Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 25, 2026

The Gillian Ragan Foundation (“Foundation,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains what we collect, how we use it, and the choices you have.

Information We Collect

We only collect information that helps us carry out our mission of supporting families who have suffered the loss of a child. Depending on how you interact with our site, this may include:

Contact information — name, email address, and any message you send through our contact form.
Newsletter subscription — your email address when you subscribe to updates.
Donation information — when you donate, payment is processed by Stripe. Stripe collects your name, email, billing address, and card details directly. We receive a record of the donation (amount, date, name, email) but we do not receive or store your full card number.
Healing Assistance applications — if you apply for support, we collect the information you provide on the application form (which may include sensitive details about your family’s circumstances). This information is used solely to review and administer your request.
Tributes & community submissions — names, photos, and stories you choose to submit for publication on memorial, tribute, or community pages.
Auction participation — bidder name, contact information, bid amounts, and shipping details when applicable.
Account information — if you create an account (for example, as a board member, volunteer, or auction bidder), we collect your name, email, and a securely hashed password.
Technical information — basic log data from our hosting provider, such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited, used to keep the site secure and running smoothly.

How We Use Your Information

To process donations and provide tax-deductible receipts.
To respond to inquiries sent through our contact form.
To send the newsletter and other updates you have requested.
To review and administer Healing Assistance applications.
To publish tributes, photos, or stories you have shared with us.
To run events, auctions, and sponsorship programs.
To keep the site secure, prevent fraud, and comply with the law.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We share information only with trusted service providers that help us operate the Foundation, and only to the extent necessary:

Stripe — payment processing for donations and auctions.
Resend — transactional and newsletter email delivery.
Hosting and database providers — to host this website and store data.
Legal & safety — when required by law, to respond to a valid legal request, or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Foundation or others.

The Foundation never publishes Healing Assistance application details. Tributes, supporter recognitions, and similar pages only display information that you have explicitly submitted for publication.

Cookies & Analytics

We use a small number of essential cookies required for sign-in, donation checkout, and basic site functionality. We do not use advertising or cross-site tracking cookies.

Children’s Privacy

Our site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. Tributes or content involving children should be submitted by a parent or legal guardian. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us and we will promptly delete it.

Your Choices & Rights

Newsletter — you may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send.
Account — you may request that your account or submitted content be updated or removed by contacting us.
Access & deletion — you may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you, or ask us to correct or delete it, subject to record retention obligations (for example, donation records required by tax law).

Data Security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information. Donation card details are processed and stored by Stripe under PCI-DSS standards and are never stored on our servers. No system is perfectly secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as needed to provide our programs and meet legal, tax, and accounting obligations. Donation records are typically retained for at least seven (7) years to comply with IRS requirements.

Third-Party Links

Our website includes links to third-party organizations, particularly on the Resources and Partners pages. We do not control and are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. Please review their privacy policies before sharing personal information.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the “Last updated” date above. Significant changes will be announced on the site or by email when appropriate.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please reach out through our contact page.

The Gillian Ragan Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.