Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to all personal information received by Independent Sector whether through our website, any mobile applications, social media accounts, mail, or by other offline methods (“Services”). The Privacy Policy describes our policies and procedures for collecting, using, retaining, and protecting your personal information. By using the Services or submitting your personal information to us, you consent to the terms and conditions of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the Privacy Policy, please do not use the Services.

I. Information Collected

Independent Sector collects information about people who interact with Independent Sector and the Services (“Users”). The type of information varies depending on how a User interacts with Independent Sector and the Services.

Information Collected Directly from You

The following list includes the different types of information Independent Sector collects:

“Personally Identifiable Information” (“PII”) is information that would allow someone to identify or contact a User, such as a User’s name, organization, address, and email address. PII does not include aggregated information or information about Users that, by itself, does not permit the identification of a specific individual. For example, statistics about how many persons visited Independent Sector’s website last month is not PII.

Independent Sector does not require Users to register or provide PII to view the Independent Sector homepage or many other areas of the Independent Sector website. There are occasions when Independent Sector requests PII in order to provide Users with specific services. For example, PII is collected to enable Users to sign up for newsletters or other information services. Member-restricted portions of the Independent Sector website may require additional PII, which will be used by Independent Sector in accordance with the terms of membership and this Privacy Policy.

Information Collected Automatically

Each time you visit the Site, we may automatically collect certain types of information. Some examples of automatic information we may collect are as follows:

• Your IP address, MAC address, browser type, operating system, device-identifying information, type of computer, and type of Web browser software, the specific webpages visited during your connection, and the domain name from which you accessed the Site.
  
  
• Information about your browsing behavior, such as the date and time you visit the Site, the areas or pages of the Site that you visit, the amount of time you spend viewing the Site, the number of times you return to the Site and other clickstream data.
  
  
• We may use “cookies” of different types to recognize your computer. A cookie is a small text file that a website, online application, or e-mail may save to your internet browser and/or your computer’s hard drive for use in subsequent visits to the Site or other sites.

We may use web beacons, match scripts, pixel tags or similar technologies that allow us to know if a particular web page was visited, an e-mail opened, or links in the email utilized. In some instances, these technologies may allow us to match activities with particular users.

We may combine the information we collect through cookies, web beacons, or other technology tools with other information we have collected from you or information from other sources.

II. Use of Information Collected

We may use information about you for purposes described in this Privacy Policy or disclosed to you on the Site. For example, we may use information about you:

• For editorial and feedback purposes;
• To administer our Services;
• For marketing and promotional purposes;
• To develop new programs, services, or conferences;
• For content improvement and research;
• To notify you about updates to the Site or research;
• To respond to your inquiries;
• To take other actions in response to your inquiries or other website activities; or
• To customize Independent Sector’s website for Users.

III. Opting Out of Communications

We may use your personal information to add you to our mailing list. We may send you communications about our fundraising, programming, and other activities by email, phone, or mail. You may opt out of our mailing list at any time by contacting us at info@independentsector.org or by clicking on the unsubscribe link in emails. If you have opted-into receive text messages from us, you may unsubscribe by replying “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE” to the SMS/text messages that we send.

IV. Data Accuracy and Cleansing

Independent Sector may periodically review, cleanse, and update the data we collect to ensure accuracy and completeness. Our data cleansing process may include:

• Removing duplicate data
• Standardizing data formats
• Correcting errors
• Updating data

V. Correcting or Updating Personal Information

Users may correct or update PII previously provided to Independent Sector by contacting Independent Sector as follows:

Send email to info@independentsector.org
Send mail to:
Independent Sector
1602 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036

VI. Disclosure of Personally Identifiable Information

Unless otherwise agreed, Independent Sector does not share any User’s PII with any third party except as follows:

• Independent Sector may, pursuant to an agreement that contractually prohibits third parties from using any User’s PII for direct marketing purposes, share such information with third-party service providers who perform functions on behalf of Independent Sector, including without limitation credit card transaction processing, conference registration, electronic distributions, and mailings.
  
  
• To the extent necessary to comply with applicable laws or valid legal processes, to protect the rights and property of Independent Sector.
  
  
• To protect the rights and intellectual property of Independent Sector.
  
  
• To provide the services or information a User has requested. Users are informed of the terms of use at the time PII is provided through a link to the terms on an Independent Sector webpage. For example, Users can request that Independent Sector send them newsletters and can opt out from receiving future newsletters at any time by following the instructions in section II above. Similarly, Users who register online to attend the Independent Sector conference may opt out from having their name and other contact information included in a public list of conference attendees.
  
  
• To investigate, prevent or take action regarding illegal activities, suspected fraud, violations of our policies, or as otherwise required by law.
  
  
• In urgent circumstances to protect Independent Sector or the personal safety of any individual.

Independent Sector uses third parties to process credit card transactions. Such third parties receive the credit card number and other PII only to verify credit card numbers and to process credit card transactions in a secure environment. Independent Sector does not store credit card information.

VII. Use of Cookies

Independent Sector’s website uses a standard technology called “cookies.” A cookie is a small piece of information stored on a User’s computer and not on Independent Sector’s website that enables a User’s web browser to remember User preferences and other specific User information. For example, cookies allow a User to log in without entering the User’s Username each time the User accesses Independent Sector’s website. Independent Sector may use cookies to provide customized content for individual Users and monitor how visitors use Independent Sector’s website, which allows Independent Sector to improve and tailor its website. Users may not be able to use some parts of Independent Sector’s website if they disable cookies.

We also use Google Analytics to monitor activity on the Site. To learn how Google Analytics collects and processes data, please visit: “How Google uses data when you use our partners’ sites or apps” located at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners.

VIII. Links to Third-Party Websites

This Privacy Policy addresses only activities connected with Independent Sector’s Services. Other sites, including those to which Independent Sector’s website links, may have their own website privacy policies. Independent Sector does not control these third-party websites, and this Privacy Policy does not control or address use of these third-party websites. Independent Sector encourages Users to review the privacy policies posted on these third-party websites. Links to a third-party website do not denote an affiliation with the website or an endorsement of its missions or viewpoints. Independent Sector does not endorse and has no responsibility for the content, accuracy of the information, and quality of products or services provided by or advertised on these third-party websites.

IX. Security Procedures

Independent Sector has implemented reasonable security measures to protect Users’ PII from loss, misuse, and alteration. Independent Sector uses industry-standard practices, such as encrypted storage and password protection systems, to safeguard the confidentiality of Users’ PII. We reserve the right to change these security measures to accommodate new security technologies and methods. Although Independent Sector has implemented security measures to protect a User’s PII, please be advised that no security measures are perfect or impenetrable and Users are encouraged to exercise caution to protect their PII.

X. Consent to this Privacy Policy

When Users use Independent Sector’s Services, they agree to be bound by this Privacy Policy.

XI. Privacy of Children

Under Age 13

Our Site is not specifically directed toward children, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from persons under the age of 13 on our Site without verifiable parental consent. If we learn that a child under the age of 13 has submitted personally identifiable information online without parental consent, we will take all reasonable measures to delete such information from our databases and to not use such information for any purpose (except where necessary to protect the safety of the child or others as required or allowed by law). If you become aware of any personally identifiable information we have collected from children under 13, please contact us at info@independentsector.org.

Under Age 18

Minors under 18 years of age may have the Personal Information that they provide to us through the Site deleted by sending an email to info@independentsector.org requesting deletion. Please note that, while we make reasonable efforts to comply with such requests, deletion of your personal information does not ensure complete and comprehensive removal of that data from all systems.

XII. Do Not Track

Do Not Track (“DNT”) is a privacy preference that users can set in some web browsers, allowing users to opt out of tracking by websites and online services. At the present time, the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has not yet established universal standards for recognizable DNT signals and therefore, Independent Sector and the Site do not recognize DNT.

XIII. Your California Privacy Rights

California residents who provide personal information in obtaining products or services for personal, family, or household use are entitled to request and obtain from us once a calendar year information about the customer information we shared with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes, including the categories of information and the names and addresses of those businesses with which we have shared such information. As discussed elsewhere in this Privacy Policy, we do not currently share the personal information of California residents with third parties for their own direct marketing purposes. However, if you have further questions about our privacy practices and compliance with California law, please contact us as explained below.

XIV. Notification of Changes to Privacy Policy

Independent Sector reserves the right to amend its Privacy Policy, subject to the following reasonable notice provisions. If Independent Sector decides to use Users’ PII in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection, Independent Sector shall notify Users in advance via email. Users may choose whether or not Independent Sector may use such information in this manner. In addition, if Independent Sector makes any material changes in its privacy practices that do not affect Users’ PII already provided to Independent Sector, Independent Sector shall post a prominent notice on its website notifying Users of the change. In some cases where Independent Sector posts such notice, Independent Sector may also email Users who have opted to receive communications from Independent Sector, notifying them of the changes in Independent Sector’s privacy practices. Use of Independent Sector’s website following reasonable notice of any change to the Privacy Policy shall constitute a User’s acceptance of such change.

Independent Sector shall update and amend this Privacy Policy if and when it is necessary. Please check Independent Sector’s website often to read Independent Sector’s most updated and amended Privacy Policy. Upon posting an amended Privacy Policy, Independent Sector shall notify Users via email.

This Privacy Policy was last updated on December 16, 2025.

XIV. Use of Website Content

The information contained on Independent Sector’s website is provided for general informational purposes only. None of this information is intended or should be construed to be legal advice or a legal opinion. Although reasonable effort is made to ensure that the information contained on the website is as accurate as possible, omissions and errors may occur and the information may not reflect the most current developments. Independent Sector expressly disclaims all liability to any person with respect to the consequences of any act or omission committed based upon reliance, in whole or in part, on any of the contents of the website.

XV. Questions

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, use of your PII, or the Independent Sector website, please contact Independent Sector as follows:

Send email to info@independentsector.org
Send mail to:
Independent Sector
1602 L Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20036
Call 202-467-6100