Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy describes how Startown Rise ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and handles personal information when you visit our website at startownrise.org or interact with us through it.

Data controller: Startown Rise, 2461 Startown Rd, Newton, NC 28658, United States. Contact: hello@startownrise.org · 828-301-5247.

Information we collect

We may collect the following categories of personal information:

• Information you provide through forms: name, email address, telephone number (if provided), subject line, message or prayer request content.
• Technical information: IP address, browser type and version, device type, and timestamps — collected automatically when you submit a form or browse the site.
• Analytics data: if you consent to analytics cookies, aggregated information about how you use the site (pages viewed, session duration, approximate location based on IP).

How we use your information

We use the information we collect to:

• Respond to inquiries and fulfill requests you submit.
• Send newsletters and related communications to subscribers, including updates, donation appeals, and information about merchandise, events, or the mission.
• Maintain records of communications in our contact management system.
• Operate, maintain, and improve the website.
• Protect the site against abuse, spam, and unauthorized activity.
• Comply with legal obligations.

Legal bases for processing (GDPR)

For visitors in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom, we rely on the following legal bases:

• Consent — for newsletter subscriptions, analytics cookies, and similar voluntary processing. You may withdraw consent at any time.
• Legitimate interests — for responding to inquiries, maintaining communication records, preventing abuse, and improving the website. We have considered these interests against your rights and freedoms and believe the processing has minimal privacy impact given the limited nature of the data collected and the reasonable expectations of individuals who contact us.
• Legal obligation — where processing is required to comply with applicable law.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies as described below. When you first visit the site, a banner allows you to accept or reject non-essential categories. You can change your preferences at any time via the Cookie Settings link in the footer.

Third-party service providers

We use the following providers to operate this website. These providers process personal information on our behalf under their own terms and data protection commitments:

• Vercel — website hosting and server-side processing.
• Zoho CRM — contact and subscriber management.
• Resend — transactional email delivery.
• Cloudflare Turnstile — bot protection on forms.
• Google Analytics — website analytics (only if you consent).

Some of these providers are located in, or may transfer data to, the United States or other jurisdictions outside the EEA/UK. Such transfers are carried out pursuant to the providers' standard contractual clauses or equivalent safeguards.

Disclosure of information

We do not sell personal information. We may disclose personal information:

• To the service providers listed above, solely to operate the website.
• Where required by law, court order, or governmental request.
• To protect the rights, property, or safety of Startown Rise, our users, or others.
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, in which case personal information would be transferred subject to this policy.

Data retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law. Typical retention periods:

• Contact form submissions: up to 3 years from last contact.
• Newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe, then up to 1 year in suppression lists.
• Prayer requests: up to 3 years.
• Analytics data: according to Google Analytics retention settings.

You may request deletion at any time (see “Your rights” below).

Your rights

Subject to applicable law, you have the right to:

• Access personal information we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your information.
• Request a copy of your information in a portable format.
• Object to or restrict certain processing.
• Withdraw consent at any time (for consent-based processing).
• Unsubscribe from marketing communications using the link in any email or by contacting us directly.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@startownrise.org. We will respond within the timeframe required by applicable law.

If you are in the EEA or UK and believe we have not handled your information in accordance with applicable law, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information. However, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data breaches

In the event of a personal data breach, we will notify the relevant supervisory authorities and affected individuals where required, and within the timeframes specified by applicable law (including, where GDPR applies, within 72 hours of becoming aware of the breach).

Automated decision-making

We do not use personal information for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects concerning you. Aggregated analytics (if you have consented) are used only to understand overall site usage and do not result in decisions about individual visitors.

Children

This website is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA/UK). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top reflects the most recent revision. Material changes will be reflected here, and where appropriate, notified through other channels.

Contact

Questions about this policy or our handling of personal information may be directed to:

Startown Rise
2461 Startown Rd
Newton, NC 28658
United States
Email: hello@startownrise.org
Phone: 828-301-5247