Half the Sky’s Privacy Policy

This privacy policy covers all of halfthesky.org.

Half the Sky has a firm commitment to internet privacy. Half the Sky knows you care how information about you is used and shared, and we appreciate your trust that we will do so carefully and sensibly. This notice describes our privacy policy.  By visiting http://www.halfthesky.org, you are accepting the practices described in this Privacy Policy Notice.

Information we collect

Cookies

We use "cookies" (a small text file containing a string of alphanumeric characters  we store for an extended period of time on your computer, mobile phone, or other device) to make Half the Sky easier to use and to protect both you and Half the Sky. For example, we use them to store your login ID (but never your password) to make it easier for you to login whenever you come back to Half the Sky and enhance your navigation through the site. 

A "cookie" is a small information file that a web browser places on the hard drive of a computer when users visit a website. Cookies cannot damage user files, nor can they read information from a user's hard drive. Cookies allow websites to "remember" users’ activities on a website as well as the number of users’ visits to a site. 

At halfthesky.org, cookies are used to determine the number of unique visitors to our website over a given period and to recognize a browser so we can help users access information. Users can disable cookies on their computer by indicating this in the preferences or options menus of their browser. The "help" portion of the toolbar on most browsers will tell you how to prevent your browser from accepting new cookies, how to have the browser notify you when you receive a new cookie, or how to disable cookies altogether. While you can remove or block cookies using the settings in your browser, in some cases doing so will impact your ability to use halfthesky.org. 

Log data

Log data collected on web servers within halfthesky.org’s control supply us with aggregate information about the number of visits to different pages on our site. We use such aggregate information to improve access to our content, including factoring in our visitors' browsers and operating system types to make our content available to as many people as possible. We do not link the log data collected to personal information.

Information you provide

When you sign up to be a member of our 1 Big Family Community, you create a user name and password and certify that you are over 13. When you join China Care Clubs and Hometown Families, we ask for additional information to provide specific services to you. When you join any of our communities, you will be able to upload a picture of yourself.

Children

Half the Sky follows the FTC guidelines for compliance with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Half the Sky does not knowingly solicit or collect personally identifiable information online from children under the age of 13 without prior verifiable parent consent. 

 If you are under age 13, please do not attempt to register for One Big Family or for Half the Sky’s password-protected Clubs or provide any personal information about yourself to us, including your name, telephone number or email address.  If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13, we will delete that information as quickly as possible and take all reasonable measures to delete such information from our databases. If you believe that we might have any information from a child under age 13, please contact us directly at contact@halfthesky.org.

Parental participation

We strongly recommend that minors 13 years of age or older ask their parents for permission before sending any information about themselves to anyone over the Internet, and we encourage parents to teach their children about safe internet use practices.  

How we use your information

All personal information is collected for the purpose of providing our users access to community features and other activities provided on our website.  We use the non-personally identifiable information that we collect, such as browser and operating system, to improve the design and content of our site and to enable us to personalize your Internet experience. 

When you provide your email address to our mailing list, we may send you messages, such as newsletters.  If you do not want to receive such email messages, you may opt out at any time by contacting us at contact@halfthesky.org or clicking on the “Unsubscribe” link located at the bottom on each mailing.  

How we share your information

Information about our visitors is an important part of our mission, and we never sell or rent it to others. We share visitor or customer account information only with services that help us manage our operations, as described below: 

• Agents:  We employ other companies and individuals to perform functions on our behalf. Examples include: delivering packages, sending postal mail and e-mail and processing credit card payments. They have access to personal information needed to perform their functions, but may not use it for other purposes.
• Protection of Half the Sky Foundation and others: We release account and other personal information when we believe release is appropriate to comply with law; or protect the rights, property, or safety of Half the Sky Foundation, halfthesky.org users, or others. This includes exchanging information with other companies and organizations for fraud protection and credit risk reduction.
• With Your Consent: Other than as set out above, you will receive notice when information about you might go to third parties, and you will have an opportunity to choose not to share the information. 

How we protect your information

We work to protect the security of your credit card information during transmission by using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) software, which encrypts information you input.  We do not reveal your credit card numbers when confirming an order. Of course, we transmit the entire credit card number to the appropriate credit card company during order processing.  It is important for you to protect against unauthorized access to your password and to your computer.  Be sure to sign off when you finish using a shared computer. 

Links

When you click on links on halfthesky.org, you may leave our site. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other sites, and we encourage you to read their privacy statements. We do not guarantee that they will follow our rules. If you find an application or website that violates our rules, you should report the violation to us and we will take action as necessary.

Privacy Policy Updates/Revisions

If you choose to visit halfthesky.org, your visit and any dispute over privacy is subject to this Notice, including limitations on damages, arbitration of disputes, and application of the law of the state of California. If you have any concern about privacy at halfthesky.org, please send us a thorough description, and we will try to resolve it.  Because our operations change constantly, this Notice may change as well;  any information we gather is subject to the Privacy Notice in effect at the time of use. We may e-mail periodic reminders of our notices and conditions, unless you have instructed us not to, but you should check our Web site frequently to see recent changes.

Contact Us

Half the Sky Foundation

Email:  contact@halfthesky.org
Phone:  +1.510.525.3377
Fax: +1.510.525.3611
Address: 715 Hearst Ave, Ste 200, Berkeley, CA 94710, USA