ANNI Africa NeuroCare & NeuroResearch Initiative ("ANNI," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website (anni-africa.org), make a donation, sign up for our newsletter, submit a form, or otherwise interact with us.

By using our website or providing your information to us, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our website or services.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide Directly

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, mailing address, and phone number when you sign up for our newsletter, submit a contact form, or correspond with us.
• Donation Information: Payment details, billing address, donation amount, and donor preferences when you make a contribution. Payment processing is handled by Givebutter; ANNI does not directly store credit card numbers.
• Volunteer or Partnership Information: Professional background, areas of interest, and qualifications when you apply to volunteer, partner, or join the organization.
• Prayer Requests: Names and details you choose to share when submitting a prayer request through our forms.
• Communications: Content of any messages, emails, or feedback you send us.

Information Collected Automatically

• Device & Browser Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and screen resolution.
• Usage Information: Pages visited, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring website, and similar analytics data.
• Location Information: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (city/region level).

Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services we use, including Givebutter (donation processing), Google Analytics, social media platforms, and email marketing platforms.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process donations, send tax receipts, and acknowledge contributions
• To send newsletters, updates, and information about ANNI's research and programs (only with your consent)
• To respond to your inquiries, prayer requests, and partnership requests
• To improve our website, programs, and services based on usage patterns
• To comply with legal obligations, including IRS reporting for nonprofit donations
• To prevent fraud and protect the security of our website and donor information
• To communicate with volunteers, partners, and grant funders about specific opportunities
• To analyze the effectiveness of our research and educational programs

3. Donations & Payment Processing

Donations to ANNI are processed by Givebutter, a third-party donation platform compliant with PCI DSS standards. When you donate:

• Your payment information (credit card, debit card, ACH) is collected and stored directly by Givebutter, not ANNI
• ANNI receives your name, email, donation amount, and donation designation
• Tax receipts are automatically generated and sent by Givebutter
• You may set up recurring donations, which can be canceled at any time through your Givebutter donor portal

Refund Policy

Donations are generally non-refundable. If you believe a donation was made in error, please contact us within 30 days at info@anni-africa.org and we will review your request in good faith.

4. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to operate and improve our website. Cookies are small data files stored on your device.

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (e.g., session management, form submission)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (e.g., Google Analytics)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Third-Party Cookies: Set by services like YouTube (embedded videos), Givebutter, and social media platforms

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect website functionality.

5. How We Share Information

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

• Service Providers: Trusted third parties who help operate our website, process donations, send emails, and provide analytics (e.g., Givebutter, Google Analytics, Zoho, email service providers). These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request
• Protection of Rights: To enforce our terms, protect ANNI, our donors, or others from harm, or investigate fraud
• Aggregated/De-identified Data: Statistical or anonymized data may be shared with research partners, sponsors, or in public reports — never including personally identifiable information
• With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize sharing for specific purposes (e.g., partner organizations, conference registration)

6. Third-Party Services

Our website integrates with the following third-party services. Each has its own privacy policy governing data they collect:

• Givebutter — donation processing (givebutter.com/privacy)
• Google Analytics — website analytics (policies.google.com/privacy)
• YouTube — embedded educational videos (youtube.com/privacy)
• Zoho — CRM and email management (zoho.com/privacy.html)
• WordPress / Elementor / Astra — website platform
• GoDaddy — domain and hosting

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of these third parties.

7. Data Security

We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical security measures to protect your information, including:

• HTTPS encryption for all data transmitted through our website
• PCI DSS-compliant payment processing through Givebutter
• Access controls limiting employee and volunteer access to personal information
• Regular security reviews of our systems and third-party providers

However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy, comply with legal obligations (such as IRS recordkeeping requirements for donations), resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Donor records are typically retained for at least seven (7) years to meet IRS requirements.

You may request deletion of your data at any time, subject to legal retention requirements (see "Your Rights & Choices").

9. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected information from a child under 13, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a child has provided us with information, please contact us at info@anni-africa.org.

For users between 13 and 17, we recommend parental or guardian involvement when interacting with our website or making donations.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) provide you with the following rights:

• Right to Know: Request information about the categories of personal information we collect, use, and share
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
• Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (ANNI does not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@anni-africa.org with "California Privacy Request" in the subject line.

11. International Visitors & GDPR (European Union)

If you are accessing our website from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States. By using our website, you consent to this transfer.

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom, you have the following rights under GDPR:

• Right of access, rectification, erasure, and data portability
• Right to restrict or object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent at any time
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

Lawful basis for processing: We process your information based on consent, contract performance (donations), legal obligations (tax compliance), and our legitimate interests in operating our mission.

To exercise GDPR rights, contact us at info@anni-africa.org.

12. Your Rights & Choices

Regardless of where you live, you have the following options:

• Email Preferences: Unsubscribe from any email by clicking the unsubscribe link, or contact us to opt out of all marketing communications
• Access & Updates: Request a copy of your information or update incorrect data
• Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Cookies: Adjust cookie settings through your browser preferences

Submit requests to info@anni-africa.org. We will respond within 30 days.

13. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy and, where appropriate, notify you by email or prominent notice on our website.

We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

14. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us: