Privacy Policy

The Fish & Wildlife Defense Fund ("FWDF," "we," "our," or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect personal information when you visit our website, donate, sign up for updates, submit a report, or otherwise interact with us.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We collect information you choose to provide when you:

• Donate through our website (processed by Every.org). This may include name, email, billing address, donation amount, and payment information.
• Sign up for updates through our "Stay Informed" form. We collect your name, email, phone number (optional), and SMS consent status.
• Submit a Report a Case form. We collect any information you provide, including name, email, phone, location, and the details of your report.
• Submit a Confidential Whistleblower report. Information is optional; we collect only what you choose to share.
• Contact us by email at thefishandwildlifedefensefund@gmail.com.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, our hosting provider (DreamHost) and form processors may automatically collect:

• IP address and approximate geographic location
• Browser type and version
• Pages visited and time spent
• Referring website

Cookies and Tracking

Our website does not use cookies or third-party analytics tools at this time. Some features (such as the Every.org donation widget and embedded fonts from Google Fonts) may set their own cookies according to their respective privacy policies.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process donations and issue tax-deductible receipts
• Communicate with supporters about our cases, dispatches, and advocacy work
• Respond to case reports and whistleblower submissions
• Send SMS messages to those who have provided express written consent
• Comply with legal obligations, including tax reporting under IRS rules for 501(c)(3) organizations
• Defend our legal rights and the rights of those we represent

3. SMS Communications and TCPA Consent

If you provide your phone number and check the SMS consent box on our donate page, you are giving express written consent under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to receive text messages from FWDF regarding case updates, action alerts, and organizational news.

Frequency. Message frequency varies. You may receive up to several messages per month.

Costs. Message and data rates may apply. Check with your carrier for details.

Opt-out. Reply STOP to any message to unsubscribe at any time. You may also email us at thefishandwildlifedefensefund@gmail.com to be removed.

Consent is not a condition of donation. You may donate without providing SMS consent.

4. Third-Party Service Providers

We share limited information with trusted third parties that help us operate this website and process transactions:

• Every.org processes donations on our behalf. When you donate, your payment information is collected and stored by Every.org under their own privacy policy. We receive donor names and amounts but do not handle credit card data directly.
• Formspree processes form submissions from our Report a Case, Whistleblower, and Stay Informed forms. Submissions are routed through Formspree's servers and emailed to us. Formspree's privacy policy governs their use of your data.
• DreamHost hosts our website and may collect server logs as described in their privacy policy.
• Google Fonts provides typography on our site. Google may collect IP addresses when fonts are loaded.

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.

5. Confidential Whistleblower Submissions

Whistleblower reports submitted through our Confidential Whistleblower Program are reviewed by FWDF counsel and treated as confidential to the maximum extent permitted by law. We will not disclose the identity of a whistleblower or the contents of a report except as required by court order, subpoena, or other legal process.

If you wish to remain fully anonymous, do not provide identifying information when submitting a report. Be aware that even without your name, technical information (such as IP address) may be collected by our form processor.

6. Your Rights

All Users

You may at any time:

• Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Ask us to correct inaccurate information
• Ask us to delete your information (subject to recordkeeping requirements for tax-deductible donations)
• Unsubscribe from email or SMS communications

California Residents (CCPA / CPRA)

California residents have the right to request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information collected, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of any "sale" of personal information. We do not sell personal information.

Other State Privacy Rights

Residents of states with comprehensive privacy laws (including but not limited to Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Oregon, and Texas) may have similar rights to those described above. To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information below.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy. Donation records are retained for at least seven years to comply with IRS recordkeeping requirements. Form submissions may be retained for up to seven years for legal and operational purposes. SMS consent records are retained for at least four years.

8. Data Security

We use commercially reasonable measures to protect your information, including encrypted transmission (HTTPS), reputable third-party processors, and limited access to personal data. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable law. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when the most recent revision occurred. Material changes will be communicated through our website or directly to subscribers.

11. Governing Law

This Privacy Policy is governed by the laws of the State of Oregon, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles.