Privacy Policy

Effective Date: June 29, 2026

The Austin Foundation (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization headquartered at 1420 Washington Blvd, Suite 301, Detroit, MI 48226. We are committed to empowering Detroit youth through education, technology, sports, and holistic life skills programs. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect information when you visit our website at www.theaustinfoundation.org, make donations, register for events, volunteer, or otherwise interact with us.

By using our website or providing us with your information, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide to Us

We collect information you voluntarily provide, including:

  • Contact information such as your name, email address, phone number, and mailing address

  • Donation and payment information (processed securely through our payment processor; we do not store full credit card numbers)

  • Volunteer applications and relevant background information

  • Event registration details

  • Program enrollment information for youth participants, including parent or guardian contact information

  • Messages or inquiries sent to us via email or contact forms

  • Newsletter and communication preferences

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • IP address and general geographic location

  • Browser type and operating system

  • Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs

  • Device identifiers

  • Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 5)

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party platforms and partners, including:

  • Payment processors when you complete a donation

  • Social media platforms if you interact with our pages (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube)

  • Kroger Community Rewards and similar partner programs

  • Event co-sponsors and partner organizations such as CSforDetroit and SMASH

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Process donations and issue tax receipts for your charitable contributions

  • Register you for events, programs, and volunteer opportunities

  • Communicate with you about our programs, news, upcoming events, and impact

  • Send newsletters and updates (you may unsubscribe at any time)

  • Administer youth programs and maintain participant records

  • Improve our website, services, and programs

  • Comply with legal obligations and nonprofit reporting requirements

  • Protect the safety of youth participants and the integrity of our programs

3. Information Related to Minors

The Austin Foundation serves Detroit youth and may collect limited personal information about minors under 18 through program enrollments. We collect this information only with verifiable parental or guardian consent. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our website without parental consent.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a minor without appropriate consent, please contact us immediately at hello@theaustinfoundation.org.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information in the following limited circumstances:

  • Service providers: Third-party vendors who assist us with payment processing, email communications, website hosting, and event management, under confidentiality obligations

  • Partner organizations: Where you have registered for joint programs or events, we may share necessary information with co-sponsors such as CSforDetroit, SMASH, or similar partners

  • Legal compliance: When required by law, court order, or government authority

  • Safety: To protect the health, safety, or rights of our participants, staff, or the public

  • Organizational transfers: In the unlikely event of a merger or transfer of organizational assets, your information may be transferred to a successor organization with similar mission and values

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website is built on Squarespace and may use cookies and similar technologies to:

  • Remember your preferences and settings

  • Analyze website traffic and usage patterns

  • Enable social media sharing features

  • Support embedded third-party content such as donation forms and event listings

You can control cookie settings through your browser. Note that disabling cookies may affect some functionality of our website. For more information about Squarespace’s data practices, please visit Squarespace’s privacy policy.

6. Data Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and physical measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Donations are processed through secure, encrypted connections. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, maintain our donor and program records, comply with legal obligations, and support our nonprofit mission. Donor records may be retained for multiple years in accordance with IRS and nonprofit best practices. You may request deletion of your information subject to our legal and recordkeeping obligations (see Section 9).

8. Third-Party Links and Platforms

Our website and communications may contain links to third-party websites and platforms, including:

  • Linktree (linktr.ee/theaustinfoundation)

  • Substack newsletter

  • Social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube)

  • Partner organization websites

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

9. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you

  • Correction: Request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information

  • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information, subject to our legal obligations

  • Opt-out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email, or by contacting us directly

  • Do Not Track: Our website may not respond to browser Do Not Track signals at this time

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at hello@theaustinfoundation.org. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe.

10. Michigan Residents

Michigan residents may have additional rights under applicable state law. We are committed to honoring all applicable privacy rights. If you have questions about your rights as a Michigan resident, please contact us at the information below.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. We will post the updated policy on our website with a revised effective date. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically. Continued use of our website or services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated Policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

The Austin Foundation

1420 Washington Blvd, Suite 301

Detroit, MI 48226

Email: hello@theaustinfoundation.org

Website: www.theaustinfoundation.org

The Austin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. © 2026 The Austin Foundation. All Rights Reserved.