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Privacy Policy

Last Updated: February 16, 2026

Fundación María Auxiliadora Inc. ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, submit forms, or interact with our organization.

As a faith-based nonprofit organization, we are stewards of the personal information you entrust to us, and we treat it with the utmost care and respect, guided by Christian principles of integrity, transparency, and love for neighbor.

1. Information We Collect

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide when you:

  • Register for retreats or spiritual programs
  • Submit volunteer applications
  • Request prayer through our prayer request form
  • Submit creative works (music, manuscripts) to our divisions
  • Make donations
  • Subscribe to our newsletter or communications
  • Contact us with inquiries
  • Interact with Maria AI (our faith-based chatbot)

This information may include:

  • Personal Identifiers: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
  • Demographic Information: Age, location, language preferences
  • Spiritual Information: Prayer requests, retreat preferences, faith background (optional)
  • Professional Information: Skills, availability (for volunteers), artistic/creative works
  • Financial Information: Donation amounts (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
  • Communications: Messages, questions, or testimonials you share with us

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • IP address and approximate geographic location
  • Pages visited and time spent on pages
  • Referring website addresses
  • Device information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your information for the following purposes, always in service of our religious and charitable mission:

2.1 Ministry and Service Delivery

  • To coordinate retreat registrations and spiritual programs
  • To process volunteer applications and coordinate outreach activities
  • To receive and pray for submitted prayer requests
  • To review and respond to creative submissions (music, manuscripts)
  • To provide spiritual guidance and support through Maria AI
  • To serve those in extreme poverty through our Extrema Pobreza Onboard division

2.2 Donor Relations and Stewardship

  • To process donations securely
  • To provide donation receipts for tax purposes
  • To send thank-you messages and updates on how donations are used
  • To maintain accurate records as required by nonprofit regulations

2.3 Communications

  • To send newsletters, ministry updates, and event announcements
  • To respond to your inquiries and requests
  • To share testimonials and stories of transformation (with your consent)
  • To provide information about our various divisions and programs

2.4 Website Improvement

  • To analyze website usage and improve user experience
  • To ensure website security and prevent fraud
  • To troubleshoot technical issues

3. How We Protect Your Information

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information:

  • Encryption: Data transmitted through our forms is encrypted using SSL/TLS technology
  • Secure Storage: Personal data is stored in secure databases with restricted access (Supabase with Row Level Security enabled)
  • Access Controls: Only authorized staff and volunteers have access to personal information
  • Regular Audits: We regularly review our security practices
  • Third-Party Vendors: We carefully vet service providers who handle data on our behalf

However, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

4. How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our ministry:

  • Email Services: Resend (for form notifications)
  • Website Hosting: Vercel
  • Database Services: Supabase
  • Payment Processors: Stripe/PayPal (for donations)
  • AI Services: Anthropic (for Maria AI chatbot)

These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

4.2 Legal Compliance

We may disclose information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Protect the rights, property, or safety of our organization, volunteers, or others
  • Prevent fraud or abuse

4.3 Prayer Requests

Prayer requests may be shared with our prayer team and community, but only in accordance with your expressed preferences:

  • If you choose "Anonymous," no identifying information will be shared
  • If you allow public sharing, requests may be shared in prayer circles or broadcasts
  • Sensitive or confidential matters are always kept private

5. Your Rights and Choices

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

5.1 Access and Correction

You may request to view or correct your personal information by contacting us at info@fundacionmariaauxiliadora.org

5.2 Deletion

You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal and regulatory retention requirements for nonprofit organizations.

5.3 Communication Preferences

  • You may opt out of marketing emails at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" in any email
  • You may request to be removed from our mailing lists
  • We will still send essential communications related to services you've requested (e.g., retreat confirmations)

5.4 Do Not Track

Our website does not currently respond to "Do Not Track" browser signals, but we do not track you across third-party websites.

6. 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 discover we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it immediately.

For youth programs and family retreats involving minors, we require parental consent and maintain appropriate safeguards.

7. International Data Transfers

Fundación María Auxiliadora operates primarily in the United States and Latin America. If you are located outside these regions, please note that your information may be transferred to and processed in countries with different data protection laws.

We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for such transfers.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website uses minimal cookies and similar technologies:

8.1 Essential Cookies

  • Session cookies for form functionality
  • Language preference storage
  • Security and authentication

8.2 Analytics

We may use basic analytics to understand how visitors use our site, helping us improve our ministry outreach. This data is anonymous and aggregated.

For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

9. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external sites (e.g., social media, partner organizations). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.

10. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, or legal requirements. We will notify you of significant changes by:

  • Posting the updated policy on our website with a new "Last Updated" date
  • Sending email notifications to registered users (for material changes)

Your continued use of our website after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy.

11. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law or for legitimate nonprofit purposes:

  • Donation Records: 7 years (IRS requirement)
  • Volunteer Records: Duration of service + 3 years
  • Prayer Requests: Deleted upon request or after resolution
  • Newsletter Subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe
  • Website Analytics: Aggregated data retained indefinitely; personal data deleted after 26 months

12. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act:

  • Right to know what personal information we collect and how it's used
  • Right to request deletion of your personal information
  • Right to opt out of sale of personal information (note: we do not sell personal information)
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@fundacionmariaauxiliadora.org

13. GDPR Rights (European Users)

If you are in the European Economic Area, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation:

  • Right to access your personal data
  • Right to rectification of inaccurate data
  • Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
  • Right to restrict processing
  • Right to data portability
  • Right to object to processing
  • Right to withdraw consent at any time

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@fundacionmariaauxiliadora.org

Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Fundación María Auxiliadora Inc.
465 Parsonage Road
Edison, NJ 08837
United States

Email: info@fundacionmariaauxiliadora.org
Phone: (201) 598-6036

Privacy Officer: Available upon request

14. Our Commitment

As a Christian nonprofit organization, we are committed to handling your information with the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and care. We view data protection not merely as a legal obligation, but as a sacred trust.

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body." - Ephesians 4:25

We honor your privacy as we would want our own honored, guided by the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."

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