The Ellah Project

Privacy Policy

Effective date: 09/01/26

The Ellah Project ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and disclose personal information through ellahproject.org and communications related to website inquiries, assistance requests, referrals, volunteering, and partnerships.

The organization responsible for this information is. This policy covers information we handle for our own website and activities. Independent organizations we refer you to have their own privacy practices. Where we provide digital services on behalf of another nonprofit, that organization’s privacy notice and our agreement with it govern information handled on its behalf.

1. Information we collect

The information we receive depends on how you interact with us and what you choose to provide.

• General inquiries and partnerships: Your name, email address, area of interest, organization or professional background, and the contents of your message.
• Housing assistance requests: Your name, phone number or email address, city or ZIP code, housing situation, household composition, and the needs you describe.
• Domestic violence support requests: Your preferred name or alias, general location, safe contact method and details, safe time to contact you, and the type of support requested.
• Youth assistance and referrals: A young person’s name and age, parent or guardian name when applicable, contact information, location or school, type of support requested, and information included in the description.
• Correspondence: Messages, preferences, and information you provide during follow-up communications.

We may receive referral information from a parent, guardian, or other authorized person. If you submit information about someone else, share only what is necessary and ensure you have appropriate permission or other lawful authority to do so.

Our website and service providers may also collect technical information, such as an IP address, browser and device information, pages requested, referring pages, access times, and diagnostic information, when you visit the site or load third-party resources.

2. Sensitive information and safe communication

Requests for assistance can reveal sensitive information about housing, family circumstances, health, abuse, or a young person’s needs. Please provide only the information needed for an initial response. Do not include Social Security numbers, payment card details, passwords, detailed medical records, or a confidential shelter address in a general website form or email.

When a form offers safe-contact preferences, we use those preferences to guide our response. Please identify a safe method and time for contact, and tell us if it is unsafe to leave a voicemail or send a message. A phone number or email address may still be visible to someone who can access your device or account.

3. How we use information

We use information to respond to inquiries, assess requests, communicate about available resources, coordinate authorized referrals, and manage volunteer and partnership conversations. We also use technical information to operate, troubleshoot, secure, and improve the website, and we keep records needed to meet applicable legal obligations.

We use assistance and referral information for support-related purposes. We do not add someone to a promotional or fundraising mailing list solely because they requested assistance. If you separately choose to receive updates, you can unsubscribe using the instructions in those messages or contact us to change your preference.

4. When we disclose information

We disclose personal information only for the purposes described in this policy and subject to applicable confidentiality requirements:

• Service providers: Vendors that support website hosting, technical maintenance, communications, form handling, and record storage, to the extent necessary for their work.
• Referral organizations: Organizations involved in a referral you request or authorize. We seek appropriate permission before disclosing identifiable assistance information, unless another lawful basis permits the disclosure and any additional confidentiality requirements are met. A request for help is not blanket permission to circulate your information.
• Legal obligations: When disclosure is required by applicable law or valid legal process, subject to any protections or restrictions that apply to the information.
• Protection against serious harm or misuse: When disclosure is legally permitted and necessary to address a serious safety concern, fraud, or unauthorized activity, consistent with applicable confidentiality obligations.
• Your separate permission: For another purpose that is explained to you and that you authorize.

We limit disclosures to information reasonably needed for the relevant purpose. We do not publish identifiable assistance requests or personal stories without separate, appropriate authorization.

5. Cookies and third-party website services

Cookies and similar technologies can support website functions, preferences, security, and usage measurement. Externally hosted resources, including fonts and technical scripts, can also send information about your browser and connection to their providers when a page loads.

Our website loads Google-hosted fonts and hosting-related technical resources. These providers may receive your IP address, browser details, and information about the resource requested. Their own privacy notices may apply to information they process for their own purposes.

You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect some website functions. Browser cookie controls do not necessarily stop all data collection, including server logs or requests for externally hosted content.

6. Sale, advertising, and other marketing uses

7. Children and youth information

Our website includes resources for young people and allows parents, guardians, and authorized adults to request help on their behalf. Information about a child supplied by an adult is still personal information and is handled with the care described in this policy.

Children under 13 should not submit personal information through our general website forms. A parent or guardian should contact us to arrange an appropriate intake process. Before collecting personal information directly from a child under 13, we provide any legally required parental notice and obtain any legally required verifiable parental consent, unless a lawful exception applies.

If you believe a child has provided information without the required authorization, contact us using the details below. We will review the circumstances and take appropriate steps, including deleting information when required. A parent or guardian may also request information about a child’s records or ask to correct, delete, or restrict further use of those records, subject to verification of authority and applicable law.

8. Retention and security

We keep personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including responding to requests, maintaining appropriate program records, and meeting legal obligations. Retention depends on the type and sensitivity of the information, whether follow-up is ongoing, and applicable recordkeeping requirements. When information is no longer needed, we delete it or remove identifying details, subject to necessary backup cycles and legal retention duties.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information and limit access to people who need it for their responsibilities. No website, electronic transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. This policy does not promise anonymity or end-to-end encryption for general website forms or email.

9. Your choices and privacy requests

You can choose not to provide optional information, although missing contact or request details may limit our ability to respond. You may contact us to update your information, change safe-contact preferences, withdraw permission for future optional uses, or request access to or deletion of information we hold about you.

Depending on where you live and which laws apply to us, you may have additional rights to obtain a copy of your information, correct inaccuracies, limit certain processing, opt out of specified uses, or appeal a decision about a request. Where those rights apply, we will handle requests within the applicable timeframes and explain any legally permitted exceptions. We will not retaliate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

We may need to verify your identity or authority before acting on a request. Please begin with a brief description and a safe way to reach you; do not send identity documents or sensitive case details unless we arrange an appropriate method. Deletion or withdrawal of permission may affect services that depend on the information, and some records may need to be retained as required or permitted by law.

10. Other websites and processing locations

Links to other organizations, social platforms, or resources take you to services we do not control. Review their privacy policies before providing information. A referral does not mean that another organization follows this policy.

11. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our practices, website features, or legal obligations change. The effective date above will identify the current version. When applicable law requires additional notice or permission for a material change, we will provide that notice or obtain that permission before applying the change.

12. Contact us

For privacy questions or requests, contact:

The Ellah Project
Attention: Privacy Requests
Email: info@ellahproject.org
Website: ellahproject.org

If a reply could create a safety concern, tell us the safest way and time to contact you.