Privacy Policy

Effective Date: July 7, 2025

Welcome to Long Island Volunteers ("we," "our," or "us"). Your privacy is of utmost importance to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, protect, and share your personal information when you use our website, www.livolunteers.org ("Website"). We are committed to transparency, safety, and compliance with applicable data protection laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), New York’s Child Data Protection Act, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for international users, and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following personal information from you:

• Name

• Email address

• Phone number

• Interests and causes

• Volunteer-related skills and experience

• Availability

• Age or date of birth (to verify eligibility and parental consent, if needed)

• Background check information (e.g., criminal history or identity verification), if required for specific volunteer opportunities involving vulnerable populations (e.g., children or elderly)

1.1 How We Collect Information

We collect information you provide directly through forms (e.g., volunteer registration or contact forms), automated technologies (e.g., cookies or analytics tools as detailed in our Cookie Policy), or communications you send to us (e.g., emails or inquiries). For background checks, we may collect additional information through secure third-party services, only with your consent and as required by specific volunteer roles.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information only to:

• Match you with suitable volunteer opportunities

• Conduct background checks, where necessary, to ensure safety for specific volunteer roles

• Communicate with you about your signups, activity, or updates

• Improve our volunteer placement services

• Analyze anonymized data for internal reports

• Comply with legal obligations

2.1 Marketing Communications

With your explicit consent, we may send you updates about volunteer opportunities or our organization. You can opt out at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or contacting us at info@livolunteers.org.

3. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information. We may share your information only with:

• Nonprofit organizations or event hosts whose volunteer projects you sign up for, solely to facilitate your participation

• Trusted vendors who assist with our operations (e.g., email notifications, database management, or background check services), under strict data protection agreements

• Legal authorities, if required by law or to protect our rights, safety, or property

For volunteer opportunities requiring background checks, we may share limited information (e.g., name or date of birth) with third-party background check providers, only with your consent and as necessary for the role.

4. Children and Teen Privacy

We comply with COPPA and New York’s Child Data Protection Act to protect young users.

• Users Under 13: We require verifiable parental consent before collecting any personal information. Consent is obtained through methods such as signed consent forms or email verification.

• Users Aged 13–17: We provide clear information about data usage and obtain informed consent for any processing beyond what is necessary to provide our services (e.g., marketing communications). Background checks for minors will only be conducted with parental consent and where strictly necessary.

If you are a parent or guardian with concerns about your child’s data, please contact us at info@livolunteers.org.

5. Your Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you

• Request correction or deletion of your data

• Withdraw consent for data usage at any time

• Opt out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, email us at info@livolunteers.org. We will respond within 30 days (or 45 days for CCPA requests, if applicable).

5.1 California Residents (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect, use, or disclose about you

• Request deletion of your personal information

• Opt out of the sale of your personal information (though we do not sell your data)

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@livolunteers.org. We will respond within 45 days, as required by law.

6. Data Retention and Security

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy (e.g., matching you with volunteer opportunities or conducting background checks) or as required by law. For example, we may retain your data for up to one year after your last interaction with us, unless you request deletion sooner. Background check data, if collected, will be retained only for the duration required by the specific volunteer opportunity or as mandated by law.

We use secure servers, encryption, and access controls to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.

6.1 Data Breach Notification

In the unlikely event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify affected users and relevant authorities promptly, as required by applicable laws, such as New York’s SHIELD Act or GDPR.

7. Third-Party Services

We may use third-party platforms (e.g., email, database, or background check providers) to support our operations. We ensure these providers follow strict privacy and security practices.

7.1 Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Website may use cookies or similar technologies to enhance user experience, analyze site performance, or personalize content. For details, see our Cookie Policy.

7.2 Third-Party Privacy Policies

Third-party services we use, such as Google Analytics, have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review their policies at their website to understand how they process your data.

8. International Data Transfers

If you access our Website from outside the United States, your data may be transferred to and processed in the United States. We ensure that any international data transfers comply with applicable data protection laws, using safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses where required.

9. Accessibility

We strive to make our Website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). If you encounter accessibility issues, please contact us at contact@livolunteers.org.

10. Non-Discrimination

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic in our volunteer matching or services.

11. Policy Updates

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Email: info@livolunteers.org
 

Terms of Use

Effective Date: July 7, 2025

By accessing or using www.livolunteers.org ("Website"), you agree to the following Terms of Use. These terms govern your use of our Website and services provided by Long Island Volunteers ("we," "our," or "us"). If you do not agree with these terms, please do not use the Website.

1. Eligibility

You must be at least 13 years old to register on our Website. Users under 18 must follow additional consent procedures outlined in our Privacy Policy. We reserve the right to verify your age or eligibility to use our services.

2. Acceptable Use

You agree to:

• Provide accurate, truthful, and complete information during registration and use

• Use the Website only for lawful purposes, such as finding and participating in volunteer opportunities

• Respect the privacy and rights of other users and organizations

You may not:

• Use the Website to harass, defraud, harm, or discriminate against others

• Interfere with the Website’s functionality, security, or performance (e.g., through hacking or malware)

• Post or share content that is unlawful, offensive, or violates third-party rights

3. Volunteer Participation

We connect volunteers with nonprofit organizations and event hosts. We are not responsible for the conduct, safety, or operations of any individual or organization involved in a volunteer event.

3.1 Volunteer Safety

You are responsible for assessing the suitability and safety of any volunteer opportunity you choose to participate in. We recommend reviewing the safety protocols and requirements of the hosting organization. For certain volunteer roles, particularly those involving vulnerable populations (e.g., children or elderly), we or our partner organizations may require background checks to ensure safety. You will be notified in advance and asked for consent before any background check is conducted. Long Island Volunteers does not oversee or control third-party organizations and is not liable for any incidents, injuries, or damages occurring during volunteer activities.

4. Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms of Use, including but not limited to providing false information, engaging in harmful conduct, or misusing the Website.

4.1 Termination Process

If we suspend or terminate your account, we will notify you via email with the reason for the action. You may appeal the decision by contacting us at info@livolunteers.org within 14 days of receiving the notice.

5. User-Generated Content

If you submit content to our Website (e.g., reviews, feedback, or profile information), you grant Long Island Volunteers a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute that content for operational purposes, such as improving our services or promoting volunteer opportunities. You are responsible for ensuring your content is lawful, accurate, and does not infringe on third-party rights. We reserve the right to remove or moderate content that violates these Terms.

6. Intellectual Property

All content on the Website, including logos, text, images, and designs, is owned by Long Island Volunteers or our partners. You may not reproduce, distribute, or reuse any material without our prior written permission.

7. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date information, but we make no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or availability of the Website or volunteer opportunities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Long Island Volunteers is not liable for any loss, injury, or damages arising from your use of the Website or participation in a volunteer opportunity.

7.1 Force Majeure

We are not liable for any failure to perform our obligations under these Terms due to events beyond our reasonable control, such as natural disasters, cyberattacks, or third-party service outages.

8. Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from your use of the Website will be resolved through good-faith negotiation. If negotiation fails, disputes may be submitted to binding arbitration in New York, in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

9. Non-Discrimination

We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic in providing our services or matching volunteers with opportunities.

10. Accessibility

We are committed to making our Website accessible to all users, including those with disabilities, in accordance with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). If you encounter accessibility issues, please contact us at info@livolunteers.org.

11. Modifications to Terms

We may update these Terms of Use to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of the Website after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms of Use, please contact us at:

Email: info@livolunteers.org
Address: Long Island Volunteers, [Insert Physical Address, if applicable], New York, USA

Cookie Policy

Effective Date: July 7, 2025

This Cookie Policy explains how Long Island Volunteers ("we," "our," or "us") uses cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website, www.livolunteers.org ("Website"). This policy is part of our commitment to transparency and compliance with data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files placed on your device (e.g., computer or smartphone) when you visit our Website. They help us enhance your experience, analyze site performance, and provide personalized content. Similar technologies, such as pixels or local storage, may also be used for these purposes.

2. Types of Cookies We Use

We may use the following types of cookies:

• Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the Website to function properly, such as maintaining your session or enabling secure login. You cannot opt out of these cookies as they are critical to our services.

• Analytics Cookies: These help us understand how users interact with our Website (e.g., which pages are visited most). We use tools like [insert specific tools, e.g., Google Analytics] to collect anonymized data for improving our services.

• Functional Cookies: These enable enhanced features, such as remembering your preferences or form inputs, to improve your experience.

• Marketing Cookies: These allow us to send you tailored updates about volunteer opportunities (only with your consent).

3. How We Use Cookies

We use cookies to:

• Ensure the Website operates effectively

• Analyze site usage to improve performance and user experience

• Personalize content, such as suggesting relevant volunteer opportunities

• Deliver marketing communications, if you have opted in

4. Managing Your Cookie Preferences

You can manage cookies through:

• Our Cookie Consent Tool: If available, you can adjust your preferences via the cookie banner displayed on your first visit.

• Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect the Website’s functionality.

• Opting Out of Analytics: For tools like Google Analytics, you can opt out using browser add-ons or settings provided by the third-party service.

5. Third-Party Cookies

Some cookies are set by third-party services we use, such as Google Analytics. These providers have their own privacy and cookie policies, which we encourage you to review at their website.

6. Your Rights

As outlined in our Privacy Policy, you have rights to access, correct, or delete your personal information, including data collected via cookies. To exercise these rights or opt out of non-essential cookies, contact us at info@livolunteers.org.

7. Policy Updates

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

8. Contact Us

If you have questions about our use of cookies or this policy, please contact us at:

Email: info@livolunteers.org