Legal & Privacy

Privacy Policy

Last updated: January 15, 2026

Hope & Light Foundation ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy. This policy explains what personal data we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that data.

What Data We Collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Identity data: first name, last name, username or similar identifier.
• Contact data: billing address, email address, and telephone numbers.
• Financial data: payment card details, processed securely via third-party payment processors. We never store full card numbers.
• Transaction data: details of donations, fundraising activities, and event registrations.
• Technical data: IP address, browser type and version, time zone setting, browser plug-in types, operating system, and other technology on the devices you use to access our website.
• Communications data: your preferences for receiving communications from us.

How We Use Your Data

We use your data for the following purposes:

• To process donations and issue gift aid declarations or tax receipts.
• To communicate with you about your donations, volunteering activities, or fundraising pages.
• To send you newsletters and updates, where you have given consent.
• To improve our website, programs, and donor experience.
• To comply with legal obligations, including anti-money laundering and financial reporting requirements.

Your Rights

Under applicable data protection law, you have the right to access, correct, erase, or restrict the processing of your personal data. You also have the right to object to processing and to data portability. To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@hopeandlight.org.

Retention

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes set out in this policy, or as required by law. Donor transaction records are retained for seven years to comply with IRS requirements.

Terms of Use

Last updated: January 15, 2026

By accessing and using the Hope & Light Foundation website (hopeandlight.org), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. If you do not agree, please do not use this site.

Use of This Website

This website is provided for informational purposes and to facilitate donations, volunteer sign-ups, and fundraising activities. You may not use this site for any unlawful purpose, to transmit harmful or offensive content, or to impersonate any person or organization.

Intellectual Property

All content on this website — including text, photography, logos, and design — is the property of Hope & Light Foundation or its licensors and is protected by copyright. You may not reproduce or redistribute any content without prior written permission, except for purposes of reporting or education with proper attribution.

Donations & Refunds

All donations are final and non-refundable unless made in error. If you believe a donation was made in error, contact us at info@hopeandlight.org within 14 days. We will review requests on a case-by-case basis.

Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or policies of any linked sites.

Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hope & Light Foundation shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this website or reliance on information published herein.

Cookie Policy

Last updated: January 15, 2026

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to improve your browsing experience and analyze site traffic. We do not use cookies to serve targeted advertising.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Strictly necessary cookies: Required for the website to function correctly, including processing donations and maintaining your session. These cannot be disabled.
• Analytics cookies: We use Google Analytics (with IP anonymization enabled) to understand how visitors interact with our website. This data is aggregated and not linked to individuals.
• Preference cookies: These remember settings such as your language preference or whether you have dismissed a notification banner.

Managing Cookies

You may control and delete cookies through your browser settings at any time. Disabling analytics cookies will not affect your ability to use the site. For instructions on how to manage cookies in your specific browser, visit aboutcookies.org.

Non-Profit Disclosure

Effective: March 1, 2026

Hope & Light Foundation is a registered non-profit organization. The following disclosure information is provided in the interest of full transparency and in compliance with applicable federal and state laws.

Tax Deductibility

Donations to Hope & Light Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. federal and applicable state law. A written acknowledgment will be provided for any single donation of $250 or more. Please retain your donation receipt for tax purposes. Hope & Light Foundation does not provide goods or services in exchange for donations unless otherwise stated.

Governance

The Foundation is governed by an independent Board of Directors consisting of nine members, the majority of whom are independent. Board meeting minutes and conflict-of-interest disclosures are reviewed annually and made available to the public upon request. Our full Form 990 filings are publicly accessible via GuideStar and the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.