Privacy Policy

1. Scope

This Policy applies to all visitors, donors, volunteers, newsletter subscribers and campaign participants who use the website of Praan Foundation. It does not apply to third-party websites that may be linked from our site.

2. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways, and only when you choose to provide it:

• When you make a donation
• When you sign up for a campaign, volunteer programme or event
• When you subscribe to our newsletters or updates
• When you contact us through a form, email or phone

The information we may collect includes:

• Your name
• Your email address and mailing address
• Your telephone number
• Your PAN or other identification details, where required to issue tax-exemption receipts or to comply with the law
• Payment details, processed securely through our payment gateway
• Any other information you voluntarily provide to us

Sensitive personal data. Payment instrument details (such as card or bank account information) are treated as sensitive personal data. We do not store your full card details on our servers; they are handled by our payment gateway partner.

Automatically collected information. General browsing of our website is anonymous. We may automatically record the date, time and location of visits, browser type, device information and the name of your internet service provider. This data is used only for statistics, security and website diagnosis.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process your donations and keep an accurate record of all contributions received
• Issue donation receipts and tax-exemption certificates
• Send acknowledgements, impact updates, bulletins and newsletters (you may opt out at any time)
• Ensure that you receive the most relevant and appropriate information about our work
• Understand more about the people who visit our website, donate to us or join our campaigns
• Respond to your queries and requests
• Improve our website, programmes and fundraising efforts
• Comply with legal, regulatory, audit and tax obligations

We do not use your information for any purpose other than those stated in this Policy without your consent, except where required by law.

4. Confidentiality and Disclosure

We keep your information strictly confidential. It is accessed only by our authorised staff, officials and volunteers who need it to perform their duties.

We do not sell, rent, loan, trade or lease your personal information or our mailing lists to anyone.

We may share your information only in the following limited cases:

• Service providers: with trusted partners such as payment gateways, email service providers and auditors who help us run our operations, and who are bound to protect your information with an equivalent level of security
• Legal requirements: where disclosure is necessary to comply with a legal obligation, or is required by a court, government authority or law-enforcement agency
• With your consent: in any other case where you have expressly agreed

5. Email Lists and Communications

Individuals who join our mailing lists through the website or our campaigns are added to our email database. You can unsubscribe at any time by using the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or by writing to us at the address given below. We will not send you promotional communication after you opt out, though we may still send essential transactional messages, such as donation receipts.

6. Payment Gateway and Security

• All online donations are processed through a reputable third-party payment gateway using Secure Socket Layer (SSL) or equivalent encryption.
• Payment information is transmitted securely and is not stored by the Foundation.
• We apply reasonable security practices, including firewalls, encryption, access controls and password protection, to guard against unauthorised access, loss, misuse or alteration of your information.
• While we take every reasonable precaution, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Cookies

Cookies are small pieces of data sent by our website and stored on your device. They help us recognise you when you return, remember your preferences and understand how the site is used.

• You can configure your browser to accept all cookies, reject them, or notify you when a cookie is sent.
• If you disable or reject cookies, some parts of the website may not work as intended.

8. External Web Services and Third-Party Links

• Our website uses external services, such as YouTube for videos and social media buttons, to display content. These services may collect information about how you interact with the embedded content, and we cannot control this.
• Our website may contain links to other websites for your convenience. This Policy does not apply to those websites, and Praan Foundation is not responsible for their content or privacy practices. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of every website you visit before sharing your information.

9. Data Retention

We retain your information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes described in this Policy and to meet legal, tax, accounting and audit requirements. Donation records may be retained for the period prescribed by applicable law.

10. Your Rights: Access, Correction, Withdrawal and Deletion

You have the right to:

• Request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Withdraw your consent to our use of your information, or opt out of communications
• Request deletion of your information, subject to records we are legally required to retain (for example, donation and tax records)

To exercise any of these rights, please write to us at the contact details in Section 13. We will respond to verified requests within a reasonable time, and in any case within the period required by law.

11. Children's Information

Our website is not intended for children under 18 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect their personal information without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If you believe a child has provided us with information without such consent, please contact us and we will delete it.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time to reflect changes in technology, law or our practices. Updated versions will be posted on this page with a revised "Last updated" date, and we will give appropriate notice of significant changes. Your continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated Policy.

13. Contact Us and Grievance Officer

If you have any questions, concerns or complaints about this Policy or the handling of your information, please contact:

Email: info@praanfoundation.com
Address: Chandigarh

Refund and Cancellation Policy

Donations made to Praan Foundation are voluntary contributions towards our charitable objectives.

• All donations made through the online payment gateway are final and non-refundable. Once a donation is received, it cannot be cancelled or refunded.
• In case of a duplicate or erroneous transaction (for example, a double debit or an incorrect amount due to a technical error), please write to us within 7 days at the email address above with your transaction details, and we will review the request and, where verified, refund the excess amount.
• Donations will be used for the Foundation's charitable purposes, such as community development, children's education and women's empowerment, or for the specific cause chosen by the donor, where applicable.
• In-kind donations, once received, will be directed to the communities and beneficiaries we serve and cannot be returned.