Privacy Policy
Commonwealth Orthodox Crowdfunding Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 6.23.25
This Privacy Policy describes how Commonwealth Orthodox Crowdfunding (“Commonwealth,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you use our website, services, or engage with campaigns hosted on our platform (collectively, the “Services”). We are committed to protecting your privacy in accordance with the teachings of the Orthodox Church and applicable laws.
1. Information We Collect
We collect the following types of personal information:
1.1 Information You Provide Directly:
When applying to host a campaign, you may provide your name, contact details, identity verification documents, bank account information, and clergy references.
When making a donation, you may provide your name, email address, payment information, and optional personal messages or comments.
If you subscribe to our newsletters or contact us, we collect your contact information and the content of your communication.
1.2 Information Automatically Collected:
We collect usage information including IP address, browser type, pages visited, and device information through cookies and similar technologies.
1.3 Information from Clergy and Third Parties:
To verify the authenticity of campaign applications, we may collect statements or endorsements from clergy associated with a canonical Orthodox Church.
We may also receive information from payment processors necessary to complete transactions.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information for the following purposes:
To process campaign applications and donations
To verify identities and needs through clergy or canonical Orthodox jurisdictions
To operate, maintain, and improve our Services
To communicate with you regarding your campaign, donation, or inquiries
To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms of Service
To promote Commonwealth and selected campaigns through email, social media, and other media (only using information you have submitted with the understanding that it may be publicly shared)
3. Sharing of Information
We may share your information as follows:
With Clergy Verifiers: For verification of identity and pastoral need
With Payment Processors: To process donations securely
With Beneficiaries or Organizers: When necessary to complete a donation or campaign distribution
With Service Providers: Who help us operate the platform (e.g., hosting, analytics, support)
As Required by Law: To comply with applicable laws, legal processes, or governmental requests
We do not sell your personal information to third parties.
4. User-Generated Content and Public Sharing
If you submit a campaign, testimonial, comment, photo, or story, you grant Commonwealth a worldwide, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and display that content for the purposes of operating, promoting, or improving our Services. This includes use in promotional materials, social media, email communications, or media outreach, unless otherwise restricted by written agreement.
5. Data Security and Retention
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access or disclosure. While no online service is completely secure, we strive to safeguard your information using industry best practices. We retain your data only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with our legal obligations, or resolve disputes.
6. Your Rights and Choices
You may have the right to:
Access, correct, or delete your personal information
Object to certain processing
Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at [insert contact email or form].
7. Children
Our Services are not intended for children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children without appropriate parental or guardian consent.
8. International Users
Our Services are operated from the United States. If you access the Services from outside the U.S., you consent to the transfer, storage, and processing of your information in the United States.
9. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will notify you by updating the date at the top of this page and providing notice through our Services or via email.
10. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at: www.orthodoxcrowdfudning.com/contact
