Cookie Policy

The Foundation may use cookies, local storage, pixels, scripts, and similar technologies to operate the website, remember certain preferences, understand website usage, maintain security, improve performance, and support selected website functions. The exact technologies in use can change as the website, hosting environment, plugins, analytics tools, payment services, and other third-party integrations change.

1. What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small data files stored by a website or service in a visitor's browser or device. Similar technologies can perform related functions, such as remembering a session, recognizing a device, storing preferences, measuring traffic, or supporting security and functionality.

2. Why We May Use Cookies

3. Essential Cookies and Similar Technologies

Some technologies may be necessary for the website to function correctly or securely. These can include technologies used for login or administration, session management, form submission, security, spam prevention, load balancing, consent preferences, or other essential operations.

Blocking certain essential technologies may cause parts of the website to stop working correctly.

4. Preference and Functionality Technologies

Where implemented, the website may use cookies or local storage to remember choices such as interface preferences, consent selections, or other non-essential settings.

These technologies are used only to the extent supported by the actual configuration of the website.

5. Analytics and Performance

The Foundation may use analytics or performance tools to understand how visitors interact with the website, identify technical problems, measure page performance, and improve content and usability.

Analytics tools, when enabled, may place their own cookies or use similar technologies according to their respective policies and configurations.

6. Forms, Volunteer and Partner Applications

Pages containing contact, volunteer, partner, or other forms may use essential technologies required to submit information securely, prevent abuse, maintain a session, or protect the form from automated misuse.

Cookies are not a substitute for the Foundation's obligations regarding the personal information submitted through these forms. Such information is handled according to the Foundation's Privacy Policy and the systems actually deployed.

7. Donations and Payment Services

The Foundation may use a third-party payment gateway for online donations. During a donation transaction, the payment provider may use cookies, scripts, security technologies, or similar mechanisms necessary for payment processing, fraud prevention, authentication, risk controls, or service operation.

The Foundation does not ask donors to provide payment passwords, PINs, one-time passwords, CVV values, or similar authentication credentials through ordinary website forms, email, or telephone communications.

8. Third-Party Content and Embedded Services

Some pages may contain embedded content or links provided by third parties, such as video platforms, social media services, maps, payment services, analytics providers, or other external services. Those providers may use cookies or similar technologies when their content or services are accessed.

Third-party cookies are governed by the respective third party's policies and technical configuration. The Foundation does not control every technology used by an external service.

9. Cookie Consent and Your Choices

Where the website provides a cookie consent or preference mechanism, visitors can use it to manage the categories made available through that mechanism. Essential technologies may remain active where they are necessary for requested website functions or security.

Preferences stored by the consent system may be device- or browser-specific. Clearing browser storage, changing browsers, using a different device, or deleting cookies may require preferences to be selected again.

10. Browser Controls

Most modern browsers provide controls for viewing, blocking, deleting, or restricting cookies. Browser settings differ by provider and version, and blocking cookies can affect website functionality.

Visitors should review the settings and help documentation for the browser or device they use when deciding how cookies are handled.

11. Do Not Track and Similar Signals

Browser-based privacy signals and “Do Not Track” settings may not have a single standardized technical meaning across all services. The Foundation will consider such mechanisms according to the capabilities of its deployed website and applicable requirements.

12. Cookie Information May Change

The actual names, providers, purposes, durations, and categories of cookies can change when WordPress, Elementor, Astra, plugins, security services, analytics tools, payment providers, hosting services, or other website components are added, removed, updated, or reconfigured.

13. Security and Privacy

Cookies are only one part of website data handling. The Foundation may also process server logs, form submissions, payment records, application records, technical information, and other data as described in its Privacy Policy.

Appropriate security and access controls should be maintained for the website, administration systems, integrations, and stored information according to the Foundation's actual technical environment and applicable requirements.

14. Changes to This Cookie Policy

The Foundation may update this Cookie Policy when its technology, website configuration, services, legal requirements, or privacy practices change. The latest version published on this page will apply from its stated effective date.