization.
COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance website functionality, analyze traffic patterns, and remember user preferences.
Essential Cookies. These cookies are necessary for the Website to function properly. They enable secure login, donation processing, form submissions, and navigation features. Disabling essential cookies may limit access to application portals or donation systems.
Analytics Cookies. We use third-party analytics services, such as Google Analytics, to understand how visitors interact with our Website. These cookies collect aggregated, anonymized data about page views, session duration, and referral sources. We do not use analytics data to identify individual users.
Preference Cookies. These cookies remember your language settings, donation frequency preferences, or communication choices to provide a more personalized experience. You may manage or delete preference cookies through your browser settings.
Cookie Management. You may control cookie preferences through your browser settings or device controls. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect Website functionality or limit access to interactive features. We do not use tracking technologies for behavioral advertising or third-party profiling.
DATA SECURITY MEASURES
We implement administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, destruction, or exploitation.
Encryption. Data transmitted between your device and our servers is encrypted using industry-standard SSL/TLS protocols. Sensitive records stored in our systems are encrypted at rest using appropriate cryptographic standards.
Access Controls. Role-based access permissions ensure that staff and volunteers can access only the information necessary to perform their duties. Multi-factor authentication is required for administrative accounts and systems containing sensitive data.
Staff Training. All personnel receive regular training on privacy practices, confidentiality obligations, data security protocols, and incident response procedures. Training emphasizes the importance of protecting beneficiary dignity and donor trust.
Secure Disposal. Physical records containing personal information are shredded or destroyed using secure methods. Digital records are permanently deleted using data sanitization techniques when retention periods expire or upon valid deletion requests.
Incident Response. We maintain an incident response protocol to detect, contain, investigate, and remediate potential data breaches. Affected individuals and regulatory authorities will be notified as required by applicable state and federal law.
While we strive to protect your information, no electronic transmission or storage method is completely secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, but we commit to continuous improvement of our safeguards and prompt response to any identified vulnerabilities.
DATA RETENTION PRACTICES
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements.
Donor Records. Donation transaction records, tax receipts, and donor communication histories are retained for a minimum of seven years to comply with IRS requirements and charitable solicitation regulations.
Program Beneficiary Records. Records pertaining to shelter placements, homecare services, advocacy cases, and youth programs are retained according to state human services regulations. Typically, records are maintained for five to ten years following service completion. Records pertaining to minors are retained until the age of majority plus any applicable statutory period.
Volunteer and Partner Data. Information related to volunteer registrations, background checks, and partnership agreements is retained for the duration of engagement plus three years for reference, liability, and audit purposes.
Website Analytics. Aggregated and anonymized analytics data may be retained indefinitely for trend analysis and impact reporting. Raw server logs containing IP addresses and technical identifiers are deleted after fourteen months.
Deletion Requests. You may request deletion of non-essential personal information by contacting our Privacy Officer. We will respond within thirty calendar days. Please note that legal obligations, active program participation, or legitimate operational requirements may limit our ability to fulfill deletion requests in certain circumstances.
YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICES
Depending on your location and the nature of your engagement with the Foundation, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information.
Access and Correction. You may request access to the personal information we maintain about you and request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data. We will respond to valid requests within thirty calendar days.
Deletion. You may request deletion of personal information that is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, subject to legal retention requirements and ongoing service considerations.
Opt-Out of Communications. You may opt out of non-essential communications, such as newsletters or fundraising appeals, by following unsubscribe instructions in emails or contacting our administration directly. Essential communications regarding program participation, donation receipts, or safety alerts cannot be opted out of while you remain engaged with our services.
Withdrawal of Consent. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. Withdrawal does not affect the lawfulness of processing conducted prior to withdrawal and may limit our ability to provide certain services.
Data Portability. Upon request and where technically feasible, we will provide your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format to facilitate transfer to another organization.
Complaints. If you believe we have not complied with this Privacy Policy or applicable privacy laws, you may lodge a complaint with our Privacy Officer or with the appropriate supervisory authority in your jurisdiction.
To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 13 of this policy. We may request verification of your identity before processing certain requests to protect against unauthorized access.
INTERNATIONAL USERS
Our services primarily serve communities within the United States. If you access our Website or engage with our programs from outside the United States, please be aware that your information will be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States.
Data protection laws in the United States may differ from those in your country of residence. By providing information to the Foundation, you consent to this transfer and acknowledge that your information will be subject to United States law and the protections described in this Privacy Policy.
CHILDREN’S PRIVACY
We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our Website is not directed to individuals under thirteen years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under thirteen without verified parental or guardian consent.
For programs serving minors, including orphanage services, youth shelter, or educational initiatives, all intake procedures require documentation of legal guardian authorization. We comply with applicable state child welfare statutes and federal regulations regarding the collection, use, and disclosure of information pertaining to minors.
If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under thirteen without proper consent, please contact us immediately. We will promptly investigate and, where appropriate, delete such information from our records.
CONTACT INFORMATION
For questions about this Privacy Policy, requests regarding your personal information, concerns about data practices, or reports of potential privacy incidents, please contact our Privacy Officer using the following methods.
We welcome feedback and are committed to addressing privacy concerns promptly, transparently, and in alignment with our values of fairness and social accountability.
POLICY UPDATES
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our operations, legal requirements, regulatory guidance, or technology practices. Material changes will be posted on our Website with a revised Effective Date clearly displayed.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about our privacy practices. Continued use of our Website, submission of applications, processing of donations, or participation in Foundation programs after updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.
If we make material changes that affect how we use or share previously collected personal information, we will provide prominent notice through our Website, email communications, or other appropriate channels prior to implementing such changes.
INCORPORATION OF TERMS
This Privacy Policy operates in conjunction with our Terms and Conditions, which govern your use of our Website, participation in programs, donation processing, volunteer engagement, and other interactions with the Foundation. By engaging with Humane Concepts Foundation, Inc., you agree to both documents and acknowledge that they collectively define the terms of our relationship.
If any provision of this Privacy Policy is held unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Our failure to enforce any right or provision shall not constitute a waiver of future enforcement.
This Privacy Policy, together with our Terms and Conditions, constitutes the entire agreement between you and Humane Concepts Foundation, Inc. regarding the collection, use, and protection of personal information. All prior representations, communications, or understandings are superseded by this document.
We remain committed to protecting your privacy, honoring your trust, and advancing our mission to empower needy people of all ages with humane services that enhance quality of life in communities across the United States.
