Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

DonateLand, LLC ("DonateLand," "we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy describes in detail how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your information when you visit our website at donateland.org (the "Website") and use our land donation facilitation services (collectively, the "Services").

This Privacy Policy applies to all users of our Services, including property owners, nonprofit organizations, and general visitors to our Website. By accessing or using our Services, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• Complete contact forms or inquiry forms on our Website
• Request property evaluations or appraisals
• Apply for nonprofit partnership programs
• Subscribe to our newsletter or email communications
• Register for an account (if applicable)
• Communicate with us via email, phone, mail, or in-person meetings
• Participate in surveys, contests, or promotional activities
• Submit documentation related to property donations

This information may include, but is not limited to:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, date of birth, Social Security number (when required for tax documentation)
• Contact Information: Email address, telephone number, mailing address, physical address
• Property Information: Property location, address, assessor's parcel number (APN), property type, size, ownership details, title information, mortgage information, property tax records, photographs, legal descriptions, environmental reports, and other property-related documentation
• Financial Information: Information about property value, outstanding liens, mortgage balances, tax basis, and other financial details related to property donation
• Organization Information: For nonprofit applicants - organization name, EIN, 501(c)(3) status documentation, mission statement, board members, financial statements, and program information
• Communication Preferences: Your preferences for receiving communications from us
• Professional Information: Information about your legal representatives, tax advisors, financial planners, or other professionals involved in your property donation

2.2 Information We Collect Automatically

When you access our Website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and usage patterns, including:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, unique device identifiers, and mobile network information
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time and date of visits, time spent on pages, clickstream data, referring/exit pages, and other navigation information
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Tracking Technologies: Information collected through cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar technologies (see Section 8 for details)

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

• Public Records: Property ownership records, tax assessor data, deed information, and other publicly available property records
• Data Brokers: Enhanced contact information and demographic data from licensed data providers
• Partner Organizations: Information shared by our partner nonprofit organizations
• Service Providers: Information from appraisers, title companies, environmental consultants, and other service providers involved in the donation process
• Analytics Providers: Website analytics and usage statistics from third-party analytics services
• Social Media: Information from your social media profiles if you interact with us on social media platforms

2.4 Sensitive Personal Information

In certain circumstances, we may collect sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, financial account information, and health information (if related to conservation easements or special use properties). We collect this information only when necessary for completing property donations and will handle it with heightened security measures.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

3.1 Service Provision

• Facilitating property donations and connecting donors with qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
• Conducting initial property evaluations and assessments
• Coordinating property appraisals, title searches, environmental assessments, and due diligence
• Managing the donation process from initial inquiry through closing
• Administering nonprofit partnership programs
• Processing and responding to your inquiries and requests
• Providing customer support and technical assistance

3.2 Communication

• Sending you information about the property donation process
• Providing updates on the status of your property evaluation or donation
• Sending educational materials about tax benefits of land donation
• Distributing newsletters and promotional materials (with your consent)
• Responding to your questions, comments, and feedback
• Sending administrative communications, such as policy updates

3.3 Business Operations

• Improving and optimizing our Website and Services
• Analyzing user behavior and preferences to enhance user experience
• Conducting research and analytics
• Developing new features, products, and services
• Monitoring and analyzing trends, usage, and activities
• Detecting, preventing, and addressing technical issues

3.4 Legal and Security

• Complying with legal obligations and regulatory requirements
• Responding to legal requests and preventing harm
• Protecting our rights, property, and safety, and that of our users and the public
• Detecting, preventing, and addressing fraud, security issues, and illegal activities
• Enforcing our Terms of Service and other agreements
• Maintaining records for tax and legal documentation purposes

3.5 Marketing (with consent)

• Sending you marketing communications about our Services
• Personalizing content and advertisements
• Measuring the effectiveness of our marketing campaigns

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

4.1 With Nonprofit Organizations

When you express interest in donating property to a specific nonprofit organization or request to be matched with a nonprofit, we will share relevant property information and your contact details with that organization. We only share information with IRS-qualified 501(c)(3) organizations that have agreed to our partnership terms.

4.2 With Service Providers

We share information with trusted third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

• Property Appraisers: Licensed appraisers who conduct property valuations
• Title Companies: For title searches, title insurance, and escrow services
• Environmental Consultants: For Phase I and Phase II environmental assessments
• Legal Professionals: Attorneys who assist with property transfers and legal documentation
• Technology Providers: Cloud hosting services, email service providers, analytics platforms, and CRM systems
• Payment Processors: For processing any payments or fees (if applicable)
• Marketing Services: Email marketing platforms, advertising networks, and marketing analytics tools
• AI and Data Processing Services: Services that help us analyze property data, generate reports, or provide automated responses

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and use it only for the purposes for which we disclose it to them.

4.3 For Legal Reasons

We may disclose your information if required by law or if we believe in good faith that such disclosure is necessary to:

• Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or legal processes
• Respond to lawful requests from government authorities
• Enforce our Terms of Service or other agreements
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of DonateLand, our users, or the public
• Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
• Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing in connection with our Services

4.4 Business Transfers

In connection with any merger, sale of company assets, financing, acquisition, or other transaction involving DonateLand, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity. We will provide notice before your information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share your information with third parties when you have given us explicit consent to do so.

4.6 Aggregated or De-Identified Information

We may share aggregated or de-identified information that cannot reasonably be used to identify you for research, marketing, analytics, or other purposes.

We Do Not Sell Your Personal Information

DonateLand does not sell, rent, or lease your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.

5. Data Security

We implement comprehensive administrative, technical, and physical security measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. Our security measures include:

5.1 Technical Safeguards

• Encryption of data in transit using SSL/TLS protocols (HTTPS)
• Encryption of sensitive data at rest
• Secure server infrastructure with firewall protection
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Intrusion detection and prevention systems
• Secure authentication mechanisms and access controls

5.2 Administrative Safeguards

• Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Employee training on data security and privacy practices
• Confidentiality agreements with employees and contractors
• Regular review and update of security policies and procedures
• Incident response and breach notification procedures

5.3 Physical Safeguards

• Secure facilities with controlled access
• Secure disposal of physical documents containing personal information

Important Security Notice

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your information. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of any account credentials and for any activities that occur under your account. Please notify us immediately of any unauthorized access or use of your account.

6. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

6.1 Retention Periods

• Active Inquiries: Information related to ongoing property evaluations and donations is retained until the transaction is completed or terminated
• Completed Donations: Records of completed donations are retained for a minimum of 7 years to comply with tax and legal documentation requirements
• Marketing Communications: Contact information for marketing purposes is retained until you opt-out or request deletion
• Account Information: If you create an account, we retain your information until you request account deletion, plus any legally required retention period thereafter
• Legal Compliance: Information required for legal, tax, or regulatory purposes is retained for the period required by applicable law

6.2 Deletion and Anonymization

After the applicable retention period expires, we will delete or anonymize your personal information in accordance with our data retention policy and applicable laws. Some information may be retained in anonymized form for statistical and research purposes.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable laws, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

7.1 Access and Portability

• Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you
• Right to Portability: You may request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format

7.2 Correction and Update

• Right to Rectification: You have the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal information
• You can update certain information directly through your account settings (if applicable)

7.3 Deletion

• Right to Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions (such as legal retention requirements)
• Note: We may retain certain information as required by law or for legitimate business purposes

7.4 Restriction and Objection

• Right to Restrict Processing: You may request that we limit how we use your personal information
• Right to Object: You may object to our processing of your personal information for certain purposes, including marketing

7.5 Marketing Communications

• Opt-Out: You may opt-out of receiving marketing emails by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email or contacting us directly
• Even if you opt-out of marketing communications, we may still send you non-promotional messages related to your property donation or our Services

7.6 Do Not Track

Some web browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature. Our Website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals. You can control tracking through cookie settings (see Section 8).

7.7 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in Section 14. We will respond to your request within the timeframe required by applicable law (generally 30-45 days). We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing activities and to improve our Services.

8.1 Types of Cookies We Use

Essential Cookies

These cookies are necessary for the Website to function and cannot be disabled. They enable basic functions like page navigation, security features, and access to secure areas of the Website.

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors interact with our Website by collecting and reporting information anonymously. We use services such as Google Analytics to analyze website traffic and usage patterns.

Functionality Cookies

These cookies enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences and settings.

Marketing/Advertising Cookies

These cookies track your browsing activity to deliver relevant advertisements on our Website and third-party websites. They may be set by us or by third-party advertising partners.

8.2 Third-Party Cookies and Analytics

We use the following third-party services that may place cookies on your device:

• Google Analytics: For website analytics and user behavior analysis
• Google Ads: For advertising and remarketing campaigns
• Facebook Pixel: For advertising and conversion tracking on Facebook
• Email Marketing Platforms: For tracking email opens and link clicks

8.3 Cookie Management

You can control and manage cookies in several ways:

• Browser Settings: Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete cookies. Methods for doing so vary from browser to browser. Please refer to your browser's help function for instructions.
• Opt-Out Tools: You can opt-out of interest-based advertising through industry opt-out tools such as the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) opt-out page or the Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) opt-out page.
• Google Analytics: You can opt-out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.

Note on Cookie Blocking

Please note that if you disable or refuse cookies, some parts of our Website may become inaccessible or not function properly.

9. Third-Party Services and Links

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites, including partner nonprofit organizations, service providers, and informational resources. We also integrate third-party services into our platform.

9.1 Third-Party Websites

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites. When you click on a link to a third-party website, you leave our Website and are subject to that website's privacy policy. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

9.2 Third-Party Services

We use various third-party services to operate our business, including:

• Cloud Hosting: Vercel, AWS, or similar platforms for website hosting
• Email Services: For transactional and marketing email delivery
• CRM Systems: For managing donor and nonprofit relationships
• AI Services: For property analysis, chatbot functionality, and automated responses
• Payment Processing: For processing any payments or fees (if applicable)

These third-party services may have access to your information as necessary to perform their functions but are obligated not to use it for other purposes.

10. International Data Transfers

DonateLand is based in the United States. If you are accessing our Services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

The data protection laws in the United States and other countries may differ from those in your country of residence. By using our Services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries as described in this Privacy Policy.

10.1 European Economic Area (EEA) Users

If you are located in the EEA, we rely on the following legal bases for processing your personal information:

• Contract Performance: Processing necessary to provide our Services to you
• Legal Obligation: Processing required to comply with legal requirements
• Legitimate Interests: Processing for our legitimate business interests (such as improving our Services), provided your rights do not override these interests
• Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities

11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):

11.1 Right to Know

You have the right to request:

• The categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you
• The categories of sources from which we collected your personal information
• The business or commercial purpose for collecting or selling your personal information
• The categories of third parties with whom we share your personal information

11.2 Right to Delete

You have the right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to certain exceptions.

11.3 Right to Correct

You have the right to request correction of inaccurate personal information.

11.4 Right to Opt-Out

You have the right to opt-out of the "sale" or "sharing" of your personal information. DonateLand does not sell personal information in the traditional sense, but some data sharing for targeted advertising may constitute a "sale" under CCPA. You can opt-out by contacting us.

11.5 Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information

You have the right to limit our use of sensitive personal information. We only use sensitive personal information for purposes permitted under CCPA.

11.6 Non-Discrimination

We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your CCPA rights. We will not deny you services, charge different prices, or provide a different level of service for exercising your rights.

11.7 Authorized Agents

You may designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf. We may require verification of your identity and the agent's authority.

11.8 Categories of Personal Information Collected

In the past 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information:

• Identifiers (name, email, phone, address, IP address)
• Personal information as defined in Cal. Civ. Code Section 1798.80(e) (name, address, telephone number, financial information)
• Protected classification characteristics (age, if voluntarily provided)
• Commercial information (property information, transaction history)
• Internet or electronic network activity (browsing history, Website interactions)
• Geolocation data (general location based on IP address)
• Professional or employment-related information (for nonprofit partners)
• Inferences drawn from personal information (property donation likelihood, user preferences)

12. Children's Privacy (COPPA Compliance)

Our Services are not intended for, nor directed to, children under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 years of age. Property donation requires legal capacity to transfer property, which typically requires being at least 18 years old.

If we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete that information as soon as possible. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately at privacy@donateland.org.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or for other reasons. We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy when we make changes.

13.1 Notice of Material Changes

If we make material changes to this Privacy Policy that significantly affect your rights or how we handle your personal information, we will provide notice through one or more of the following methods:

• Posting a prominent notice on our Website
• Sending an email to the address associated with your account or inquiry
• Providing notice through our Services

13.2 Continued Use

Your continued use of our Services after we publish or send a notice about changes to this Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to the changes, you should discontinue use of our Services and contact us to request deletion of your information.

13.3 Review

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

14. Contact Information

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

14.1 Response Time

We will respond to your privacy inquiries and requests within 30-45 days, as required by applicable law. For urgent matters, please indicate "URGENT" in the subject line of your email.

14.2 Verification

To protect your privacy and security, we may need to verify your identity before responding to your request. We may ask for additional information to verify your identity, such as matching information you provide with information we have on file.

15. Additional State-Specific Rights

15.1 Nevada Residents

Nevada residents have the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information. DonateLand does not sell personal information as defined under Nevada law. If you have questions, please contact us at privacy@donateland.org.

15.2 Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, and Utah Residents

If you are a resident of Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, or Utah, you have rights under your state's privacy law, including rights to access, correct, delete, and obtain a copy of your personal information, as well as rights to opt-out of targeted advertising and sales of personal information. To exercise these rights, please contact us at privacy@donateland.org.

16. Business Contact Information

If we obtain your business contact information in the course of providing Services to a business, nonprofit, or government entity, we may use that information to contact you about our Services that may be of interest to your organization.

17. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, and Switzerland, we process your personal information only when we have a valid legal basis, including:

• Consent: You have given clear consent for us to process your personal information for a specific purpose
• Contract: Processing is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you
• Legal Obligation: Processing is necessary to comply with the law
• Vital Interests: Processing is necessary to protect someone's life
• Legitimate Interests: Processing is necessary for our legitimate interests or the legitimate interests of a third party (unless your rights and interests override those interests)

Last Updated: January 29, 2025
Version: 2.0
Effective Date: January 29, 2025