The Climbing Initiative Privacy Policy 

Last updated: December 1, 2021

This Privacy Policy describes how The Climbing Initiative (“we” or “us”) collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you visit and/or use our website (our “site”). Our current web address is climbinginitiative.org. 

Our Privacy Policy seeks to be compliant with the GDPR, COPPA, CCPA, and the state laws of all US states. This privacy policy covers the following information: 

  1. Important definitions and information 

  2. What personal information we collect

  3. How we use your personal information

  4. How we share your personal information 

  5. What personal information third-parties collect 

  6. How we store your personal information and data 

  7. Your rights concerning your personal information 

  8. Use of our website by minors 

  9. Our Response to Do Not Track signals 

  10. How we collect and use cookies 

  11. How we use email marketing

  12. How we make changes to our privacy policy 

  13. The effective date of our privacy policy 

  14. How you can contact us for more information 

1. Important Definitions and Information 

“Personal information” includes “provided information” and “device information”. We collect personal information when you visit and use our site. 

“Provided information” is used to describe information and data that you provide to us directly. 

“Device Information” is a collective term used to reference information that we collect from the device you are using when you visit our site. 

Device information includes: 

  1. “Web beacons”, “tags”, and “pixels” are electronic files used to record information about how you browse climbinginitiative.org. 

  2. “Log files” track actions occurring on climbinginitiative.org, and collect data including your IP address, browser type, Internet service provider, referring/exit pages, and date/time stamps. 

  3. “Cookies” are data files that are placed on your device or computer and often include an anonymous unique identifier. For more information about cookies, and how to disable cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org. 

2. Personal Information We Collect 

When you visit climbinginitiative.org, we automatically collect certain information from your device, including information about your web browser, IP address, time zone, and some of the cookies that are installed on your device. Additionally, as you browse our site, we collect information about the individual web pages or products that you view, what websites or search terms referred you to our site, and information about how you interact with our site. We refer to this automatically collected information as “Device Information”. 

When you make a purchase through climbinginitiative.org, we collect the information you input. This may include your name, billing address, credit card address, shipping address, payment information, credit card numbers, email address, and phone number.

3. How We Use Your Personal Information

We use your personal information to: 

  • Communicate with you, 

  • Fulfill orders placed on our site, 

  • Screen orders for potential risk or fraud, and;

  • Provide you with information. 

Your device information helps us recognize you on our website and recognize your previously selected preferences. This is included, but not limited to, your location and preferred language. 

4. How We Share Your Personal Information 

We may share your information within our internal systems. These systems include Squarespace, Google Workspace, Google Meets, GiveLively, Stripe, and SignRequest. We do not otherwise sell, share, or reproduce your personal information for others unless required by law or within our internal systems.

We use Google Analytics to better understand how our users interact with our site. You can learn more about how Google uses your personal information here: https://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/privacy/

You can opt-out of Google Analytics here:  https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Our site is hosted through Squarespace. You can read about how Squarespace uses your personal information here: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy 

We may also share your personal information to comply with applicable laws and regulations, to respond to a subpoena, search warrant or other lawful request for information we receive, or to otherwise protect our rights. 

5. Personal Information Third-Parties Collect

Third-party services used by climbinginitiative.org may have additional access to your information. This information is collected anonymously and used to examine trends. We utilize Squarespace to host our website. You can read Squarespace’s privacy policy here: https://www.squarespace.com/privacy

If you are accessing another website or other services through our site, we are not responsible for their privacy practices. We highly suggest that you read the privacy policy and terms and conditions when you visit other websites. Other websites that are linked through our site may include, but are not limited to givelively.org and yale.edu.

6. How We Store Your Personal Information and Data 

We store your personal information and data through providers such as Squarespace and Stripe. We will maintain your personal information for our records unless and until you ask us to delete this information. 

We use commercially reasonable security measures to protect against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of information stored on our servers. No computer network or data transmission on the internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure and we do not take responsibility for any type of targeted attack or breach. When you visit or use our site, you are doing so at your own risk. 

7. Your Rights Concerning Your Personal Information 

You have rights to your personal information. You have a right to know how we use your personal information, require us to correct any of your personal information, delete information as the law requires, receive a record of information we have collected about you, object to your personal information being used for direct marketing, and to object to our continued use of your personal information. To do so, please contact us at info@climbinginitiative.org.

If you are a resident of the European Union (EU), you also have a right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection regulator. 

8. Use Of Our Website By Minors 

Our site is not intended for use by persons under the age of 13. 

9. Our Response to “Do Not Track” Signals

Our site does not respond to “do not alter” or “Do Not Track” (DNT) requests or signals (California Do Not Track). 

10. How We Collect and Use Cookies 

We use cookies to collect personal information. You can disable cookies from our site through your browser. To learn more and how to disable cookies, visit http://www.allaboutcookies.org. 

All website functions may not be available if you disable cookies. If you run into issues using our site because you do not wish to enable cookies, please contact us at info@climbinginitiative.org. 

To disable cookies from Google Ads, you can do so by visiting https://adssettings.google.com/authenticated. 

11. Email Marketing

If you make a purchase on climbinginitiative.org, submit your contact information, and/or opt in to receive emails, you agree to receive email communications from our site. This includes but is not limited to newsletters, site updates, promotions, and other announcements and correspondence.  We are not responsible for the receipt of any such emails. You are responsible for ensuring that our email address(es) are not blocked or forwarded to your spam folder. 

You have the right at any time to stop us from contacting you for marketing purposes. If you choose to unsubscribe from receiving emails, you understand that you may no longer receive information or updates from our site. 

12. How We Make Changes to Our Privacy Policy 

We may change, modify, or update this Privacy Policy at any time, without notice. We suggest you revisit this Privacy Policy and check for updates regularly. 

13. The Effective Date of Our Privacy Policy 

Our site’s Privacy Policy is effective as of December 1, 2021. 

14. How You Can Contact Us For More Information 

You can contact us at any time by emailing info@climbinginitiative.org to learn more about how your personal information is being used and/or to exercise your rights concerning your personal information.