Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

New Steps Project ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services to donate or request sports shoes. This policy applies to all users, including student athletes, donors, volunteers, and partners.

2. Information We Collect

Personal Information

We may collect the following personal information:

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Mailing address for shoe donations and requests
• School name, grade level, and sports interests (for student athletes)
• Payment information for monetary donations
• Volunteer interests and availability
• Partnership organization details

Automatically Collected Information

• Device information (browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, time spent on site)
• IP address and location information
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

3. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Process shoe donation and request applications
• Coordinate pickup and delivery of donated shoes
• Send confirmation emails and status updates
• Manage volunteer applications and activities
• Process monetary donations and send receipts
• Communicate about partnership opportunities
• Improve our website and services
• Comply with legal requirements

4. Information Sharing and Disclosure

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

• Service Providers: Third-party services that help us operate our platform (email delivery, payment processing)
• Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights and safety
• Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets
• Consent: When you explicitly consent to sharing your information

5. Special Protections for Minors

• We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent
• Student athletes under 18 should have parental/guardian approval before requesting shoes
• We take extra care to protect information from minor users
• Parents/guardians can contact us to review, update, or delete their child's information

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate security measures to protect your information:

• Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
• Secure database storage
• Limited access to personal information
• Regular security assessments
• Secure payment processing through trusted providers

7. Your Privacy Rights

You have the right to:

• Access your personal information
• Correct inaccurate information
• Delete your account and personal information
• Opt-out of marketing communications
• Request information about how we use your data

To exercise these rights, please contact us at newstepsfit@gmail.com.

8. Cookies and Tracking

We use cookies and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and login status
• Analyze website usage and performance
• Provide personalized content
• Enable social media features

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

9. Third-Party Services

Our website may use third-party services including:

• PayPal: For processing monetary donations
• Google: For authentication and maps
• Email Services: For sending confirmations and updates

These services have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy, comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. You may request deletion of your account and personal information at any time.

11. Policy Updates

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us: