Privacy with purpose.

African Coalition for Development (“ACD,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered at 442 5th Avenue #1796, New York, NY 10018. This policy applies when ACD determines how and why personal information is processed through our website, forms, programs, events, grants, recognition initiatives, media platforms, fundraising activities, and communications.

This policy does not govern independently operated websites, platforms, stores, payment processors, social networks, or partner organizations, even when we link to them.

Information you provide

• Contact information: name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, country, city, organization, and professional role.
• Application and participation information: resumes, biographies, experience, interests, eligibility details, references, portfolios, project information, event registrations, nominations, grant materials, volunteer preferences, and ambassador or partnership information.
• Donation and transaction information: donation amount, billing contact details, transaction records, and related correspondence. Payment card information is generally processed directly by third-party payment providers.
• Media and content submissions: stories, photographs, videos, audio, captions, source information, permissions, release details, and editorial correspondence.
• Communications: messages, questions, feedback, survey responses, support requests, and subscription preferences.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we or our service providers may receive technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, approximate location derived from IP address, date and time, and interactions with website features.

We collect information directly from you when you complete a form, register, donate, apply, nominate someone, subscribe, communicate with us, attend an event, submit content, or participate in an ACD program. We may also receive information from:

• service providers that operate forms, email, analytics, fundraising, payments, event registration, or website infrastructure;
• publicly available professional or organizational sources when evaluating partnerships, speakers, honorees, contributors, or program applicants;
• partner organizations, references, nominators, or event collaborators, subject to appropriate permissions; and
• cookies and similar technologies used when you interact with our digital services.

ACD may use personal information to:

• operate, maintain, improve, and secure our website and digital services;
• process donations, issue receipts, maintain financial records, and communicate with donors;
• review applications, nominations, grants, partnerships, volunteer interests, ambassador applications, media submissions, and event registrations;
• coordinate programs, projects, events, summits, recognition initiatives, and community activities;
• publish approved names, biographies, photographs, stories, interviews, or other content where permission or another lawful basis applies;
• send confirmations, updates, newsletters, invitations, impact information, fundraising communications, and administrative notices;
• respond to questions, provide support, prevent misuse, investigate security concerns, and enforce applicable terms;
• meet legal, tax, accounting, reporting, safeguarding, and regulatory obligations; and
• analyze engagement and improve ACD’s programs, communications, accessibility, and public impact.

Legal bases for certain visitors

Where applicable law requires a legal basis, we may process information based on consent, performance of a requested service or agreement, compliance with legal obligations, protection of vital interests, or ACD’s legitimate nonprofit interests, balanced against individual rights.

We may share personal information only as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including with:

• Service providers: vendors supporting website hosting, CRM and forms, email delivery, analytics, payments, fundraising, event registration, cloud storage, security, and professional services.
• Program and project partners: organizations, reviewers, facilitators, sponsors, or implementation partners involved in a relevant application, project, grant, event, or collaboration.
• Professional advisers and authorities: auditors, accountants, attorneys, insurers, regulators, law enforcement, courts, or government bodies when required or reasonably necessary.
• The public: information you authorize us to publish, such as leadership profiles, honoree information, contributor bylines, event participation, approved stories, photographs, or testimonials.
• Organizational transitions: a successor or affiliated nonprofit entity in connection with a merger, restructuring, transfer of programs, or similar transaction, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Our website may use cookies, pixels, local storage, tags, and similar technologies to keep pages functioning, remember choices, understand traffic, measure engagement, improve performance, and protect against misuse. These technologies may be placed by ACD or by service providers whose features appear on the site.

You may be able to control cookies through your browser or a consent tool provided on the website. Blocking certain technologies can affect site functionality. Browser “Do Not Track” signals are not interpreted consistently across services; we respond to legally required preference signals where applicable and technically supported.

We may send transactional or administrative messages related to a donation, application, event, program, submission, partnership, or support request. Where permitted, we may also send newsletters, invitations, fundraising messages, program updates, and impact communications.

You may unsubscribe from nonessential email communications using the unsubscribe link in the message or by contacting us. Unsubscribing from promotional messages will not stop necessary administrative, legal, transaction, or safety communications.

ACD retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected, support ongoing relationships and programs, meet legal and financial obligations, resolve disputes, maintain institutional records, protect rights and safety, and enforce agreements.

Retention periods vary by record type. Donation and financial records may be retained for tax, audit, and accounting requirements; application and program records may be retained for evaluation, reporting, safeguarding, and future engagement; published content may remain in public archives unless removal is legally required or appropriate.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure. These safeguards may include access controls, secure service providers, account protections, staff procedures, backups, and incident response measures.

No website, transmission, database, or storage system is completely secure. You should use caution when transmitting information online and contact us promptly if you believe your interaction with ACD has been compromised.

ACD is based in the United States and works with individuals and organizations across Africa and the diaspora. Personal information may therefore be processed or stored in the United States or other countries where ACD, its partners, or its service providers operate. Those countries may have data-protection rules that differ from the rules in your location.

Where required, we use appropriate contractual, organizational, or legal safeguards for international transfers and limit access to what is reasonably necessary.

ACD’s general website and public forms are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information online from a child under 13 without appropriate parental or guardian authorization. Youth programs may use separate registration, consent, safeguarding, and parental-permission processes.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information without appropriate authorization, contact us so we can review and take reasonable action.

Depending on where you live and subject to applicable exceptions, you may have the right to request access to, correction of, deletion of, or a copy of personal information; object to or restrict certain processing; withdraw consent; opt out of certain sharing or targeted advertising; and appeal a decision regarding a privacy request.

To exercise a right, email [email protected] or use the Contact page. We may need to verify your identity and authority before completing a request. Authorized agents may be required to provide proof of authorization. We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

Our website may link to or embed services operated by third parties, including donation processors, Amazon, Shop Africa USA, YouTube, social media platforms, event services, maps, forms, and partner websites. Those services have their own privacy practices and terms. ACD is not responsible for how an independent third party collects or uses information after you leave an ACD-controlled page or interact directly with its service.

Review the privacy notice of the relevant third party before providing personal information or completing a transaction.

We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our programs, technology, service providers, legal obligations, or information practices. The updated version will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Material changes may also be communicated through the website or another appropriate channel.

Questions, concerns, or requests about this policy or ACD’s handling of personal information may be directed to:

This Privacy Policy is intended to describe ACD’s general information practices. Specific programs, events, transactions, or third-party services may provide additional notices or consent language that supplements this policy.