The Commission on Culture & Society
Strengthening Families. Supporting Organizations. Establishing Enterprises.

Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 9/21/2024

At COCAS, King Compassion, and ME Living (collectively referred to as “we,” “our,” or “the organization”), we prioritize your privacy and are committed to safeguarding the personal information of our clients, volunteers, donors, and website visitors. This privacy policy outlines how we collect, use, share, and protect your data in compliance with global privacy standards.

1. Information We Collect

We may collect the following types of personal information:

• Personal Identification Information: Name, address, email, phone number, date of birth.

• Sensitive Personal Information: Health-related data, legal history, information on victims of abuse or homelessness, housing and social service requirements, and other sensitive data required for our programs.

• Financial Information: Payment details, bank account information for donations, or services provided.

• Technical Data: IP addresses, browser type, operating system, device identifiers, and cookie data for website users.

• Behavioral Data: Information about your activity on our websites, including pages visited, links clicked, and how you use our services.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use your data for the following purposes:

• Service Provision: To provide services such as housing, therapy, victim support, and recovery programs through COCAS, ME Living, and King Compassion.

• Fundraising and Donations: To process donations and send you receipts or updates related to your contributions.

• Communication: To send updates about our programs, upcoming events, and services that may interest you.

• Compliance: To comply with legal and regulatory obligations, including safeguarding the health and well-being of vulnerable individuals.

• Improvement of Services: To analyze website usage, improve our programs, and develop new initiatives to support those in need.

• Client and Case Management: For intake, ongoing support, and case documentation in accordance with confidentiality laws.

3. Legal Basis for Processing Your Information

We rely on the following legal bases for processing your personal information:

• Consent: We will seek explicit consent for certain types of sensitive data, especially when required by law.

• Contractual Obligation: We process personal data when it is necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you.

• Legal Compliance: We process data to comply with legal obligations, including safeguarding vulnerable individuals.

• Legitimate Interest: We may process your data for legitimate interests, including improving our services, fundraising, and ensuring operational functionality.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We may share your personal data with:

• Partner Organizations: Trusted partners and service providers who assist us in delivering our services, such as therapists, social workers, housing providers, or legal professionals.

• Government Authorities: In compliance with local, state, or federal regulations, including reporting on grant programs, housing services, or legal requirements.

• Payment Processors: Secure third-party payment processors for handling donations and payments.

• Law Enforcement: If required by law or to protect the safety of individuals.

• Volunteers and Staff: Internally for case management, service provision, and volunteer coordination, with strict confidentiality.

We do not sell or rent personal information to third parties.

5. Data Security

We implement industry-leading security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: We use secure encryption protocols for online transactions and sensitive information.

• Access Control: Personal data is only accessible to authorized personnel with legitimate purposes.

• Data Minimization: We collect only the necessary data for our purposes.

• Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits to ensure our systems remain secure.

6. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this privacy policy or as required by law. This includes maintaining records for client support services, case management, financial records for donations, and legal obligations.

7. Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right to Access: You have the right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.

• Right to Correction: You can request that any inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected.

• Right to Deletion: In certain circumstances, you may request that your data be deleted.

• Right to Restriction: You may request that we limit the processing of your personal data in specific instances.

• Right to Object: You can object to the processing of your data for marketing or other purposes.

• Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our websites use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze traffic, and provide personalized content.

• Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality.

• Analytics Cookies: Used to gather insights on website usage and performance.

• Marketing Cookies: Used to tailor advertising and outreach programs.

You can manage your cookie preferences through your browser settings.

9. Children’s Privacy

We are committed to protecting the privacy of children. Our services are not intended for children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them without parental consent.

10. Cross-Border Data Transfers

We may transfer and store your data across international borders, where data protection laws may differ. In these cases, we ensure appropriate safeguards, such as standard contractual clauses, are in place to protect your privacy.

11. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. We will notify you of any significant changes via email or a notice on our website.

12. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this privacy policy, please contact us at:

COCAS (Commission On Culture And Society)
Email: customerservice@cocas.org
Phone: 888-635-1022