Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 15, 2025

Cultural Alliance of Western Connecticut

We believe trust starts with transparency. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information when you engage with our website.

1. Who We Are

Our website address is: https://cawct.org. We’re a regional arts organization serving communities across Western Connecticut. Everything we do, including how we handle your data, is rooted in our mission to strengthen the cultural fabric of our region.

2. What We Collect and Why

We may collect personal information when you:

  • Subscribe to newsletters or updates
  • Register for events or submit content
  • Make a donation or contact us directly
  • Join or renew a membership
  • Access the member directory
  • Leave a comment or upload media

This may include your name, email address, phone number, organization affiliation, billing address, and any content you choose to share. We also collect technical data like your IP address and browser type to help with spam detection and site performance.

3. Comments & Gravatar

When you leave a comment, we collect the data shown in the form, plus your IP address and browser user agent string. An anonymized hash of your email may be sent to Gravatar to check if you use it. Their privacy policy is available at https://automattic.com/privacy/. Once approved, your profile picture may appear with your comment.

4. Media Uploads

If you upload images, avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors can download and extract location data from images on the site.

5. Cookies & Analytics

We use cookies to improve your experience. For example:

  • If you leave a comment, you can opt to save your name, email, and website in cookies for convenience.
  • Login cookies help manage your session and screen preferences.
  • Analytics tools help us understand how visitors engage with our content so we can improve usability and accessibility.

You can manage or disable cookies in your browser settings.

6. Embedded Content

Articles may include embedded content (e.g., videos, images, articles). These behave as if you visited the other site directly. Those sites may collect data, use cookies, and track your interaction.

7. Membership & Donations

We collect personal and payment information when you register as a member, renew your membership, or make a donation. This may include:

  • Name, email, phone, and organization affiliation
  • Billing address and payment method (processed via secure third-party gateway)

We do not store full credit card numbers or sensitive financial data on our servers. Payment processing is handled by trusted third-party gateways under their own privacy and security policies.

If you appear in our member directory, you may control what information is visible to others. Contact us to update or remove your listing.

8. Who We Share Your Data With

We may share limited data with trusted service providers who help us operate the site, manage events, process payments, or maintain our membership system. These partners are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for agreed-upon purposes.

If you request a password reset, your IP address will be included in the reset email.

9. How Long We Keep Your Data

Comments and their metadata are retained indefinitely to help us recognize and approve follow-ups automatically. For registered users and members, we store profile information which can be viewed, edited, or deleted (except usernames). Website administrators can also manage this data.

Donation records are retained for financial and legal compliance.

10. Your Rights

You can:

  • Request an export of your personal data
  • Ask us to delete your data
  • Opt out of communications at any time

To exercise these rights, email us.

11. Account Security

If you create an account, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials. Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized access.

12. Data Security

We take reasonable precautions to protect your data. No system is perfect, so please use discretion when sharing sensitive information.

13. Children’s Privacy

Our site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children without parental consent.

14. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted here. Continued use of the site means you accept those changes.

15. Contact Us

Questions or concerns? We welcome your feedback. Reach out to us via Email.

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