Privacy Policy

1 Introduction & Purpose

Kusum Foundation ("we", "us", "our", or the "Foundation") is a non-profit organisation dedicated to honouring the legacy of Mrs. Kusum Mishra by empowering women through education, supporting Madhubani artisans with sustainable livelihoods, strengthening community health, and promoting healthy ageing with dignity.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard personal information obtained when you visit our website (kusumfoundation.org), make a donation, sign up as a volunteer, participate in our programmes, or communicate with us. By using our website or submitting information to us, you consent to the practices described in this policy.

2 Information We Collect

We only collect personal information that is necessary to fulfill our charitable objectives, process contributions, and communicate transparently with our community. This includes:

• Identity & Contact Information: Name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, and organisation name when you fill out contact forms, volunteer applications, or partner inquiries.
• Donation & Financial Data: Information required to process donations and issue statutory 80G tax exemption receipts (e.g., PAN number, transaction reference number, billing address). Please note that credit/debit card numbers, UPI PINs, and banking credentials are processed directly by RBI-authorised payment gateways and are never stored on our servers.
• Communication Records: Queries, suggestions, feedback, and email exchanges sent directly to our administrative team.
• Technical & Usage Data: Anonymised analytics including IP address, browser type, operating system, page views, and session durations to help us improve website accessibility and speed.

3 How We Use Your Information

The information you provide is utilized solely for legitimate non-profit and administrative functions:

• To acknowledge contributions, process donations, and issue official donation receipts and 80G tax exemption certificates.
• To respond to your inquiries, volunteer applications, CSR partnership proposals, and requests for information.
• To share progress reports, programme milestones, and annual newsletters detailing how your support impacts grassroots beneficiaries (you may opt out at any time).
• To maintain statutory records as mandated by Indian non-profit regulations, financial audits, and government authorities.
• To monitor, analyze, and optimize website security, functionality, and user experience.

4 Donations & Payment Safety

Donor trust and financial security are paramount to us. All online donations made to Kusum Foundation are conducted through certified, PCI-DSS compliant third-party payment gateways with end-to-end 256-bit SSL encryption.

5 Information Sharing & Disclosure

Kusum Foundation maintains a strict Zero-Commercialization policy regarding donor and visitor information. We do not sell, rent, lease, or commercialize your personal data under any circumstances.

We may only share information in the following limited situations:

• Authorised Service Providers: Trusted third-party technology providers (such as website hosting, email delivery services, and payment processors) who assist in non-profit operations and are contractually bound to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Legal & Regulatory Compliance: When required by applicable Indian laws, judicial orders, tax authorities (e.g. Income Tax Department for 80G filing), or law enforcement agencies.

6 Cookies & Tracking Technologies

Our website uses basic cookies to facilitate smooth navigation, remember user preferences, and collect anonymous aggregate traffic data. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that do not give us access to your computer or personal files.

You can configure your browser settings to decline cookies or alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that disabling essential cookies may impact certain website features.

7 Data Security & Storage

We implement industry-standard technical, organizational, and physical safeguards to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, accidental alteration, disclosure, or destruction. Access to personal donor records is restricted strictly to authorized foundation personnel with verified administrative clearance.

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or to comply with statutory legal, taxation, and auditing requirements in India.

8 Your Rights & Choices

You maintain complete control over how your information is handled by Kusum Foundation. You have the right to:

• Request a copy of the personal details we hold about you.
• Request corrections or updates to your contact information.
• Unsubscribe from email communications, newsletters, or impact updates at any time by clicking "unsubscribe" or emailing us.
• Request the deletion of non-statutory records where legally permissible under Indian non-profit accounting regulations.

9 External Links & Third-Party Platforms

Our website may contain links to external websites, articles, or social media platforms for informational and community engagement purposes. Kusum Foundation is not responsible for the privacy policies, terms, or content of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy statements of any linked site you visit.

10 Policy Updates & Modifications

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our charitable programmes, operational guidelines, or statutory requirements. Any modifications will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. Your continued engagement with our platform constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

11 Grievance Redressal & Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal data, please reach out to our Grievance Officer: