गोपनीयता नीति

At सहयोग फाउंडेशन ट्रस्ट ("SFT", "we", "our", or "us"), accessible from सहयोगफाउंडेशनभारत.कॉम, safeguarding the privacy and security of our donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and website visitors is one of our fundamental commitments. This Privacy Policy document outlines the types of information collected, recorded, and processed by Sahyog Foundation Trust and details how we utilize, store, and protect that data in accordance with applicable Indian laws and regulatory guidelines.

By accessing or using our official website, participating in our social programs, making financial donations, or submitting inquiries, you explicitly consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with any part of this policy, we kindly ask you to refrain from utilizing our online platforms.

1. Information We Collect

We collect both personal identifiable information (PII) and non-personal data to facilitate smooth organizational operations, fulfill statutory compliance requirements, and improve our community welfare programs.

A. Personal Information Provided Voluntarily

When you register as a volunteer, make a contribution, sign up for news updates, or send an inquiry via our contact form, we may collect the following personal details:

• Full Name: To identify you and issue official communications or donation receipts.
• Contact Information: Email address, mobile/WhatsApp number, and postal mailing address.
• Identification Documents: PAN card number (required under Indian Income Tax Act regulations for issuing Tax Exemption / 80G receipts for donations).
• Payment & Financial Data: Transaction ID, payment reference numbers, bank details, or UPI IDs when completing financial contributions. Note: Full debit/credit card details are processed directly through secure, encrypted payment gateways and are never stored on our servers.
• Volunteer Profiles: Resume, educational qualification, skill sets, and emergency contact details submitted during volunteer recruitment.

B. Automatically Collected Technical Data

Like most modern websites, our servers automatically collect standard technical access log data when you interact with our portal, including:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address and approximate geographical location.
• Browser type, version, language preferences, and operating system.
• Referral URLs, specific pages visited on our site, time spent per page, and access timestamps.

2. How We Use Your Information

Sahyog Foundation Trust uses the gathered information strictly for legitimate non-profit administration, program enhancement, legal compliance, and stakeholder engagement. Primary uses include:

• Donation Processing & Tax Receipts: Processing financial contributions securely, verifying transactions, and issuing official donation receipts along with tax deduction certificates (80G).
• Program & Event Coordination: Managing volunteer applications, onboarding community advocates, and organizing field drives across various impact areas.
• Communication & Updates: Sending impact reports, quarterly newsletters, project milestones, receipt confirmations, and operational updates via Email or WhatsApp.
• Inquiry Resolution: Responding directly to your user inquiries, partnership proposals, and support requests.
• Statutory Audits & Governance: Maintaining transparent accounting records, complying with Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Income Tax Department, and Charity Commissioner auditing mandates.
• Website Security & Optimization: Monitoring system security, preventing unauthorized access, diagnosing technical issues, and improving user experience.

3. Legal Basis for Processing & Non-Disclosure

We firmly uphold a zero-commercialization rule regarding personal data. Sahyog Foundation Trust does not sell, rent, trade, lease, or commercially exploit your personal details with third-party marketers, advertisers, or data brokers under any circumstances.

Data sharing occurs solely under the following necessary circumstances:

• Trusted Service Providers: We share essential data with verified service providers who assist us in website hosting, secure payment processing, SMS/email gateway services, and IT maintenance. These entities operate under strict non-disclosure obligations.
• Statutory & Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required to do so by applicable Indian laws, judicial orders, court subpoenas, or government regulatory bodies for audit and verification purposes.

4. Cookies and Web Tracking Technologies

Our website utilizes standard "cookies" and similar tracking mechanisms to improve user experience, analyze traffic patterns, and remember user preferences during return visits. A cookie is a small text file stored on your browser or hard drive.

You retain full control over cookies and can modify your web browser settings to block or delete cookies at any time. However, disabling cookies may slightly affect the smooth functionality or visual rendering of certain interactive elements on our website.

5. Data Security and Storage

We implement robust administrative, technical, and physical security measures to safeguard your personal data against unauthorized access, loss, alteration, destruction, or disclosure. Online data transfers involving sensitive payment information are encrypted using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology.

While we enforce industry-standard security protocols, no internet transmission or electronic storage method can be guaranteed as 100% immune to all vulnerabilities. Consequently, while we strive to protect your personal information, users share data through our digital channels with an understanding of inherent internet risk.

6. Retention of Personal Data

Sahyog Foundation Trust retains your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the specific purposes outlined in this policy, including satisfying legal, statutory accounting, or regulatory reporting requirements. Donation records and statutory tax receipts are retained in accordance with applicable Indian tax legislation.

7. Your Data Protection Rights

Under applicable data privacy regulations, you possess several rights regarding your personal information managed by Sahyog Foundation Trust, including:

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right to Rectification: Request correction of any inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.
• Right to Unsubscribe: Opt-out of receiving non-essential promotional communications or newsletters at any time by clicking "Unsubscribe" or contacting us.
• Right to Deletion: Request the deletion of your personal profile data, subject to statutory record retention requirements under Indian tax and NGO governance laws.

8. External Third-Party Links

Our website may contain hyperlinked resources or references leading to third-party websites (such as payment gateway portals, partner organizations, or media platforms). Sahyog Foundation Trust does not control and is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of external websites. We encourage users to review the privacy policies of any third-party portal they visit.

9. Children’s Online Privacy Protection

Protecting children's online safety is paramount to us. Sahyog Foundation Trust does not knowingly solicit or collect personally identifiable information from children under the age of 18 without verifiable parental or legal guardian consent. If a parent or guardian discovers that a child has provided us with personal information without consent, please contact us immediately, and we will take prompt action to remove such data.

10. Updates to This Privacy Policy

Sahyog Foundation Trust reserves the right to review, update, or modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect updates in legal mandates, organizational workflows, or technological advancements. Any revised policy will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" timestamp at the top. We recommend checking this page periodically to remain informed.