Privacy Policy

Effective date: September 1, 2025

This Privacy Policy explains how Texas Matters (“we,” “us,”or “our”), based in Texas, collects, uses, and safeguards personal information submitted through our contact form and optional online donations. This site is not a fundraising platform; donations are an optional courtesy for supporters.

1) Information We Collect

Contact Form

  • Name, email, phone (if provided)
  • Organization/affiliation (optional)
  • Message content and any attachments you choose to send

Donations (Optional)

  • Donor details (name, email, billing address)
  • Transaction details (amount, currency, date/time, frequency)
  • Payment method details handled by our donation processor Donorbox and its connected payment gateways (e.g., Stripe/PayPal). We do not store full card numbers or CVV.

Technical & Safety

  • IP address, device/browser information, and anti-fraud signals collected by our host or Donorbox to protect the site and transactions.

Please avoid including sensitive personal information in free-text fields.

2) How We Use Information

  • Respond to inquiries and provide requested information
  • Process donations, issue receipts, manage recurring gifts,and maintain donor preferences
  • Prevent fraud, ensure site and payment security, and complywith legal/audit requirements
  • Maintain internal records and improve communications

3) Our Role vs. Donorbox’s Role

For donations made via Donorbox, Texas Matters is the datacontroller, and Donorbox acts as our processor. Donorbox maintains its ownprivacy and security practices in addition to ours.

4) Legal Bases (where required)

  • Consent (when you submit the form or opt into updates)
  • Contract/Performance (to process your donation and send a receipt)
  • Legitimate Interests(responding to you, securing our services, donor relations)
  • Legal Obligations (tax, accounting, compliance)

5) Disclosures

  • Service Providers (website host, email/CRM, secure cloud storage) under confidentiality and security commitments
  • Donorbox (our donation processor) and payment gateways(e.g., Stripe/PayPal) to securely process donations in accordance with applicable payment card standards
  • Banks/Payment Networks to complete transactions and prevent fraud
  • Authorities when required by law or legal process

6) Cookies & Tracking

We use only what is necessary to operate the site and process donations. Donorbox and its gateways may set essential cookies or similar technologies strictly for security, fraud prevention, and completing your transaction. We do not use third-party advertising trackers.

7) Data Retention

  • Form submissions: retained only as long as needed to address your inquiry and for routine business purposes.
  • Donation records: retained as required by tax and accounting laws (commonly up to 7 years) and for fraud/chargeback handling.

8) Security

We apply administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the information we handle. Payment data is processed by trusted providers; we do not store complete card numbers or CVV. While no method isperfectly secure, we strive for industry-standard protection and limited access.

9) Your Privacy Choices & Rights

  • Communications: Opt out of non-essential updates at any time via unsubscribe or by contacting us.
  • Access/Correct/Delete: Request access to, correction of, or deletion of your information (subject to legal exceptions—e.g., we may retain donation records we must keep).
  • State & Regional Rights: We honor applicable privacy laws, including the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA) and other state or international laws where relevant (e.g., CA, CO, CT, VA, EU/UK). Requests may include rights to access, correct, delete, and to opt out of targeted advertising, sale, or certain profiling (if applicable to our practices).

10) Children’s Privacy

Our site and donations are not intended for children under13 (or older minimum age where applicable). We do not knowingly collect information from children.

11) International Transfers

If you submit information from outside the United States, itmay be processed in the U.S. and other countries with different data-protection laws. We protect your information as described in this Policy.

12) Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. The “Effective”date reflects the latest version. Material changes will be posted on this page.

13) Contact Us

Texas Matters

Texas, USA

Email: info@texasmatters.org

Payment Processor Addendum — Donorbox

  • Donation processor: Donorbox (https://donorbox.org/)
  • Privacy notice: See Donorbox privacy materials ondonorbox.org
  • Payment methods: As made available by Donorbox and connectedgateways (e.g., Stripe/PayPal); availability may vary by configuration andlocation.
  • Receipts & recurring gifts: Donors receive emailreceipts. Manage, update, or cancel recurring donations by emailingsupport@texasmatters.org (or via any self-serve link provided in receipts).