Privacy Policy
Your privacy is important to us. This policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.
Last updated: January 1, 2025
Table of Contents
TheoDigital.org ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with the utmost care and respect. As an Orthodox Christian ministry, we hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards in all our practices, including data protection.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, use our services, subscribe to our newsletter, or make donations.
1. Information We Collect
Personal Information You Provide
We collect information you voluntarily provide to us, including:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, postal address (for donors)
- Communication Data: Messages sent through contact forms, inquiries, feedback
- Newsletter Data: Email address for newsletter subscriptions
- Donation Information: Billing information, donation amounts, payment preferences
- Account Information: If you create an account, username and password
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information:
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, operating system, device information
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, referring websites
- Analytics Data: Website performance and user interaction data
2. How We Use Information
We use your information for the following purposes:
Ministry Services
- Providing patristic research resources
- Sending newsletters with Orthodox teachings and insights
- Responding to inquiries and providing customer support
- Processing donations and maintaining donor records
Website Operation
- Maintaining and improving our website functionality
- Analyzing usage patterns to enhance user experience
- Ensuring website security and preventing fraud
- Complying with legal obligations
Communication
- Sending administrative communications about our services
- Providing updates about our ministry activities
- Sharing Orthodox educational content (with your consent)
3. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except as described below:
Service Providers
We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in:
- Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
- Email delivery services (AWS SES, Mailgun)
- Website hosting and maintenance (Netlify, AWS)
- Analytics and website performance (Google Analytics)
Legal Requirements
We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or to:
- Comply with legal processes
- Protect our rights and property
- Ensure user safety
- Prevent fraud or illegal activities
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or asset transfer, your information may be transferred to the new entity, with notice provided to you.
4. Data Security
We implement robust security measures to protect your personal information:
Technical Safeguards
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Secure hosting environments with regular security updates
- Access controls and authentication for administrative accounts
- Regular security audits and monitoring
Organizational Measures
- Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
- Staff training on privacy and security best practices
- Regular review and updating of security policies
- Incident response procedures for data breaches
Important: While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to using industry-standard practices.
6. Third-Party Services
Our website integrates with several third-party services:
Payment Processing
- Stripe: Secure payment processing for donations
- PayPal: Alternative payment option for donations
Analytics and Performance
- Google Analytics: Website traffic and user behavior analysis
- Google Fonts: Web typography enhancement
Communication Services
- AWS SES: Email delivery for newsletters and confirmations
- Netlify: Website hosting and form processing
These services have their own privacy policies. We encourage you to review them:
7. Your Rights and Choices
You have several rights regarding your personal information:
Access and Correction
- Request access to your personal information we hold
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Update your preferences and contact information
Data Control
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured format
- Restriction: Request limitation of processing in certain circumstances
Communication Preferences
- Unsubscribe from newsletters using the link in email communications
- Opt out of marketing communications
- Choose how we contact you for different purposes
To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@theodigital.org.
8. Children's Privacy
Our website is intended for general audiences and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent.
If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13 without parental consent, we will delete that information promptly. If you believe we may have collected information from your child, please contact us immediately.
For users between 13-18, we encourage parental guidance when using our services.
9. International Users and Data Transfers
TheoDigital.org operates from the United States. If you are accessing our services from outside the US, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.
We ensure adequate protection for international data transfers through:
- Compliance with applicable international privacy laws
- Use of secure, privacy-compliant service providers
- Implementation of appropriate technical and organizational measures
European Users (GDPR)
If you are in the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under GDPR, including the right to object to processing and file complaints with supervisory authorities.
10. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. When we make changes:
- We will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this policy
- For material changes, we will provide notice via email or website announcement
- Your continued use of our services constitutes acceptance of the updated policy
We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your information.
11. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Privacy Officer
TheoDigital.org
Email: privacy@theodigital.org
General Contact: contact@theodigital.org
Phone: Available upon request for serious privacy concerns
Response Time
We strive to respond to privacy inquiries within 30 days. For urgent matters, please mark your email as "Urgent Privacy Matter."