Homefound
Homefound (“Homefound,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the Homefound mobile application and the website at homefoundproject.org. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect and why. We do not sell personal data. We do not use your data for third-party advertising tracking.
1. Who this applies to
This policy covers visitors to our website, people who contact us through our forms, donors who give via Mazlo (Fiscal Sponsorship Allies), and users of the Homefound app (donors, community advocates, caseworkers, and other signed-in roles).
2. Information we collect
- Contact & account details. Name, email, optional phone, and optional Homefound username when you create an account, sign in, submit a website form, or complete a donation. Passport-style Me profile fields (username, neighborhood, headline, bio, optional photo) when you save a supporter profile.
- Messages you send us. Optional notes on volunteer, resource, or support forms.
- Privacy-safe neighbor profiles. Public surfaces show a first name only (and never a full legal name or street address). Staff tools may store an optional last initial for operational clarity.
- Location (optional). With your permission, the app may use precise or approximate location to show map features. You can revoke permission in device settings. Location is not used for tracking or ads.
- Device & usage data. Basic technical information needed to run the app (for example device type, OS version, push tokens when you allow notifications, and on-device preferences).
- Donation activity. Charitable gifts are completed in an external browser on our donate page via Mazlo (Fiscal Sponsorship Allies). Payment card details are handled by Mazlo—not stored by Homefound on your device. We may store gift amounts, app-display anonymity preference, and processor identifiers so you can track a gift and receive categorical updates.
- Retention preferences. Digest cadence, deployment-alert opt-ins, and monthly top-up reminder intent when you choose them after checkout or in the app.
3. How we use information
- Operate the So-Cal Community Pool experience: transparency feed, allocations, Me passport, badges, and staff tools.
- Match donations to accounts (by email, phone, or username) so linked donors can see giving totals and earn a Pool donor badge.
- Look up a paid Stripe Checkout session when you enter a receipt / session code with matching email to track a gift.
- Respond to support, volunteer, and partnership requests.
- Send operational updates you requested (launch updates, categorical deployment alerts, digests).
- Maintain security, prevent abuse, and debug reliability issues.
- Comply with law and protect the safety and dignity of community members.
4. Privacy by design for neighbors
Homefound is built so unhoused and housing-insecure neighbors are not turned into public fundraising spectacles. Public feeds use privacy-safe first names. We do not provide donors with itemized personal receipts, clinical details, or direct messaging to neighbors. Donor contact details are not shared with caseworkers for outreach. Choosing “Show as anonymous in the app” hides your name on public app surfaces; Homefound and Stripe still receive contact details needed for the receipt and gift matching.
5. Sharing
We do not sell personal information. We may share limited data with:
- Service providers who host forms, email/SMS delivery, authentication (including Google/Apple sign-in), databases, maps, or push notifications (only as needed to run Homefound).
- Payment / fundraising platforms when you choose to give — currently Mazlo / Fiscal Sponsorship Allies (their privacy policies apply to checkout and card data).
- Legal requirements if we are required to disclose information by law, court order, or to protect rights and safety.
6. Tracking & advertising
Homefound does not engage in App Tracking Transparency–style cross-app tracking for advertising. Our privacy manifest declares that we do not track. We do not sell data to data brokers.
7. California privacy notice
If you are a California resident, you may have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA / CPRA), including the right to know, delete, and correct certain personal information, and to opt out of “sale” or “sharing” of personal information. Homefound does not sell personal information and does not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising. To exercise access, correction, or deletion rights, use the Support page or in-app account deletion.
8. Data retention & deletion
We keep information only as long as needed for the purposes above, legal obligations, or legitimate operational records (for example allocation transparency and donation matching). To request access, correction, or deletion of personal data associated with your account or form submissions, use in-app Delete account or contact us via the Support page. We will respond within a reasonable period.
9. Children’s privacy
Homefound is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us through Support and we will delete it.
10. Security
We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards appropriate to a community relief product. No method of transmission or storage is 100% secure.
11. Nonprofit status note
Homefound is a charitable project under Fiscal Sponsorship Allies, Inc. (EIN 85-0839183), a registered 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. Tax-deductible gifts are accepted by Fiscal Sponsorship Allies, Inc. via the Mazlo donation portal — Homefound’s only donation option. This status note does not change how we protect personal data.
12. Changes
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. Continued use of Homefound after an update means you acknowledge the revised policy.
13. Contact
Questions about privacy: use homefoundproject.org/support or the contact options listed there.