Privacy Policy

Swaranant Foundation ("we," "our," or "the Foundation") is committed to protecting the privacy and personal information of all individuals who interact with us, including donors, volunteers, beneficiaries, and website visitors. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, how we protect it, and the rights you have over your data.

By using our website or submitting information to us in any form, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Mailing or residential address (where applicable)
• Details shared through contact forms, volunteer applications, or donation forms
• Any communications you send us via email, social media, or our website

1.2 Donation & Transaction Information

• Donation amount and frequency
• Billing name and address associated with the payment
• Transaction reference numbers

Note: We do not collect, store, or process your credit card, debit card, or net banking credentials. All payment transactions are processed securely through our authorised third-party payment gateways (such as Razorpay or similar), which comply with PCI-DSS standards.

1.3 Volunteer & Programme Information

• Professional background and skills
• Availability and area of interest
• Emergency contact information (where provided)
• Identification documents where legally required for volunteer onboarding

1.4 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect the following technical data:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type, version, and device information
• Pages visited, time spent, and navigation patterns
• Referring URLs and search keywords
• Cookie and session identifiers

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect solely for lawful, legitimate purposes related to our charitable mission, including:

• Processing and acknowledging donations, including issuing tax exemption receipts under applicable law
• Communicating programme updates, impact reports, newsletters, and event invitations
• Reviewing and processing volunteer and partnership applications
• Responding to queries, feedback, and grievances
• Improving the performance, content, and usability of our website
• Fulfilling legal, statutory, and regulatory obligations
• Conducting internal analysis to better serve our communities

We will not use your information for any commercial or unrelated purpose without your explicit consent.

3. Donation & Payment Security

Swaranant Foundation takes the security of financial transactions very seriously. The following measures are in place:

• All donation transactions are processed through secure, PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment gateways. We do not store any card or banking details on our servers.
• Our website is secured with SSL/TLS encryption (HTTPS), ensuring all data transmitted between your browser and our server is protected.
• Donation receipts and acknowledgements are issued via email and, where applicable, are valid for income tax deduction purposes under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 (subject to eligibility).

If you have any concern about a payment transaction, please contact us immediately at [finance@swaranantfoundation.org].

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us:

• Remember your preferences and session information
• Analyse website traffic and visitor behaviour through tools such as Google Analytics
• Improve website functionality and content relevance

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features on our website.

We do not use cookies to track you across unrelated third-party websites or for targeted advertising purposes.

5. Data Sharing & Disclosure

We respect your privacy deeply. Swaranant Foundation does not sell, rent, trade, or commercially exploit your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Payment Processors: With authorised payment gateway providers solely for processing your donations.
• Legal & Regulatory Authorities: When required by law, court order, or government directive, we may disclose information to law enforcement or regulatory bodies.
• Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers (e.g., email delivery platforms, website hosting) who assist in our operations, under strict data confidentiality agreements.
• Organisational Partners: With implementing partners or co-grantees, only to the extent necessary and with your prior knowledge, where your participation in a specific programme requires it.

All third parties with whom we share data are bound to handle it in accordance with applicable data protection standards.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this policy, or as required by law. Specifically:

• Donor records are retained as required under Indian accounting and tax laws (typically 7 years).
• Volunteer records are retained for the duration of the engagement and a reasonable period thereafter.
• Website analytics data is retained in anonymised form for up to 26 months.

Once data is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

7. Data Protection & Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, or alteration. These include:

• SSL/TLS encryption on all web pages
• Restricted access to personal data within the organisation on a need-to-know basis
• Regular review of our data handling practices
• Secure server infrastructure with access controls

While we take all reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and keep your account credentials confidential.

8. Your Rights

You have the following rights with respect to your personal information:

• Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Correction: You may request that we correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal obligations.
• Opt-Out: You may unsubscribe from newsletters and communication emails at any time by clicking the 'unsubscribe' link in any email or by writing to us.
• Portability: Where applicable, you may request that we provide your data in a portable format.

To exercise any of these rights, please write to us at [privacy@swaranantfoundation.org]. We will respond to all legitimate requests within 30 days.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed at children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal information without parental consent, please contact us and we will promptly delete such information.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms, partner organisations, and government portals. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those external websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in law, our practices, or the services we offer. When we make material changes, we will update the 'Last Updated' date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this page periodically. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the way we handle your personal data, please contact us:

• Email: swaranantfoundation@gmail.com
• Address: 103-C, J & K Block, Laxmi Nagar, Delhi- 110092, India
• Phone: +91 9217188825

For unresolved privacy concerns, you may also contact the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.

© Swaranant Foundation. All Rights Reserved.