Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 12/30/2024

This Privacy Policy describes how Church Connected collects, uses, protects, discloses, corrects, and deletes your personal information. Please read this document carefully to understand our practices regarding your personal data and your associated rights. Your privacy is of utmost importance to us, and we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of the information you provide.

This policy applies to all websites operated by Church Connected, including all subpages and successor pages, and any software or services we provide. By using our Services, you agree to the terms outlined in this Privacy Policy.

Church Connected reserves the right to modify this policy at any time. If significant changes are made, we will notify users via email or by posting a notice on our website. Your continued use of our Services following the publication of any updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

1. Why We Collect Personal Information

Church Connected collects personal information for a variety of purposes, all aimed at improving your experience and ensuring the effective delivery of our Services. These include, but are not limited to:

Service Administration: To process transactions, manage user accounts, and provide access to our Services.
Enhanced User Experience: To deliver personalized content, recommendations, and user support.
Communication: To notify you about updates, new features, promotions, and events that may interest you. You can opt out of promotional communications at any time.
Security and Fraud Prevention: To protect our users and systems from unauthorized access, misuse, or fraud.
Compliance: To meet legal and regulatory requirements.

2. Information We Collect and How We Use It

Church Connected collects information directly from you, automatically through your interaction with our Services, and from third-party sources. The types of information we collect include:

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

Account Registration Data: Includes your name, email address, phone number, and preferences.
Payment Information: Such as credit card details and billing addresses, collected for processing transactions.
Customer Support Interactions: Information shared during support requests, including inquiries or troubleshooting needs.
Feedback and Surveys: Responses to surveys or feedback forms to help improve our Services.

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

Device Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, and device identifiers.
Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on the site, navigation patterns, and interaction with content.
Location Data: GPS or similar technologies may collect location information when enabled.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

Social Media Platforms: If you connect your account to a third-party platform, we may access certain profile information.
Partners and Service Providers: Data related to transactions, such as payment confirmation or service usage.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

Deliver and Improve Services: To process transactions, provide customer support, and enhance functionality.
Personalize Experiences: Tailor recommendations, content, and marketing messages based on user behavior and preferences.
Ensure Security: Protect against unauthorized access, detect fraud, and enforce terms of service.
Comply with Legal Obligations: Fulfill legal, regulatory, or contractual requirements.

Church Connected may also aggregate or anonymize data to generate insights for research or analysis. This data will not identify individuals.

4. Publicly Shared Information

Certain features of our Services may allow you to share information publicly, such as forums, chat rooms, or live streams. Information shared in these spaces may be visible to others and can be read, collected, or used by third parties. Church Connected is not responsible for information disclosed in public forums.

Example:
If you post a comment on a public discussion board, that information becomes accessible to other users. Please exercise caution when sharing personal details.

5. When and How We Share Your Information

Church Connected only shares your personal information under specific circumstances:

5.1 Service Providers

We partner with third-party vendors to facilitate Services, such as payment processors, cloud storage providers, and marketing agencies. These partners are contractually obligated to safeguard your information and only use it for the purposes specified by Church Connected.

5.2 Business Transactions

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the new entity. You will be notified if such changes affect your personal data.

5.3 Legal Obligations

We may disclose your information to comply with legal requirements, enforce our terms of service, or protect the rights and safety of our users and organization.

5.4 Aggregated Data

Church Connected may share aggregated, non-identifiable information for research, analytics, or promotional purposes.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Church Connected uses cookies and similar technologies to:

Track user preferences and improve website functionality.
Analyze usage patterns and measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.
Remember login details to streamline user experiences.

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain features.

7. Data Security

We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information, including:

Encryption: SSL encryption secures data during transmission.
Access Controls: Only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information.
Regular Audits: Security systems are regularly reviewed to identify and address vulnerabilities.

8. Children’s Privacy

Church Connected does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we become aware that a child has provided personal information, it will be promptly deleted. Parents or guardians can request access to their child’s information by contacting us at support@churchconnected.com.

9. Data Retention

Church Connected retains your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, including:

Service Delivery: Maintaining active user accounts and ensuring continued functionality of our Services.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Retaining data to comply with applicable laws or respond to legal requests.
Dispute Resolution: Preserving records to resolve potential disputes or enforce agreements.

When personal information is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymize it. For example, financial transaction data may be retained for a longer period as required by accounting regulations or tax laws.

10. Your Privacy Choices

You have several rights and choices regarding the use and management of your personal information:

10.1 Access and Correction

You may access and update the personal information associated with your account by logging into your account settings or contacting us at privacy@churchconnected.com.
If you believe any data we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request corrections.

10.2 Deletion

You can request the deletion of your personal information. However, certain data may be retained to fulfill legal obligations, resolve disputes, or maintain security.
Requests for deletion can be submitted by emailing privacy@churchconnected.com.

10.3 Opt-Out Options

Marketing Communications: You can unsubscribe from promotional emails using the "unsubscribe" link in the email or by contacting us.
Cookies and Tracking: Adjust your browser settings to refuse cookies or notify you when cookies are being used.

11. Data Transfers and International Users

Church Connected is based in the United States, and your personal information may be processed and stored on servers located in the U.S. or other countries. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to these locations, which may have different data protection laws than your country of residence.

For residents of the European Union (EU) or other regions with data protection laws, Church Connected ensures that transfers of personal information comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or similar frameworks.

12. GDPR Compliance for EU Residents

If you are an EU resident, the following rights under the GDPR apply to your personal data:

12.1 Rights of EU Data Subjects

Right to Access: Request access to the personal data we hold about you.
Right to Rectification: Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data when no longer necessary.
Right to Restrict Processing: Restrict the processing of your personal data under certain conditions.
Right to Data Portability: Obtain and reuse your data across different services.
Right to Object: Object to the processing of your data for direct marketing or other legitimate interests.

12.2 Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data under the following legal bases:

Consent: When you provide explicit consent for specific processing activities.
Contractual Obligations: To fulfill a contract or deliver requested Services.
Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws or regulations.
Legitimate Interests: To improve Services, ensure security, or prevent fraud.

13. Privacy Notice for California Residents

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California residents have specific rights regarding their personal information:

13.1 Categories of Personal Information Collected

We collect the following categories of personal information:

Identifiers such as name, email address, and IP address.
Commercial information, including purchase history.
Internet activity, such as browsing data and usage patterns.
Geolocation data, if enabled.

13.2 Your CCPA Rights

California residents can:

Request Disclosure: Access the specific personal information we have collected about you.
Request Deletion: Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal exceptions.
Opt-Out of Sales: Church Connected does not sell personal data, but you have the right to opt out of any future data sales.

To exercise these rights, please contact us at support@churchconnected.com

13.3 Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising your CCPA rights. You will receive the same quality and level of Services regardless of your privacy preferences.

14. Cookies and Third-Party Services

Church Connected uses cookies and collaborates with third-party providers to enhance the user experience and improve our Services. These providers include:

Google Analytics: Tracks website usage and generates insights.
Advertising Networks: Delivers targeted ads based on user behavior.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings or opt out of targeted advertising via the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out tool.

15. Security Measures

We implement a comprehensive set of security measures to protect your personal information, including:

Data Encryption: SSL/TLS protocols secure data transmission.
Access Controls: Restricted access to sensitive data to authorized personnel only.
Threat Monitoring: Continuous monitoring for potential security breaches.

While we strive to safeguard your data, no system can be guaranteed 100% secure. We encourage you to use strong passwords and maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials.

16. Data Privacy Frameworks and International Commitments

Church Connected complies with applicable data privacy frameworks to ensure the protection of your personal information across borders.

16.1 EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework

Church Connected adheres to the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework principles, ensuring that personal data transferred from the European Union to the United States is processed and protected in accordance with applicable laws.

16.2 Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework

Similar to our compliance with the EU framework, Church Connected also complies with the Swiss-U.S. Data Privacy Framework for data originating in Switzerland.

16.3 Dispute Resolution

For any unresolved privacy concerns, you may contact a third-party dispute resolution provider. We are committed to working with relevant supervisory authorities, including the Privacy Shield Panel and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to address and resolve complaints.

17. Dispute Resolution and Complaints

If you have concerns about our data practices or believe your privacy rights have been violated, we encourage you to contact us directly so we can address the issue.

17.1 Informal Resolution

Email: support@churchconnected.com

We aim to resolve complaints within 30 days.

17.2 Formal Disputes

If an informal resolution cannot be reached, disputes may be addressed through arbitration or legal channels as described in our Terms of Service. EU residents may also contact their local data protection authority for additional support.

18. Changes to this Privacy Policy

Church Connected reserves the right to update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or technological advancements.

18.1 Notification of Changes

Significant updates will be communicated via email or through notifications on our website.
The "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy indicates when the most recent changes were made.

18.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of our Services following the publication of an updated policy constitutes acceptance of the new terms.

19. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Church Connected Privacy Officer
Email: support@churchconnected.com