Privacy Policy for Pledge + Play

Pledge + Play (“we”, “our”, or “us”) respects the privacy of our users and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use and share it, and your choices regarding that information. By accessing or using the Pledge + Play website or services, you agree to the practices described here. We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

Information We Collect

We collect information you provide and information collected automatically. Examples include:

• Contact and Account Information: When you create an account to vote, donate, or participate, we ask for personal identifiers such as your name, e-mail address, date of birth, and a password. We may also collect a phone number or school affiliation if needed.
• User Profile Data: You may optionally upload a profile picture or video, or provide demographic or biographical details about yourself or your fundraising cause. Any information you include in your profile or campaign (like a video message) will be stored and may be visible to supporters.
• Voting and Participation Data: We track your activity on the site, including votes cast or choices made in any activities or polls. This usage data is tied to your account but may also be used in aggregate form for analytics.
• Donation and Payment Data: When you make a donation or pledge, our payment processor (Stripe) collects your financial information (credit/debit card number, bank account for direct deposit, etc.) to complete the transaction. Pledge + Play does not directly collect or store your raw payment details. Instead, Stripe securely handles all payment data under its own privacy and security policies. We do record basic donation information (amount, date, and recipient of your donation) and share it with the fundraiser organizer.
• Financial Payout Information: If you are a fundraiser organizer receiving funds, you may provide bank account or routing details for direct deposit. Like donations, this banking information is processed securely by our payment provider, Stripe; we do not store your full account numbers.
• Automatically Collected Data: We use tools like Google Analytics to collect non-identifying information about your visit (pages viewed, time on page, click through rate, etc.) This helps us analyze and improve site and app usage. We also use cookies and similar tracking technologies to maintain your session, remember preferences, and understand site traffic patterns.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for legitimate business and service purposes, including to:

• Operate and Improve the Service: Create and manage your account, deliver donations, record votes, and power features like leaderboards or campaign pages. For example, we need your name and email to establish your account, and we need donation records to credit the correct fundraiser.
• Communications: Send you transactional messages (such as account confirmations, donation receipts, and important updates about your activity). We may also send administrative or security notices related to your account. You will not receive marketing emails unless you opt in. You can opt out of any promotional communication at any time.
• Customer Support: Respond to your questions or support requests and communicate with you about issues related to your account or donations.
• Marketing (with consent): If you subscribe to our email marketing list or provide consent, we may send you news and offers about Pledge + Play or our partners. These mailings are handled via an email marketing service that complies with applicable laws (e.g., CAN-SPAM). You can unsubscribe from marketing lists at any time.
• Analytics and Research: Use aggregate and anonymized data to analyze usage trends, improve our features, and enhance user experience. For example, Google Analytics helps us estimate our audience size and see how people navigate the site.
• Legal and Safety: Protect against fraud, copyright infringements, unauthorized activity, or other misconduct. We may use the information to verify your identity, comply with applicable laws, and enforce our Terms of Service.

Third-Party Services

We partner with trusted third parties to provide our services. In doing so, some of your information may be shared as follows:

• Payment Processors (Stripe): We use Stripe to process donations and direct deposits. Stripe receives your payment information (e.g., credit card details or bank account) directly, so Pledge + Play never sees or stores your full financial data. Stripe is a secure, PCI-compliant service, and its handling of your data is governed by Stripe’s own privacy policy.
• Email Service (Mailchimp or similar): If you opt in to emails or updates, we use a trusted email provider to manage mailing lists and send emails. Your email address will be shared with that provider for these purposes. They will not use your email for unrelated purposes without consent.
• Google Analytics: We use Google Analytics for website traffic analysis. Google may collect usage and demographic data for us, but this data is not personally identifiable to us. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking via Google’s opt-out tools.

We may also use other third-party service providers for hosting, data storage, security, and other services to operate the site. These providers have access to the data needed to perform their functions and are bound by confidentiality obligations.

Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience and analyze site usage. Cookies may store your preferences, login status, or other non-sensitive identifiers. For example, a cookie can remember that you have logged in so you don’t have to enter your password on every visit. Most web browsers accept cookies by default, but you may disable or delete cookies through your browser settings. Note that turning off cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of our site.

Data Sharing and Disclosure

We treat your information as confidential and do not sell it. We share personal information only in limited circumstances:

• With Fundraiser Recipients and Sponsors: If you donate or pledge to a specific campaign or participant, your name, email address, and donation amount will be shared with that campaign’s organizers. (Your credit card number remains private and is only seen by the payment processor, Stripe.) You consent to this sharing when you make a donation or contribution.
• With Service Providers: We may disclose information to trusted partners (like Stripe, Mailchimp, web hosts, analytics providers, etc.) strictly as needed to run the service. For example, we share minimal data with our email provider to send messages, or with our hosting provider to store your uploaded content. These service providers are not allowed to use your data for any purpose other than to provide services to us.
• Social Media: If you choose to connect or share Pledge + Play content on social networks (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.), those platforms may receive information according to their own terms. For instance, if you share a pledge link on Facebook, your Facebook friends may see your post. Pledge + Play is not responsible for any social network’s handling of that shared data.
• Legal Requirements: We may release information if required by law or legal process (e.g. to comply with a subpoena or court order), or to protect our rights and property. We may also share data in the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.
• Consent: With your consent, we may share information for additional purposes (for example, research studies or promotional partners). You will have an opportunity to provide opt-in consent for any such sharing beyond what’s described here.

Children’s Privacy

Pledge + Play is not intended for use by children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from individuals under 13 years old without verifiable parental consent. To create or manage a fundraiser on Pledge + Play, you must be at least 13 years of age and an authorized representative of the school, team, group, or organization you are setting up on behalf of.

While fundraisers may involve minors (such as students or youth team members) as participants, all accounts, voting access, and financial transactions must be managed by an adult with appropriate authorization. If we become aware that personal information has been collected from a child under 13 without verified parental consent, we will delete it immediately upon discovery or notification. 

If you believe that a child under the age of 13 has provided personal information on our platform without appropriate adult involvement or consent, please contact us at [insert email] so we can promptly address the issue.

Parents and guardians should be involved in the participation of their children in any fundraising. Any personal data submitted by a child (such as name, photo, or video) may be visible to supporters or campaign organizers if a parent has authorized the child’s participation. If you are a parent and believe your child’s data has been submitted to Pledge + Play without your permission, please contact us to have it removed.

For children over 13, local laws (like California’s privacy protections for minors under 16) may apply. In general, we treat all youth data carefully and provide choices to parents to review or delete a minor’s information.

User-Generated Content (Photos, Videos, and Posts)

Users can upload photos, videos, or other content to their profiles or campaign pages. This content is considered “User Contributions” and is displayed on the site at your direction. Any photo or video you upload may be seen by others (for example, donors or your friends) if your page is public or shared. We are not responsible for any personal content you post or for how other users may use or share it. Please be cautious about sharing sensitive or copyrighted media. By uploading, you grant Pledge + Play the right to host and display your content in connection with the service.

Security

We employ industry-standard security measures to protect your information. All data you submit is transmitted over encrypted SSL/TLS connections. Your account is secured with your password (please keep it confidential). We store data on secure servers behind firewalls. Despite these measures, no internet or e-mail system is completely secure or error-free. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of your information. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials private and being careful when posting personal information online.

Your Choices and Rights

• Access and Update: You can view or edit most of your personal information by logging into your account profile. You may correct or update your data at any time.
• Account Deletion: You may close your account by contacting us. If you do so, we will delete your personal information from our active database, except for data we must retain for legal or security purposes. Note that content you have posted publicly (such as uploaded media or comments) may remain viewable in cached or archived form.
• Email and Communication: You can unsubscribe from marketing emails by using the “unsubscribe” link in any newsletter or by contacting us. Transactional emails (e.g. receipts or account notices) cannot be unsubscribed from unless you close your account, as they are necessary service communications.
• Cookies: Most browsers allow you to manage or disable cookies and tracking. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality as noted above.
• California and Other Privacy Rights: If you are a California resident (or in certain other jurisdictions), you may have additional rights regarding your personal data (such as the right to access or delete information, or opt out of sales of your data). We do not currently sell personal data, but we will comply with applicable consumer privacy laws. For details or to exercise such rights, please contact us.

Changes to this Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy as our service evolves or to comply with new laws. The “Last Updated” date at the top of this page shows when it was last revised. We will post any material changes here and, if appropriate, notify users by email or through the site. Your continued use of Pledge + Play after changes are posted signifies your acceptance of the updated terms.

Contact Us

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us. We will do our best to address your inquiry promptly.

Privacy Policy v1.0 – Effective July 2025. Updated versions will be posted as development continues. 

Disclaimer – No Legal Advice Provided:

The copy provided by the Contractor (Melanie McElvain of Melanie’s Copywriting Co.) for the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions is intended as a general placeholder and informational content only. This content is not intended to serve as legal advice or a substitute for consultation with a qualified attorney. The Contractor does not guarantee the legal sufficiency, accuracy, or enforceability of any provisions and will not be held liable for any consequences, damages, or losses that may result from the use or reliance upon this content. It is the Client’s (Pledge + Play) sole responsibility to seek legal review before publishing or enforcing any legal language on their website or platform.