We are committed to protecting your privacy online.

Effective Date: May, 2026 

Website Privacy Statement

The Rhode Island Community Foundation (“we” or “us”) is committed to protecting the privacy of information we collect about you. Please read this Website Privacy Statement (this “Statement”) carefully to understand our policies and practices regarding your personal information and how we will treat it. By using our website or providing information to us in any other way, you agree to this Statement. If you do not agree to this Statement, you should not use our website. In this Statement, references to our “website” include our websites and any mobile applications and social media sites we control.

I. Information We Collect.

We may collect the following categories of information from and about users of our website:  

• Information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is capable of being associated with a particular individual, such as name, telephone number, address, and email address.  
• Donation history and payment information.  
• Information about your internet connection, the equipment you use to access our website and usage details, such as IP address, domain name, browser type, the state where your server is located, and the pages that are viewed during your visit to our website.

We collect this information directly from you when you provide it to us and automatically through cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies as you navigate through our website.

 II. How Your Information Is Used.  

We may use the personal information collected through our website for various purposes, including:

• To provide you with a smooth, efficient, and customized website experience.  
• To send you updates and other useful information about our programs and events.  
• To develop marketing or promotional programs and to send you promotional information.  
• To deliver programs and workshops and to administer our grant and scholarship programs.  
• To process and maintain records of donations.  
• To analyze usage and trends to improve your experience with our website, and for other statistical purposes.
• To improve the performance, functionality, and usability of our website, and for overall systems administration.  
• For any other purpose permitted under applicable law.

III. Who We Share Your Information With.  

We do not sell or rent your personal information to others. We may share information that we collect in certain situations. Your information may be disclosed:

• To our affiliates and community partners.  
• To third parties we use to support our organization, including marketing agencies, payment processors, data analytics providers, website hosts, and professional advisors.  
• To a third party with which we are discussing a merger, transfer of some or all of our business, or similar transaction.  
• To respond to any court order, law, or legal process; to investigate or remedy potential violations of our policies; to protect the rights, property, and safety of others; or to comply with any applicable law, rule, or regulation.  
• For any other purpose disclosed by us when you provide the information.  
• With your consent to do so.

 IV. Email and SMS Text Messaging.

We may send you communications about our fundraising, programming, and other activities by e-mail, text, phone, or mail. By providing your telephone number to us, you are consenting to be contacted by SMS text message. Message and data rates may apply.  

You may opt out of our mailing list at any time by contacting us at info@rifoundation.org. You may also click the “unsubscribe” link in emails to opt-out of further emails and reply “STOP” to opt-out of further text messaging.

V. Cookies and Similar Technologies.

We use tools such as cookies, web beacons, heatmaps, and session replays to gather information about how visitors navigate and use our website.

“Cookies” are small text files that include a unique identifier that is sent by a web server to the browser on your computer, mobile phone, or any other internet-enabled device when you visit an online site.

“Web beacons” (also known as clear gifs, tags, or pixels) are electronic files on our website that allow us (and third-party service providers acting on our behalf) to track users’ experience on our website, including browsing activity, pages visited, and actions taken (such as signing up for an event or making a donation). We may also carry web beacons placed by third-party advertisers.

The information and website statistics we (and our third-party service providers) collect and process using these tools helps us deliver a more personalized experience, customize our marketing programs, and improve website performance.

Some internet browsers allow you to change your cookies settings through an “Options” or “Preferences” menu. You may refuse the use of cookies by selecting the appropriate settings on your browser. You may also delete existing cookies through your browser. Flash cookies operate differently than browser cookies, and cookie management tools available in a web browser will not remove flash cookies. To learn more about how to manage flash cookies, you can visit the Adobe website and make changes at the Global Privacy Settings Panel. Please note that certain features or functionality of our website may become unavailable if you set your preferences to block all cookies.

We work with a third-party website hosting company as well as with third-party analytics companies such as  Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity (and may in the future also work with other third-party service providers) to help us track and analyze visitor activity on our website, measure the effectiveness of and enhance our marketing efforts, and optimize the overall visitor experience. Some of these analytics companies (such as Microsoft Clarity) also use the collected information to provide advertisements for other products and services they believe may be of interest to you. When you access our website, your web browser automatically sends certain information regarding you and your use of our website (such as the type of device you are using, how you found our website and the web pages you visit) to these service providers. By accessing our website, you consent to the collection and use of your information by them. If you do not want any information to be collected and used as described in this paragraph, you can download and install the Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out Tool (here) or Digital Advertising Alliance Opt-Out Tool (here). You can learn how Google uses the information from your web browser (here) and how Microsoft Clarity uses the information from your web browser (here). You are encouraged to review Google’s Privacy Policy (here) and Microsoft’s Privacy Policy (here). You can opt out of Google Analytics features by downloading and installing Google Analytics’ Opt-out Browser Add-on (here). 

 VI. Security.

We have implemented measures to help protect the security of your information. While we take steps to secure the information you provide to us, please be aware that no security measures are perfect and no data transmission can be guaranteed against interception or misuse. Transmission of information to and from our website is at your own risk.

VII. External Links.

We may provide links to other websites but we are not responsible for the content, policies, and practices of those websites. We do not control those websites or their privacy practices, and any information you provide to those websites is subject to the privacy policies of those websites and not this Statement. We are also not responsible for the content, policies, and practices contained at any websites that link to our website.

VIII. Minors.

Our website is generally not directed to persons under the age of 13. However, we offer certain programming for minors, such as scholarships and fellowships for students from middle school to post-graduate level. In connection with this programming, we may collect certain information from minors, including the personal information collected through our Online Scholarship Portal. In addition, our website uses certain technologies (such as cookies) to automatically collect information from our website users (which may include minors when they visit or use our website in connection with this programming, including our Online Scholarship Portal). We only collect as much information about minors as is reasonably necessary for them to participate in this programming, and we do not condition a minor’s participation in any programming on the disclosure of more personal information than is reasonably necessary.  

IX. Website Visitors From Outside the United States.  

If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that you are sending information to the United States or another jurisdiction where the privacy laws may not be as protective as those in your jurisdiction. By using our website or providing us with information in any other way, you consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described in this Statement.

X. Changes to this Statement.  

We may update this Statement from time to time. When we update this Statement, we will change the “Effective Date” at the top of the Statement and post the updated Statement on our website. We encourage you to check back frequently for current information on how we are protecting your information. By continuing to use our website or providing information to us after a Statement update, you agree to the privacy practices described in the updated Statement. 

XI. Effective Date and Review

This Policy shall take effect upon approval by the Board of Directors and shall be reviewed annually to ensure continued alignment with legal requirements and Foundation practice.  

XII. Contacting Us.  

If you have questions or comments about this Statement, please email us at info@rifoundation.org.