Effective Date: February 2025

Introduction

The Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative (ARWC) (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting any personal information you provide through our website, social media pages, or email communications (collectively, the “Services”).

This Privacy Policy explains:

• What personal information we collect
• How we use it
• How we protect it
• Your rights regarding your information

By using our website, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Personal Information We Collect

“Personal Information” refers to any data that identifies or can be linked to an individual. We collect the following types of Personal Information:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address (if voluntarily provided).
• Donation Information: If you make a donation, payment details are securely processed by our third-party payment provider; we do not store payment details.
• Communication Data: Information provided when subscribing to newsletters, signing up as a volunteer, or contacting us.
• Website Usage Data: IP address, browser type, and similar analytics collected via cookies to improve site functionality.

How We Collect Personal Information

We collect Personal Information in the following ways:

• Directly from you (e.g., when you email us, complete forms, or register for events).
• Through our website and social media interactions.
• From trusted third-party sources (e.g., publicly available records, partner organizations, social media platforms).
• Using cookies and tracking technologies (see Cookies and Tracking below).

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for legitimate organizational purposes, including:

• Responding to inquiries and providing updates about ARWC’s work.
• Processing and acknowledging donations.
• Sending newsletters and updates (you can opt out at any time).
• Improving our website and engagement strategies.

Data Sharing and Third Parties

ARWC does not sell or rent your Personal Information. We may share it in the following circumstances:

• Trusted Service Providers: We work with third-party vendors for website hosting, email marketing, donation processing, legal compliance, and IT support. These providers are required to protect your information.
• Legal Compliance: We may disclose information if required by law (e.g., responding to a subpoena or enforcing policies).
• User-Generated Content: If you post content on social media, blogs, or public platforms linked to ARWC, that information is publicly accessible.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties/affiliates for marketing/promotional purposes. All other categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties

Data Storage and Security

We take reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no system is 100% secure. If you believe your interaction with us is no longer secure, please contact us immediately at [email protected].

Cookies and Tracking

Our website uses cookies and tracking technologies to enhance your experience:

• Email Tracking: We use tracking pixels in some emails (sent via EmailOctopus) to improve engagement.
• Website Analytics: We use Matomo Analytics, a privacy-friendly platform that stores data locally and does not share it with third parties.

➡ Opt-Out: You can manage cookies via your browser settings or opt out of tracking here:

Opt-out complete; your visits to this website will not be recorded by the Web Analytics tool. Note that if you clear your cookies, delete the opt-out cookie, or if you change computers or Web browsers, you will need to perform the opt-out procedure again.

You may choose to prevent this website from aggregating and analyzing the actions you take here. Doing so will protect your privacy, but will also prevent the owner from learning from your actions and creating a better experience for you and other users.

The tracking opt-out feature requires cookies to be enabled.

Data Retention

ARWC retains Personal Information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this policy. Factors influencing retention include:

• The duration of our relationship with you.
• Legal, tax, and regulatory record-keeping requirements.
• Compliance with internal policies and best practices.

Cross-Border Data Transfers

ARWC operates in the United States. Our Services are intended for U.S.-based users, and we do not actively transfer data outside the U.S. If you access our site from outside the U.S., you acknowledge that your data may be transferred and stored in the U.S.

Third-Party Content and Links

Our Services may include links to third-party websites (e.g., social media platforms, payment processors, partner organizations). This Privacy Policy does not cover their practices. Please review their respective privacy policies, as ARWC is not responsible for their data practices.

Examples of third parties we interact with:

• Social Media Platforms: Meta, LinkedIn, Twitter
• Payment Providers: PayPal, MightyCause
• Collaborative Partners & Funders

Third-Party Payment Processing

ARWC uses third-party services to process payments securely. When you make a donation, your payment details are handled directly by the payment processor and not stored by ARWC. Their policies, not ours, govern how your financial data is handled.

Children’s Privacy

Our website and Services are not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will promptly delete it.

Your Rights and Choices

Although ARWC is not required to comply with the Colorado Privacy Act, we respect your right to control your data. You may:

• Request Access: Ask what personal data we have about you.
• Request Corrections: Ask us to correct inaccurate information.
• Request Deletion: Ask us to delete your data (unless we are legally required to retain it).

➡ To make a request, email: [email protected]

Please Note:

• We may need to retain some data for tax, legal, or record-keeping purposes.
• Residual copies of your data may remain in backup systems, but will not be used.

Updates to This Policy

ARWC may update this Privacy Policy periodically. If significant changes are made, we will post a notice on our website with the revised effective date.

Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or requests, contact us at:

Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative
PO Box 785
Westcliffe, CO 81252
Email: [email protected]