Privacy Policy

Updated July 2024
 

Feeding America strongly believes in protecting the integrity and privacy of personal information gathered from our supporters and others through all our communication channels and from visitors to our website. The protection of your privacy is of great importance to us.

We have created this privacy policy to communicate our practices regarding the collection and dissemination of personal information that is provided to us and that can be linked to a specific individual, such as a name, postal address, telephone number(s), email address, among other information (hereinafter “Personal Information”), as well as certain non-personally identifiable information collected when you visit many of our web pages such as the type of browser you are using (e.g., Chrome or Firefox), the type of operating system you are using (e.g., Windows or Mac OS), the domain name of your internet service provider (e.g., AT&T or Verizon), aggregate data about the number of visits to the site and/or aggregate data about the pages visited (hereinafter “Aggregate Data”).

This policy also applies when you use social media that overlaps Feeding America’s social media and/or website, as well as to personal information we collect offline. This policy does not apply to information or data Feeding America purchases from other sources. Feeding America uses its best efforts to not share information it collects from those persons it provides services to (commonly referred to as “clients”). See our supplemental donor privacy policy for how we use the information we collect through social media fundraising efforts, including but not limited to mobile text to give programs and which applies to donors in tandem with this Privacy Policy.

This policy will be updated periodically, so please be sure to reread it from time to time. The most recent date the privacy policy was updated is provided at the top of the page. By submitting your personal information to us, you are agreeing that Feeding America may use the information in accordance with this privacy policy.

Feeding America’s Collection and Use of Personal Information and Your Privacy:

  1. Information We Collect
  2. How We Use Your Information
  3. How We Share Your Information
  4. How We Store and Protect your Information
  5. Your Rights and Choice Regarding Your Data
  6. Third Party Links and Behavioral Tracking

 

1. INFORMATION WE COLLECT

A. Information You Provide to Us
When you provide information to Feeding America such as your name, telephone number, address, email address, or other personal information, we collect that information.

When you contact us or we contact you, we collect any information that you provide, including the contents of the messages or attachments you send us.

If you make a user-submission. Feeding America welcomes your comments and participation on its site. However, you acknowledge that if you send us creative suggestions, stories, photos, videos, ideas, notes, drawings, concepts, or other information, the information shall be deemed, and shall remain, the property of Feeding America. By submission of any information to us, you assign to us and we shall exclusively own all now known or hereafter existing rights to such information and shall be entitled to unrestricted use of the information for any purpose whatsoever, commercial or otherwise, without compensation.

As a user of this site, you are responsible for your own communications and are responsible for the consequences of their posting. Therefore, do not impersonate another person and not transmit material to us that is copyrighted, unless you are the copyright owner or have the permission of the copyright owner to post it; do not send material that reveals trade secrets, unless you won them or have the permission of the owner; do not send material that infringes on any other intellectual property rights of others or on the privacy or publicity rights of others; do not send material that is obscene, defamatory, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, or embarrassing to another user or any other person or entity; and do not send sexually explicit images, advertising or solicitations of business, or chain letters.

You represent and warrant that any information and/or material you post or provide to Feeding America through any medium is truthful, accurate, not misleading, not confidential property of others, and not in violation of any other third party’s rights. Furthermore, you acknowledge and agree that all submissions will become the property of Feeding America and that Feeding America has the right to publish or republish the submission for any type of use including for promotional and advertising purposes without compensation to you of any kind. Should your submission include third party materials, you grant, represent, and warrant that you, as well as the owner of such content, have expressly granted Feeding America a royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide exclusive license to use the submission in any manner, media or form now known or hereafter developed. Feeding America shall have the right to sublicense its rights.

B. Information We Collect When You Use the Website

Feeding America also collects some anonymous information each time you visit the Website so we can improve the overall quality of your online experience. We collect your IP address, referral data, browser, and platform type. You do not have to register with Feeding America before we can collect this anonymous information. We do not collect any unique information about you (such as your name, email address, etc.) except when you specifically and knowingly provide such information.

If you request more information or communications from our organization, we will collect your personal information only so that we can get you the information you have requested. Like most standard Website servers, we use log files to collect and store this anonymous user information. We analyze this information to examine trends, administer the site, track user’s movement in the aggregate, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. Feeding America may present links in a format that enables us to understand whether they have been followed. We use this information to understand and improve the quality of the Website.

 

2. HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

We use your personal information to:

  • Communicate with you about numerous topics and fundraising;
  • Educate you about our programs and activities; and
  • Respond to legal proceedings and obligations.

Communicate With You.
We may use the information we collect from you to contact you which may include calls at the number you have provided or additional communications by email or mail or through social media.

Educate You.

We may use the information we collect from you to educate you on our programs and activities, including those of our members in the Feeding America Network.

Respond to Legal Proceedings and Obligations. 
Occasionally the law, government entities, or other regulatory bodies impose demands and obligations on us with respect to the services we seek to provide. In such a circumstance, we may use your personal information to respond to those demands or obligations.

 

3. HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

Sharing With Third Parties. 
We may share your Personal Information with certain nonprofit or commercial organizations, including your designated local food bank in the Feeding America network based on the address you provide, so that they may contact you about products, services, or offers that we think would be of interest to you.

In the event an employer establishes a giving fund their employees can contribute to, Feeding America will ask for the donor (employee’s) consent in sharing their personal information back with the employer, for the limited purposes of substantiating the donation and acknowledging the employee’s support.

Feeding America uses third-party vendors to provide services on this website and in offline business operations. The information that you submit on this site may be provided to those vendors on a confidential basis so that those vendors can provide services (such as maintaining our database, sending email messages, facilitating fundraising activities, or processing credit card transactions) on our behalf.

For Legal Reasons.

We may share your personal information in response to a legal obligation, or if we have determined that sharing your personal information is reasonably necessary or appropriate to:

  • Comply with any applicable federal, state, or local law or regulation, civil, criminal, or regulatory inquiry, investigation or legal process, or enforceable governmental request;
  • Respond to legal process (such as a search warrant, subpoena, summons, or court order);
  • Cooperate with law enforcement agencies concerning conduct or activity that we reasonably and in good faith believe may violate federal, state, or local law; or
  • Exercise or defend legal claims, protect against harm to our rights, property, interests, or safety or the rights, property, interests, or safety of you, third-parties, or the public as required or permitted by law.

In Connection with a Sale or Merger.

We may share your personal information while negotiating or in relation to a change of corporate control such as a restructuring, merger, or sale of our assets.

Otherwise With Your Consent.

With your permission or upon your direction, we may disclose your personal information to interact with a third party or for other purposes.

 

4. HOW WE STORE AND PROTECT YOUR INFORMATION

We take appropriate security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure, or destruction of data. We restrict access to your personally identifying information to employees who need to know that information to operate, develop or improve our services.

5. YOUR RIGHTS AND CHOICE REGARDING YOUR DATA

A. All Users.

 

Review and Request Changes.

If you would like to review and request changes of your personal information that has been collected by the Website, please contact us online and/or visit the Opt-out/Deletion/Contact Feeding America section of this Policy at the very end of this Policy.

Email Subscriptions.

You can always unsubscribe from our commercial or promotional emails by clicking unsubscribe in those messages. We will still send you transactional and relational emails about your use of the Website.

B. Specific State’s Rights.

Feeding America meets and/or exceeds the disclosure requirements of U.S. state privacy laws (e.g., Colorado Privacy Act and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).) You have a number of choices in relation to your personal information. Further, you may have a legal right to these choices depending on your state.

Right to Know. You have the right to confirm whether we are processing your personal data and access such data, including:

  • The categories of personal information we have collected about you;
  • The purpose for processing your personal information;
  • How you can exercise your rights and appeal a decision regarding your request;
  • The categories of personal information that we have shared with third parties; and
  • The categories of third parties with whom we have shared your personal information.

Right to Correct. You have a right to correct inaccuracies in the personal data we have collected about you, considering the nature of the personal data and the purposes of the processing of your personal data.

Right to Delete. You have the right to request that we delete the personal information we have collected from you unless we need to retain that information for a specified purpose as exempted under state law.

Right to Obtain a Copy. You have a right to obtain a copy of the personal data we have collected on you.

Right to Opt Out. You have the right to opt out of the processing of your personal data for purposes of (i) targeted advertising, (ii) the sale of personal data, or (iii) profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you.

Right to Appeal. If we decline to act regarding your request, you have the right to appeal this decision.

Other Rights. You also have the right not to be discriminated against for exercising any of the rights listed above.

 

Exercising Your Privacy Rights. 

Targeted Advertising 
Where possible, Feeding America honors Global Privacy Control browser signals to respect the data preferences of residents of states where it is required by law.

Personal Information 
You may contact us and obtain information on the kind of data we’ve collected about you and the types of third parties we share it with. At your request, we will provide a copy of the data. If you’d like to delete your data or close your account, or otherwise opt-out of the sale or sharing of your information, you can do that by completing this form at https://feedingamerica.org/ccpa, emailing [email protected] or by calling 1-800-910-5524.

Response Timing 
We aim to respond to a consumer request for access or deletion within 45 days of receiving that request. If we require more time, we will inform you of the reason and extension period in writing. If we decline to act regarding a consumer request, we will inform you of the reason within 45 days of receiving that request.

“Deleting” Personal information. 
We provide these options for your benefit and we will never discriminate against you for using them. But if you choose to delete your data, we won’t be able to offer you any information, services, or other support that require us to use your data.

“Deleting” Personal information is defined by:

  1. Permanently and completely erasing the personal information on existing systems with the exception of archived or back-up systems;
  2. De-identifying the personal information; or
  3. Aggregating the personal information.

 

Storing Personal Information If personal information is stored, archived or listed in a backup system, we reserve the right to delay compliance with the consumer’s request to delete, with respect to data stored on the archived or backup system, until the archived or backup system is next accessed or used. We will inform the person(s) of this in the event is it applicable to their request.

Record Keeping We must maintain a record of the individual requesting deletion pursuant to the Civil Code section 1798. 105(d)

Feeding America is not required to comply with a consumer’s request to delete the consumer’s personal information if it is necessary for us or service provider to maintain the consumer’s personal information in order to:

  1. Complete the transaction for which the personal information was collected, provide a good or service requested by the consumer, or reasonably anticipated within the context of a business’s ongoing business relationship with the consumer, or otherwise perform a contract between the business and the consumer.
  2. Detect security incidents, protect against malicious, deceptive, fraudulent, or illegal activity; or prosecute those responsible for that activity.
  3. Debug to identify and repair errors that impair existing intended functionality.
  4. Exercise free speech, ensure the right of another consumer to exercise his or her right of free speech, or exercise another right provided for by law.
  5. Comply with the California Electronic Communications Privacy Act pursuant to Chapter 3.6 (commencing with Section 1546) of Title 12 of Part 2 of the Penal Code.
  6. Engage in public or peer-reviewed scientific, historical, or statistical research in the public interest that adheres to all other applicable ethics and privacy laws, when the businesses’ deletion of the information is likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of such research, if the consumer has provided informed consent.
  7. To enable solely internal uses that are reasonably aligned with the expectations of the consumer based on the consumer’s relationship with the business.
  8. Comply with a legal obligation.
  9. Otherwise use the consumer’s personal information, internally, in a lawful manner that is compatible with the context in which the consumer provided the information.

 

 

6. THIRD PARTY LINKS AND BEHAVIORAL TRACKING

Third Party Links.
We may include links or offers to third-party products or services on our website. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We are not responsible or liable for the content and activities of these third-party sites.

Third Party Information Gathering.

Feeding America includes content and ads from third parties that may perform user activity tracking other than that described herein. These other sites may place their own cookies on your computer, collect data, or solicit personal information. For more information about each third-party content provider, cookies, and how to opt-out, please refer to such third-party advertiser’s privacy policy.

 

Mobile Terms and Conditions

  1. There is no fee from Feeding America to receive text messages. Message and data rates may apply- this can be checked with your mobile service provider. Charges are billed and payable to your mobile service provider or deducted from your prepaid account.
  2. Data obtained from you in connection with this SMS service may include your mobile phone number, your carrier’s name, and the date, time, and content of your messages. We may use this information to contact you and provide the services you request from us. Alerts sent via SMS may not be delivered if the mobile phone is not in range of a transmission site, or if sufficient network capacity is not available at a particular time. Even within a coverage area, factors beyond the control of the wireless operator may interfere with message delivery, including the customer’s equipment, terrain, proximity to buildings, foliage, and weather. Wireless operators do not guarantee message delivery and will not be held liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
  3. We will not be liable for any delays in the receipt of any SMS message as delivery is subject to effective transmission from your network operator.
  4. 4. By subscribing to Feeding America mobile alerts, the user consents to receive automated text messages from Feeding America to aid in our fight against food insecurity. Recurring messages. Message & data rates may apply. If you have any questions, text HELP to the number you received a text message from or contact us at or [email protected].
  5. To stop receiving messages reply STOP to the number you received text messages from.

All above categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.

Cookie Policy; Pixel tags, and other tracking technologies:

We use cookies, small files that are sent to your Web browser and stored on your computer’s hard drive, to improve our site’s operation. The cookie is used to speed up your access to the site and the information you wish to see, as well as for website analytics, marketing efforts, and for functionality. We may also use other tools to collect data when you visit our website, including pixel tags and other tracking technologies. The Feeding America Website may use “cookies” and similar tools like pixel tags and similar tracking technologies, to collect aggregate statistical information and data. Aggregate information does not identify any individual person. We may use or disclose aggregate information for any purpose. The majority of browsers accept cookies, but your browser should also give you options for preventing, accepting, or receiving notice of new cookies. Please be advised that if you block cookies, some site functionality may be lost.

Types of Cookies We Use: We may use the following types of cookies on our site:

  1. Session cookies – These are temporary cookies that remain in the cookie file of your browser until you close the browser. This cookie is automatically placed onto your browser by the server software.
  2. Analytical cookies – Our website uses third-party cookies, such as Google Analytics for the following purposes
    • cookie to record the time of your first visit to website, the time of your most recent visit to the website and the time of your current visit;
    • a cookie to record your device type;
    • a cookie to record your geolocation;
    • a cookie to record which page(s) you visit on the website;
    • a cookie to record how long you stayed on the website;
    • a cookie to record how you located our website (i.e. Google search, keyword, link from other page etc.); and
    • cookies to provide additional analytical data regarding your use of our site.
  3. Third-Party “Cookies” - We use third-party advertising companies to create and distribute advertising on our behalf. These companies may also employ cookies and action tags (also known as single-pixel gifs or web beacons) to measure advertising effectiveness. Any information these third parties collect via cookies and action tags is anonymous.

Feeding America also partners with digital platforms that utilize cookies for website retargeting. purpose of website retargeting is to find visitors of these partners advertising clients’ properties (websites, apps, and newsletters) and send them digital advertising based on their visit or interaction with the client’s owned properties or advertising. The digital platforms use cookies to identify users and then personalize ads based on their browsing experience.

We only share the information obtained through the use of Google Analytics with Google. For more information on Google’s use of your information, please see Types of Cookies Used by Google. The cookies we use for these purposes do not track your Internet usage after leaving our website and do not store your personal information. They will not be used in connection with any other information to identify you in any way. Google Analytics collects information anonymously. It reports website trends without identifying individual visitors.  However, outside of the Google Analytics platform, Feeding America may use unique IDs to link Personal Information to Google Analytics data. You can opt-out of Google Analytics without affecting how you visit our site – for more information on opting out of being tracked by Google Analytics across all websites you use, visit this Google page. 

More broadly, we may work with data providers to target advertising to you personally, through online and offline methods including email, display media and direct mail. This advertising may be directed to you because you visited or logged in to our website. When we generate this advertising, data we collect from you through online cookies and other technologies may be combined with other de-identified data (such as a hashed, non-readable email or postal address) in order to tailor ads to you based on your preferences and other information about you. To learn more about targeted advertising, these providers, or how you may opt-out, please visit the DAA’s consumer choice page at http://www.aboutads.info/choices.

Technologies other than HTTP cookies may be used by third parties in a similar way, to recognize the email recipients’ computer or device and to keep track of which user identities match to which devices or browsers, and those technologies may not respond to browser settings that block conventional cookies. You may opt of many of these types of technologies by visiting the Network Advertising Opt Out page. You can also opt-out of display remarketing ads directly by clicking on the blue triangle called ‘AdChoices’ in the right-hand corner of the ad and follow the instructions. Please note if you delete your cookies or switch devices this exclusion won’t carry over.  We are not responsible for third parties’ use of cookies.

Disabling cookies
If you wish, you can usually adjust your browser so that your computer does not accept cookies:

  1. Go to the heading “Manage Cookies” and click onto the option you prefer, either stopping cookies being installed, or notifying you of them;
  2. From the list provided, click onto the program which your computer uses; if this is not shown on the list, click on the “help” heading on the bar at the top of this page, search for information on “cookies” - an explanation of how to delete cookies will appear, then follow the instructions.

Alternatively, you can adjust your browser to tell you when a website tries to put a cookie on your computer.

How you adjust your browser to stop it accepting cookies or to notify you of them, will depend on the type of internet browser program your computer uses. You can follow the appropriate instructions for your specific browser type at https://www.aboutcookies.org. (Again, we are not responsible for external websites).

Cookies do not contain confidential information such as your home address, telephone number or credit card details. We do not exchange cookies with any third-party websites or external data suppliers. If you do choose to disable cookies, you may find that certain sections of our site do not work properly.

Protecting your information; Security

We understand that no matter how we collect your information, we have a responsibility to protect it.  We take that responsibility seriously.  We build security into our website features and donation processing from the ground up to help protect data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction.

We’re always looking for threats and take reasonable steps to respond to those threats, protecting the information users share with us.  Of course, no method of Internet transmission or data storage can provide guaranteed protection to your information.  If anything should ever happen to your information, we’ll let you know as soon as we can and try our best to make it right.

Feeding America is based in the United States and the information we collect is governed primarily by U.S. law.  Where we are subject to the privacy laws of other countries, we comply with those requirements.  If you access or use our services or provide information to us, your information will be processed and stored in the United States, where you may not have the same rights and protections as you do under your local law.

This website has security measures in place to protect the loss, misuse, and alteration of the information under our control. The security measures used on this site include, but are not limited to, industry-standard Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology, firewalls, and internal policies to maintain the security of stored data. While we follow generally accepted industry standards to protect the personal information submitted to us, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100 percent secure.

Therefore, while we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Warranties

FEEDING AMERICA MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND CONCERNING THE ACCURACY, SUITABILITY, OR SAFETY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED ON THIS WEBSITE OR ANY LINKED SITE FOR ANY PURPOSE. ALL SUCH INFORMATION IS PROVIDED “AS IS” AND WITH SPECIFIC DISCLAIMER OF ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. FEEDING AMERICA MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS OF ANY KIND THAT THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THIS WEBSITE OR ANY LINKED SITE WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR THAT THE SITE OR THE SERVER THAT HOSTS THE SITE ARE FREE FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER FORMS OF HARMFUL COMPUTER CODE. IN NO EVENT SHALL FEEDING AMERICA, ITS EMPLOYEES, AGENTS OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE CREATION, PRODUCTION OR DELIVERY OF THIS WEBSITE, BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THIS SITE OR ANY LINKED SITE.

EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE EXPRESSLY PROVIDED, FEEDING AMERICA EXPRESLLY DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY, CONTENT, AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION, PRODUCTS, SERVICES OR MERCHANDISE FOUND ON THIRD PARTY STIES THAT LINK TO OR FROM THE FEEDING AMERICA SITE.  FEEDING AMERICA DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT OR SERVICE ORDERING FUNCTIONS, ORDER FULFILLMENT OR COMPLIANCE OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES WITH ANY MANUFACTURER’S WARRANTIES OR SPECIFICATIONS.  FEEDING AMERICA CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE MATERIAL CONTAINED ON THIRD PARTY SITES AND/OR RELATED SERVICES NOR DOES FEEDING AMERICA MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES AS TO THE SECURITY OF ANY INFORMATION YOU MIGHT BE REQUESTED TO GIVE TO THIRD PARTY SITES.

 

External Links

Links to other Websites do not imply an endorsement of the materials disseminated at those Websites, nor does the existence of a link to another site imply that the organization or person publishing at that site endorses any of the materials at this site. Links to other Websites are provided by Feeding America as a convenience to its users. Feeding America is not responsible for the materials contained at any Website linked to this site. If you visit the Websites of any of our partners, please consult their privacy policy. Our privacy policies and terms of use apply only to your use of the Feeding America site and direct interactions with Feeding America. We do not disclose personally identifiable information to those operating linked sites and we are not responsible for their privacy practices.

A Special Note About Children:

Feeding America does not knowingly gather any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. You must be 13 years of age or older to access the site. Feeding America has no interest in collecting information from children under the age of 13.

Binding Effect/Modification of Policy and Terms

By accessing the Feeding America Website, you agree that the terms, combined with your act of using the website and/or services offered on or through the website have the same legal force and effect as a written contract with your written signature and satisfy any laws that require a writing or signature, including any applicable stature of frauds.  You further agree that you shall not challenge the validity, enforceability or admissibility of the terms on the grounds that it was electronically transmitted or authorized.  In addition, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to print the terms.

Feeding America may change this Privacy Policy and Terms of use at any time by posting the changed or amended Privacy Policy and Terms of Use on the Website.  Your continued viewing of or use of this website following the posting of any changes to this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use will signify your assent to any such changes or amendments.

Opt-out/Deletion/Contact Feeding America:

If you wish to have your data deleted, opt-out of receiving future communications, opt-out of having your information shared by Feeding America, or exercise any other privacy right you may have by law, please contact Feeding America at the below address or phone number or submit your request via Feeding America’s website Contact Us form.

Postal Mail:  
Feeding America
PO Box 96749
Washington DC 20077-7746
Telephone: (800) 771-2303

All deletion and opt-out requests will be honored, but please be patient with us as it may take six (6) to eight (8) weeks for opt-out changes to be fully implemented.
Should you have any questions about this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, the practices of this website, or your dealings with this website, contact Feeding America at:

Attn: Andrea Yao, Chief Protection Officer
Postal Mail:  
Feeding America                       
National Office
161 North Clark Street, Suite 700
Chicago, IL  60601