Effective Date: April 12, 2025
Last Updated: May 6, 2025
Welcome to Tick Borne Inc. We care deeply about your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your information when you visit our website, sign up for our events or newsletters, donate, or contact us.
We’re a nonprofit organization led by youth, and we aim to be clear, respectful, and responsible in everything we do – especially when it comes to your personal information.
1. Who We Are
Tick Borne Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Maryland. Our website address is: https://www.tickborne.org.
2. What Information We Collect
We only collect information we need to operate, improve our programs, and communicate with you and we never collect more than necessary.
Information you provide to us:
- Your name and email address (when signing up for our newsletter or events)
- Mailing address (if you request materials, donate, or become a member)
- Payment info (when you donate – processed securely through trusted third-party services)
- Messages you send us (through contact forms, email, or surveys)
Information we collect automatically:
- Basic technical data (IP address, browser type, device type)
- Site usage data (pages visited, time on site, etc.)
- CAPTCHA verification responses (from hCaptcha on our site; reCAPTCHA on Zeffy-hosted donation and membership forms)
- Anonymous analytics data from Matomo (e.g. page views, time on site, device/browser info)
2.1. Legal basis for collecting your data
We only collect and use personal data when we have a lawful reason, such as your consent (like signing up for a newsletter), or when it’s necessary to deliver a service you’ve requested (like sending donor perks).
3. How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Send updates, newsletters, or event reminders (when you opt in)
- Respond to your questions or requests
- Process donations and send receipts
- Deliver member or donor perks (like wristbands, stickers, etc.)
- Improve our website and educational programs
- Track anonymous site stats to understand how people are using the site
We do not sell, trade, or rent your data. Ever!
4. Sharing Your Information
We keep your information private. In rare cases, we may share it with:
- Trusted service providers (like email platforms, CAPTCHA services, or payment processors such as Zeffy)
- Law enforcement or legal authorities, only if required by law
5. Cookies & Analytics
We use cookies (small text files stored on your device) to make our site work, improve your experience, and understand how visitors interact with our content.
Examples:
- Essential cookies for site functionality and forms
- Analytics cookies from tools like Google Analytics
- Cookies and scripts from embedded third-party services (like YouTube, hCaptcha, or Google reCAPTCHA on Zeffy pages)
You can manage or delete cookies anytime in your browser settings. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.
5.1. Matomo Analytics
We use Matomo Analytics to better understand how visitors use our website. Matomo is privacy-friendly and runs entirely on our servers, meaning no third-party access to your data.
If enabled, Matomo may collect anonymized information such as:
- Pages visited
- Duration of visit
- Clicks and interactions
- Browser/device details
You can opt out of this tracking below:
You may choose to prevent this website from aggregating and analyzing the actions you take here. Doing so will protect your privacy, but will also prevent the owner from learning from your actions and creating a better experience for you and other users.
6. Data Retention
We only keep your information as long as necessary to serve its purpose. Whether that’s sending a newsletter, processing a donation, or responding to a request. After that, we securely delete it.
7. Your Rights & Choices
You always have control over your information. You can:
- Unsubscribe from emails at any time (just use the link in the footer)
- Request to see or delete your personal data by contacting us
- Ask us to correct or update any inaccurate information
- If you’re under 18 and posted something you regret (like a blog comment), you can ask us to remove it – no judgment
8. Children’s Privacy
Our website is not specifically directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has shared personal information with us, please contact us so we can remove it. We aim to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
9. Security
We take security seriously. Our site uses HTTPS encryption, and we work with secure platforms to process donations and store data safely.
No system is 100% perfect, so if you notice something unusual, please let us know immediately.
10. Links to Other Sites
We sometimes link to other websites (like the CDC, NIH, or trusted nonprofits). These sites have their own privacy policies, and we’re not responsible for what they do. We recommend checking them if you’re curious or concerned.
We also have public accounts on social media platforms like e.g. Instagram and LinkedIn . If you interact with us there, those platforms have their own privacy rules you should check out.
11. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. If we make big changes, we’ll clearly announce them on our website. The “last updated” date at the top will always tell you when the most recent version was published.
12. Contact Us
Have questions about how we handle your data? Need help accessing or removing something? We’re here for you. Please reach out through our Contact Us page.
Thank You 💚
Thank you for trusting us with your information. We’re honored to have you as part of the Tick Borne Inc. community and we promise to keep your trust safe and sound.