Effective Date: 20 March, 2025

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and non-personal information in the following ways:

A. Information You Provide Voluntarily
You may choose to provide us with personal information by:
– Submitting a contact form
– Signing up for newsletters or email updates
– Participating in surveys or community submissions
– Commenting on articles or responding to polls

This may include:
– Name
– Email address
– Phone number (if provided)
– Location (city, state, ZIP)
– Any other personal information you choose to provide

B. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit the website, we may automatically collect:
– IP address
– Browser type and version
– Operating system
– Device information
– Referring website
– Pages visited and time spent
– Clickstream data
– Date/time of access

This information is collected using cookies, pixels, tags, or other tracking technologies (see Section 5).

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for purposes including, but not limited to:
– Providing news, articles, and updates relevant to the community
– Sending you emails you’ve opted in to receive
– Responding to inquiries, submissions, and messages
– Improving website content, navigation, and usability
– Analyzing website traffic and user behavior
– Preventing fraud or abuse
– Complying with legal obligations and responding to law enforcement requests

3. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Compliance)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), our legal basis for collecting and using your personal information depends on the type of data and the context in which we collect it. We may process your data because:
– You have given us permission (consent)
– It is necessary for the performance of a contract
– It is in our legitimate interests and not overridden by your rights
– To comply with legal obligations

4. Sharing Your Information

We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal data. However, we may share your data with trusted third-party service providers for the following purposes:
– Email marketing and communication (e.g., Mailchimp, ConvertKit)
– Web hosting and technical infrastructure
– Analytics and website performance tools (e.g., Google Analytics)
– Payment processors or donation tools (if applicable)
– Legal, safety, and security-related obligations

All third-party providers are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information and are not permitted to use it for any other purpose.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

What Are Cookies?
Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help us recognize you, enhance your experience, and analyze how you use the site.

Types of Cookies We Use:
– Essential Cookies: Necessary for the site to function properly
– Performance Cookies: Track how visitors use the site (e.g., page views)
– Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences
– Analytics & Advertising Cookies: Provided by services like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, etc.

Your Choices Regarding Cookies:
You may manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit some functionality of our website.

You can opt out of personalized ads using Google’s Ads Settings, or through tools like NAI and YourAdChoices.

6. Email Communications and Marketing

By subscribing to email updates, you consent to receive messages from us. You may opt out at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of any email.

We may track email opens and link clicks to better understand reader engagement and tailor content.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law. We will securely delete or anonymize your data when no longer needed.

8. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to safeguard your information, including:
– HTTPS encryption
– Secure data storage systems
– Role-based access to administrative tools

However, no method of internet transmission is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security of your data.

9. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

Under the GDPR (EU/EEA residents):
– Right to access personal data we hold about you
– Right to rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
– Right to erase your data (“right to be forgotten”)
– Right to restrict or object to processing
– Right to data portability
– Right to withdraw consent

Under the CCPA (California residents):
– Right to know what data we collect
– Right to request deletion
– Right to opt out of the sale of personal data (we do not sell data)
– Right to non-discrimination for exercising privacy rights

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

10. Children’s Privacy

Our site is not intended for children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child, we will delete it promptly.

11. Links to Other Websites

Our site may link to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before submitting personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to modify this policy at any time. Changes will be posted here with an updated “Effective Date.” We encourage you to review this page periodically.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to your privacy, please contact:

Spring Creek Commons
Email: info@springcreekcommons.org
Mailing Address: 426 Main St SW., Ronan, MT 59864