Privacy policy.

California Equity Initiative Privacy Policy

Last updated October 24, 2025

This Privacy Notice for California Equity Initiative (“CalEquity,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) describes how and why we may access, collect, store, use, and/or share (“process”) your personal information when you use our services (“Services”), including when you:

  • Visit our website at calequity.org or any website of ours that links to this Privacy Notice

  • Engage with us via email, SMS, events, or other communications

  • Participate in our programs or campaigns

Questions or concerns? Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for making decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies, please do not use our Services. For questions, contact us at info@calequity.org.

Summary of Key Points

  • What personal information do we process? We collect personal information depending on your interactions with CalEquity, your choices, and the Services you use.

  • Sensitive personal information: We do not process sensitive information such as racial or ethnic origins, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs.

  • Third-party information: We do not collect personal information from third parties for commercial purposes.

  • How we use your information: To provide, improve, and administer Services, communicate with you, prevent fraud, and comply with legal obligations.

  • Sharing information: We do not sell or commercially share your personal information. Sharing is limited to nonprofit partners, service providers, and legal obligations.

  • Your rights: California residents and other applicable jurisdictions have rights to access, correct, delete, and opt-out of the processing of personal information.

  • SMS / Messaging Programs: CalEquity’s SMS campaigns are compliant with carrier requirements and include opt-out instructions, HELP support, and privacy disclosures.

Table of Contents

  1. What Information Do We Collect?

  2. How Do We Process Your Information?

  3. Legal Bases for Processing

  4. When and With Whom We Share Your Information

  5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

  6. How Long We Keep Your Information

  7. Collection from Minors

  8. Your Privacy Rights

  9. Do-Not-Track Features

  10. SMS / Messaging Program

  11. Updates to This Notice

  12. Contact Us

  13. How to Review, Update, or Delete Your Data

1. What Information Do We Collect?

Personal information you disclose to us:

We collect information you voluntarily provide when you:

  • Participate in programs or events

  • Contact us via email, SMS, or online forms

  • Register for services or campaigns

Examples:

  • Name

  • Email address

  • Mailing address

  • Program registration details

Information automatically collected:

We may collect technical information automatically, such as:

  • IP address, browser type, operating system

  • Device information, usage patterns, clicks, and page interactions

  • Location data (only if enabled)

Google API Use: Our use of Google APIs complies with Google API Services User Data Policy.

2. How Do We Process Your Information?

We use personal information to:

  • Deliver programs and Services

  • Respond to inquiries and provide support

  • Send administrative or program updates

  • Request feedback and improve our Services

  • Conduct analytics for program effectiveness

  • Ensure security, prevent fraud, and comply with law

3. Legal Bases for Processing Your Information

CalEquity processes personal information only when we have a valid legal reason:

Consent

  • You provide information voluntarily, for example when signing up for SMS updates or programs. You can withdraw consent at any time by opting out or contacting admin@calequity.org.

Program Administration

  • We process information to deliver, improve, and manage CalEquity programs, events, and educational outreach.

Legal Compliance

  • We process information to meet legal obligations relevant to our 501(c)(3) nonprofit operations.

Legitimate Nonprofit Interests

  • We use information to communicate program updates, evaluate effectiveness, and maintain participant safety.

Vital Interests

  • Processing may be necessary in rare situations to protect your safety or the safety of others.

You have rights to access, correct, or request deletion of personal information. CalEquity does not sell or share personal information for commercial purposes.

4. When and With Whom We Share Your Information?

CalEquity does not sell or commercially share your personal information.

We may share information only when necessary to operate our nonprofit programs or comply with law:

  • Service Providers & Contractors: Trusted vendors who provide essential services like email, SMS, event management, or website hosting.

  • Affiliates & Nonprofit Partners: For delivering programs, events, or Services that you request. Partners must comply with the same privacy protections.

  • Legal & Regulatory Compliance: When required by law, regulation, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of CalEquity or others.

Your Data is Protected: Your personal information is never sold or shared for commercial marketing purposes.

5. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

CalEquity may use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and other tracking technologies when you interact with our Services. These technologies help us:

  • Maintain the security and proper functioning of our Services

  • Prevent errors or crashes

  • Save your preferences

  • Analyze usage to improve programs and outreach

We allow certain third-party service providers to use these technologies for analytics purposes, including understanding how users engage with our Services. CalEquity does not sell or share personal information for commercial purposes.

Google Analytics:
We may use Google Analytics to understand usage patterns and improve our Services. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, visit: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. For more information, see Google’s Privacy & Terms.

Note: Cookies are generally necessary for basic site functionality. You can manage or delete cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect your experience with some Services.

6. How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep personal information only as long as needed to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Notice, unless a longer period is required by law (for example, for tax or accounting purposes).

When personal information is no longer needed, we will delete or anonymize it. If deletion is not immediately possible (for instance, if information is stored in backup archives), we will securely store and isolate it from further use until it can be safely deleted

7. Special Considerations for California Residents

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), we provide additional rights to California residents:

  • You have the right to know what personal information we collect, use, and share.

  • You have the right to request deletion or correction of personal information.

  • You have the right to opt-out of the sale or sharing of personal information. (CalEquity does not sell or commercially share personal information; this right still applies as a reassurance of privacy.)

  • You have the right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights.

Summary: CalEquity ensures all processing of personal information is grounded in a valid legal basis, aligned with nonprofit operations, California law, and industry standards for ethical handling of personal data.

7. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

CalEquity is committed to protecting the privacy of minors. By using our Services, you represent that you are at least 13 years old, or that you are the parent or guardian of a minor who is at least 13 years old and consent to such minor’s use of the Services.

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 13 without verifiable parental consent, we will take steps to promptly delete such information from our records.

8. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

Depending on your location, you have rights to access, correct, delete, and control the personal information we collect. California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and related laws.

Your rights may include:

  • Access: Request a copy of personal information we hold about you.

  • Correction: Request corrections to inaccurate personal information.

  • Deletion: Request deletion of personal information we maintain.

  • Opt-Out of Sharing: CalEquity does not sell personal information. You may opt out of any future sharing for non-essential purposes.

  • Non-Discrimination: Exercising your privacy rights will not result in different treatment.

How to Exercise Your Rights: You can submit a request via info@calequity.org. You may also designate an authorized agent, but we may require proof of authorization. CalEquity will verify your identity before fulfilling any requests.

Withdrawing Consent: If we process your data based on consent, you can withdraw consent at any time. This will not affect prior lawful processing.

9. Do-Not-Track Features

Some web browsers, mobile operating systems, and applications include a Do-Not-Track (“DNT”) feature that lets you signal your preference not to have your online browsing tracked. Currently, there is no industry or legal standard for recognizing DNT signals.

CalEquity does not respond to DNT signals at this time. If a standard is established in the future that we must follow, we will update this Privacy Notice accordingly.

10. SMS/SHORT CODE MESSAGING

CalEquity SMS Program

  1. Program Description: CalEquity will send updates about programs, volunteer opportunities, events, advocacy campaigns, and fundraising initiatives. By opting in, you consent to receive recurring SMS messages from CalEquity.

  2. Canceling SMS Service: You can cancel the SMS service at any time. Just text "STOP" to the short code. After you send the SMS message "STOP" to us, we will send you an SMS message to confirm that you have been unsubscribed. After this, you will no longer receive SMS messages from us. If you want to join again, just sign up as you did the first time and we will start sending SMS messages to you again.

  3. Help and Support: If you are experiencing issues with the messaging program, you can reply with the keyword HELP for more assistance, or contact us directly at info@calequity.org.

  4. Carrier Liability: Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.

  5. Message & Data Rates: Message and data rates may apply for any messages sent to you from us and to us from you. You will receive approximately 2–4 messages per month. Contact your wireless provider with questions about your text or data plan.

  6. Privacy Questions: For information about how we handle your personal data, please read our full Privacy Policy.

11. Updates to This Notice
We may update this Privacy Notice periodically to stay compliant with applicable laws and best practices. Changes will be reflected in the “Last Updated” date at the top of this notice. Material changes may be communicated via our website or other reasonable means.

12. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Notice or our practices, contact us at:

California Equity Initiative (CalEquity)
Email: info@calequity.org

13. How to Review, Update, or Delete Your Data
Depending on your state of residence and applicable law, you may request access to, correction of, or deletion of the personal information we collect. You may also withdraw consent for processing at any time. 

Requests can be submitted by emailing info@calequity.org. We may require verification of your identity before processing requests.