Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 26, 2026
The Harvard Schools Trust ("we," "us," or "our") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Harvard, Massachusetts. We are committed to protecting the privacy of our donors, volunteers, community members, and website visitors.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect information when you visit our website, make a donation, apply for a grant or scholarship, sign up for communications, attend an event, or otherwise interact with us.
If you have any questions about this Policy, you can contact us at:
Harvard Schools Trust
PO Box 450
Harvard, MA 01451
info@harvardschoolstrust.org
1. Information We Collect
We collect information in a few different ways, depending on how you interact with us.
1.1 Information You Provide to Us
We may collect information that you choose to share with us, including:
- Contact information (such as your name, mailing address, email address, and phone number)
- Donation information (such as donation amount, date, and purpose of your gift)
- Payment information (such as credit card or bank details) when you make an online donation or payment, which is processed securely by our payment processors
- Information related to grants or scholarships (such as your role at a school, project details, or student information provided in applications)
- Event information (such as your registration details, attendance, and preferences)
- Communication preferences and any messages you send us (such as questions, feedback, or stories you choose to share)
1.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain technical information, such as:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited, links clicked, and time spent on our site
- Referring website or source
We may use cookies and similar technologies to help our website function properly, understand how visitors use the site, and improve your experience. You can usually control cookies through your browser settings, but some features of the site may not work properly if you disable them.
1.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive limited information about you from third-party services that help us process donations, manage email communications, or support events (for example, confirmation that a donation was completed or that an email address is valid). These third parties are expected to protect your information and use it only for the services they provide to us.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for purposes that support our mission of strengthening education in Harvard’s public schools, including to:
- Process and acknowledge donations, memberships, and other contributions
- Manage grants and scholarships, including reviewing applications and reporting on funded projects
- Communicate with you about our work, impact, events, and opportunities to give or get involved
- Send you newsletters, updates, and other communications you have requested or that we believe may be of interest to you
- Plan and manage events, including registrations, reminders, and follow-up communications
- Maintain accurate internal records for accounting, reporting, and audit purposes
- Improve our website, outreach, and programs by understanding how people use our site and engage with our communications
- Protect the security and integrity of our systems and comply with legal obligations
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell or rent your personal information.
We may share your information in the following limited situations:
3.1 Service Providers
We may share information with trusted third-party service providers who help us operate our website, process donations and payments, send emails, manage events, or support our programs. These providers are allowed to use your information only as needed to perform services for us and are expected to protect it.
3.2 Legal Requirements and Protection
- Comply with a law, regulation, legal process, or government request
- Protect the rights, property, or safety of the Harvard Schools Trust, our community, or others
- Detect, prevent, or address fraud, security, or technical issues
3.3 Aggregated or De-Identified Information
We may use and share aggregated or de-identified information (which does not identify you personally) for reporting, fundraising, or educational purposes, such as sharing overall grant statistics or impact summaries.
4. How We Protect Your Information
We take reasonable physical, technical, and administrative measures to protect the information we collect and store. These measures are designed to reduce the risk of loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration.
However, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is completely secure. While we work to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
5. Your Choices and Rights
We want you to feel comfortable with how your information is used. Depending on your relationship with us and applicable law, you may have the following options:
5.1 Updating Your Information
You may contact us to update or correct your contact details or communication preferences.
5.2 Email Communications
You can unsubscribe from our email newsletters or other promotional messages at any time by using the unsubscribe link in the email or by contacting us. We may still send you important administrative messages, such as donation receipts or information about an event you have registered for.
5.3 Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. If you choose to disable cookies, some features of our website may not function properly.
6. Children’s Privacy
Our programs support students in the Harvard public schools, but our website and online services are intended for use by adults, such as parents, guardians, educators, donors, and community members.
We do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 through our website. If you believe we have collected such information, please contact us so we can review and, if appropriate, delete it.
7. Links to Other Websites
Our website may contain links to other websites, such as school district pages, partner organizations, or event platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites.
When you follow a link to another site, their own privacy policy will apply. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any websites you visit.
8. Donor Privacy
We deeply value the trust of our donors.
Unless you ask to remain anonymous, we may acknowledge donors by name in our communications or reports. If you prefer your gift to be anonymous, please let us know when you make your donation or contact us at any time.
We do not sell or trade donor information. Donor information is used only for purposes related to processing gifts, maintaining records, communicating with donors, and supporting our mission.
9. Data Retention
We keep personal information for as long as needed to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, to comply with legal and accounting requirements, and to maintain appropriate records of our activities.
When information is no longer needed, we may delete it or keep it in an aggregated or de-identified form.
10. International Visitors
The Harvard Schools Trust is based in the United States and our website is intended primarily for people in our local community. If you visit our site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may be different from those in your country.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, our programs, or applicable laws. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page and may provide additional notice as appropriate.
We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our handling of personal information, please contact us at:
Harvard Schools Trust
PO Box 450
Harvard, MA 01451
info@harvardschoolstrust.org
By using our website or sharing information with us, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy.