Privacy Policy

Last Updated: March 5, 2026 

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1. Introduction 

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Autism on the Seas Foundation (“we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information of the individuals and families we serve, our donors, volunteers, and visitors to our website. 

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This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, interact with us online, apply for assistance, donate, subscribe to communications, or otherwise engage with our organization. 

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Our organization is based in the United States and serves families primarily in the United States and Canada, but our website may be accessed by individuals worldwide. 

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By using our website or providing your personal information to us, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. 

2. Information We Collect 

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We may collect several types of information depending on how you interact with us. 

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Personal Information You Provide 

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You may voluntarily provide personal information including: 

• Name 

• Email address 

• Mailing address 

• Phone number 

• Donation information 

• Information submitted through grant or program applications 

• Information about family members when applying for assistance 

• Communications you send to us 

• Volunteer or event registration information 

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If you apply for assistance or grants, we may also collect information about disabilities, medical conditions, or personal circumstances necessary to evaluate the application. 

We only request information that is reasonably necessary to administer our programs. 

Automatically Collected Information 

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When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, including: 

• IP address 

• Browser type 

• Device information 

• Operating system 

• Pages viewed 

• Time spent on pages 

• Referring website 

This information helps us improve our website and services. 

Cookies and Similar Technologies 

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Our website may use cookies or similar technologies to: 

• remember user preferences 

• analyze website traffic 

• improve site functionality 

• support fundraising or outreach efforts 

You can control cookies through your browser settings. 

3. How We Use Your Information 

We may use the information we collect to: 

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• Process donations 

• Review and administer grant or assistance applications 

• Communicate with applicants, donors, and supporters 

• Send newsletters or updates you request 

• Respond to inquiries 

• Improve our programs and website 

• Maintain organizational records 

• Comply with legal obligations 

• Protect the security of our organization and users 

We do not sell personal information. 

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information 

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We may share personal information only in limited circumstances, including: 

Service Providers 

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We may share information with trusted vendors who help us operate our organization, such as: 

• donation processing platforms 

• email communication services 

• website hosting providers 

• data management systems 

These providers are required to protect personal information and only use it for the services they provide to us. 

Legal Requirements 

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We may disclose information if required to: 

• comply with applicable laws 

• respond to legal requests or court orders 

• protect the rights, safety, or property of our organization or others 

With Your Consent 

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We may share information with your consent, for example when coordinating services with partner organizations. 

5. International Visitors 

Our organization is based in the United States. If you access our website from outside the United States, please note that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States or other jurisdictions where our service providers operate. These jurisdictions may have privacy laws different from those in your country. 

6. Data Retention 

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We retain personal information only as long as reasonably necessary to: 

• fulfill the purposes described in this policy 

• administer our programs 

• comply with legal and financial recordkeeping requirements 

• resolve disputes or enforce agreements 

When personal information is no longer required, we take reasonable steps to securely delete or anonymize it. 

7. Security of Your Information 

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We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. 

8. Children’s Privacy 

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Our services are directed primarily to families and caregivers. We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without parental or guardian involvement, consistent with the principles of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.  If we learn that personal information from a child has been collected without appropriate consent, we will take steps to delete it. 

9. Your Privacy Rights 

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Depending on your location, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to: 

• request access to personal information we hold about you 

• request correction of inaccurate information 

• request deletion of personal information where appropriate 

• opt out of marketing communications

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the contact information below. 

Residents of certain U.S. states, including California under the California Consumer Privacy Act, may have additional rights regarding personal information. 

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Canadian residents may also have rights under applicable privacy laws such as Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act. 

10. Third-Party Links 

Our website may contain links to third-party websites or services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies. 

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. 

Continued use of our website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. 

12. Contact Us 

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If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact: 

Autism on the Seas Foundation 

100 Beard Sawmill Road, Suite 580 

Shelton, CT  06484  

United States 

Email: info@aotsf.org 

Website: https://www.aotsf.org/