Privacy Policy

Introduction

At Smart Life, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, make Sponsorship, volunteer, or engage with our programs and services.

We believe in transparency and are dedicated to maintaining the trust you place in us as we work together to support refugees, provide education, ensure access to clean water, deliver healthcare, and create positive change in communities worldwide.

By using our website or services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Make a donation: Name, email address, billing address, phone number, payment information (processed securely through our payment processors)
• Sign up as a volunteer: Name, email address, phone number, address, areas of interest, skills, availability
• Subscribe to our newsletter: Name and email address
• Register for events: Name, email address, phone number, dietary restrictions, accessibility needs
• Sign petitions: Name, email address, country, and optional comments
• Contact us: Name, email address, phone number, and message content
• Apply for programs or assistance: Personal details as required by specific programs (collected with your explicit consent)

Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity:

• Device information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device type
• Usage data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website
• Cookies and tracking technologies: We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance user experience and analyze website performance

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party platforms if you choose to:

• Connect your social media accounts to support our campaigns
• Participate in fundraising campaigns through third-party platforms
• Make Sponsorship through corporate matching programs

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Program Delivery and Support

• Process and acknowledge Sponsorship
• Coordinate volunteer activities and opportunities
• Provide program services to beneficiaries
• Send tax receipts and donation confirmations
• Manage event registrations and attendance

Communication and Engagement

• Send newsletters and program updates
• Share impact stories and organizational news
• Provide information about campaigns, events, and fundraising initiatives
• Respond to inquiries and support requests
• Send petition updates and calls to action (if you have signed our petitions)

Administrative Purposes

• Maintain accurate donor and supporter records
• Generate reports for board members and stakeholders
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
• Process payments and prevent fraud
• Analyze and improve our programs and services

Website Improvement

• Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Improve website functionality and user experience
• Troubleshoot technical issues
• Optimize content and campaigns

Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal data for specific purposes (e.g., newsletter subscription)
• Contract: Processing is necessary for the performance of a contract with you (e.g., processing Sponsorship)
• Legal obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with legal requirements (e.g., tax reporting)
• Legitimate interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating our charitable mission, provided it does not override your rights

Information Sharing and Disclosure

We respect your privacy and do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our organization:

• Payment processors for secure donation processing
• Email service providers for newsletter distribution
• Cloud storage and database providers
• Website hosting and analytics services
• Event management platforms

These service providers have access to your information only to perform services on our behalf and are obligated to protect your information.

Partner Organizations

We may share information with partner NGOs, implementing partners, or coalition members when necessary to deliver programs or coordinate relief efforts. We ensure that partners maintain similar privacy standards.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or governmental regulation, or when we believe disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations
• Protect our rights, property, or safety
• Prevent fraud or abuse
• Respond to emergency situations

Organizational Changes

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or transfer of assets, your information may be transferred to the successor organization, which will continue to honor this privacy policy.

Aggregate Information

We may share aggregated, anonymized data that cannot identify individuals for research, advocacy, reporting, or promotional purposes.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

• Encryption: We use SSL/TLS encryption to secure data transmission
• Secure storage: Personal data is stored on secure servers with restricted access
• Payment security: We use PCI-DSS compliant payment processors and do not store complete credit card information
• Access controls: Only authorized personnel have access to personal information, limited to what is necessary for their roles
• Regular audits: We conduct regular security assessments and updates
• Staff training: Our team receives training on data protection and privacy practices

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to using industry-standard practices.

Data Retention

We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

• Donor information: Retained for tax and accounting purposes (typically 7 years or as required by law)
• Volunteer records: Retained during active engagement and for a reasonable period thereafter
• Newsletter subscribers: Retained until you unsubscribe
• Website analytics: Typically retained for 26 months
• Program beneficiary data: Retained as required for program evaluation and reporting to donors/funders

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

Access and Portability

• Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Request your data in a structured, commonly used format (data portability)

Correction and Updates

• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Update your contact preferences and personal details

Deletion and Restriction

• Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances

Objection and Withdrawal

• Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting previous processing)
• Opt-out of marketing communications (unsubscribe links included in all emails)

Lodge a Complaint

You have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, particularly in the EU member state of your residence, workplace, or where an alleged infringement occurred.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section below.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential cookies: Necessary for website functionality and security
• Analytics cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
• Functional cookies: Enable enhanced features and personalization
• Marketing cookies: Used to track campaign effectiveness (with your consent)

Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies. Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

Third-Party Analytics

We use third-party analytics services (such as Google Analytics) to help us understand website usage. These services may use cookies and collect information about your use of our website.

Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EEA). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete such information from our systems.

For youth volunteer programs, we require parental or guardian consent before collecting any personal information from minors.

International Data Transfers

Smart Life operates globally, and your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in countries other than your own. These countries may have different data protection laws than your jurisdiction.

When we transfer personal data internationally, we implement appropriate safeguards to ensure your information receives an adequate level of protection, including:

• Standard contractual clauses approved by the European Commission
• Data processing agreements with service providers
• Compliance with applicable data transfer regulations

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms, partner organizations, and service providers. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected through our website and services.

Updates to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on our website
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Sending an email notification to registered users for significant changes

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our services after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact Us

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

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days. For urgent privacy matters, please indicate "URGENT" in your subject line.

Your Trust Matters to Us

At Smart Life, we understand that your trust is earned through transparency and responsible stewardship of your information. We are committed to:

• Using your information solely to advance our charitable mission
• Protecting your privacy with the highest standards of data security
• Being transparent about our data practices and giving you control
• Honoring your communication preferences and respecting your choices

Thank you for supporting Smart Life and joining us in creating positive change worldwide. Together, we believe in a world where everyone, everywhere, has equal value.