PRIVACY POLICY

United Congregations of Metro-East ("UCM," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit ucmetroeast.org or interact with our programs, how we use it, and what choices you have.

We never sell your personal information. Period.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Give Us

We collect information you provide directly, including when you:

• Sign up for our email newsletter (name and email address)
• Make a donation or become a member (name, email, mailing address, and payment information — processed securely by EveryAction; we do not store full card numbers)
• Register for an event or program (name, email, and any program-specific information such as eligibility details for CEJA Workforce Hubs)
• Contact us by email or through a form (name, email, and the content of your message)

Information Collected Automatically When you visit our website, Squarespace (our website platform) automatically collects certain technical information, including:

• Your IP address and general location
• Browser type and device information
• Pages visited and time spent on the site
• How you arrived at our site (e.g., search engine, social media link) This information is used for website analytics and security. We do not use it to identify individual visitors.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Send you news, event announcements, and program updates you've signed up for
• Process donations and issue tax receipts
• Register you for events and programs
• Respond to your questions and requests
• Improve our website and communications
• Comply with legal obligations

We only send you emails if you have opted in. Every email we send includes an unsubscribe link.

3. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

We may share information with:

• Service providers: We use Squarespace (website hosting), EveryAction (donations and membership), and Google (forms and analytics). These providers access only the information needed to provide their services and are bound by confidentiality agreements.

• Partner organizations: For joint programs (such as events co-hosted with the NAACP or Advanced Energy Group), we may share relevant contact information with the cohosting organization — only with your awareness and only for program purposes.

• Legal requirements: We may disclose information if required by law or to protect the rights, property, or safety of UCM, our community members, or the public.

4. Cookies

Our website uses cookies (small text files stored on your device) to help the site function and to understand how visitors use it. Squarespace places cookies for site functionality and analytics. You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect some website features. We do not use cookies to track you across other websites.

5. How Long We Keep Your Information

We keep your information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy. Donor records are retained for seven years as required for nonprofit financial compliance. You may request deletion of your personal information at any time (see Section 7).

6. Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. Donation and payment information is processed through EveryAction's secure, encrypted system, we never see or store your full payment card number.

No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure. If you have concerns about the security of your information, please contact us.

7. Your Choices

• Unsubscribe from emails: Click the unsubscribe link in any email we send, or email info@ucmetroeast.org to be removed from our list.

• Access or correct your information: Email us at info@ucmetroeast.org to request a copy of the information we hold about you or to correct inaccurate information.

• Request deletion: Email us at info@ucmetroeast.org to request that we delete your personal information. We will honor this request to the extent permitted by law and our record-keeping obligations.

8. Children's Privacy

Our website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. During our program events we collect only program participation information with appropriate consent processes. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website contains links to external sites, including partner organizations, news outlets, and program resources. This Privacy Policy applies only to ucmetroeast.org. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites and encourage you to review their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Effective Date" at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy, please contact: United Congregations of Metro-East 8710 State Street, East St. Louis, IL 62203 Email: info@ucmetroeast.org Phone: (618) 213-6825

United Congregations of Metro-East is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.