Scarritts Mill Pond

Friends of Scarritt's Mill
Effective Date: September 16, 2026

Friends of Scarritt's Mill ("Friends," "we," "us," or "our") is a nonprofit organization organized exclusively for charitable, scientific, and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Our mission is to protect and preserve Scarritt's Mill Pond, its dam structure, and surrounding natural habitat in West Hartford, Connecticut. Through conservation initiatives, community education, habitat restoration, and environmental stewardship, Friends seeks to maintain the pond's historical significance, promote biodiversity, and foster public appreciation for this unique ecological resource.

Friends respects the privacy of our donors, volunteers, supporters, website visitors, and members of the community. This Privacy Policy explains the types of information we may collect through our website and related online services, how we use and disclose that information, and the measures we take to protect it.

1. Information We Collect
We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

• make a donation or other payment;

• subscribe to our email list or other communications;

• register for an event, program, educational activity, or volunteer opportunity;

• express an interest in volunteering or supporting Friends;

• complete a form or survey;

• submit a question, comment, photograph, or other information;

• communicate with us by email or through our website; or

• otherwise interact with Friends.

Depending upon your interaction with us, this information may include your name, mailing address, email address, telephone number, donation history, interests, event registration information, communication preferences, and other information you choose to provide.

We ask that you not provide sensitive personal information through our website unless it is reasonably necessary for the particular activity or communication.

2. Donations and Payment Processing
Our website permits individuals to make online donations and may permit payment of event fees, or other amounts associated with Friends' activities.
Online payments are processed through third-party payment processing services. When you make an online payment, the payment processor may collect information necessary to complete the transaction, including your name, billing address, payment card or bank information, and other transaction information.

Friends generally does not receive or retain complete credit card or bank account information submitted to a third-party payment processor. Payment processors handle that information in accordance with their own terms and privacy policies.

Friends may receive and maintain information regarding the transaction, such as your name, contact information, date and amount of the donation or payment, and transaction confirmation information, for purposes of maintaining our financial records, acknowledging donations, issuing tax receipts where appropriate, and administering our nonprofit activities.

3. Donor Privacy
Friends respects the privacy of its donors.

Friends does not sell or rent donor names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, donation histories, or other personal information to third parties for their own marketing purposes.

Donor information may be used to:

• process and acknowledge donations;

• provide donation receipts and tax documentation;

• maintain financial and organizational records;

• communicate with donors regarding Friends and its mission;

• inform donors about programs, events, conservation projects, fundraising activities, and volunteer opportunities; and

• comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting, and reporting obligations.

 
Friends may publicly recognize donors in annual reports, newsletters, our website, event materials, signage, or other organizational communications. Donors who wish to remain anonymous or who do not wish to be publicly recognized may notify Friends at any time.

4. Supporter Information
If you become a donor or supporter of Friends, we may collect information necessary to establish and administer your association with Friends, including your name, contact information, level or category of support, payment information, and communication preferences.

We may use this information to administer supporter benefits, maintain records, provide organizational communications, invite supporters to events or meetings, and communicate regarding matters affecting Friends and its mission.

5. Email and Mailing Lists
Visitors may voluntarily subscribe to newsletters, conservation updates, event announcements, volunteer opportunities, fundraising communications, and other information from Friends.

We may use a third-party email or communications provider to maintain our mailing lists and distribute communications. Such providers may receive your name, email address, and related information as necessary to provide services to Friends.

You may unsubscribe from nonessential email communications at any time by using the unsubscribe link contained in an email or by contacting Friends directly.

Even if you unsubscribe from general communications, Friends may continue to send communications reasonably necessary to process or acknowledge a donation, administer your donation, provide information concerning an event or volunteer activity for which you have registered, respond to an inquiry, or otherwise complete a transaction or activity you have requested.

6. Events, Programs, and Volunteer Activities
Friends may collect information when you register for or participate in an event, educational program, conservation initiative, community activity, or volunteer opportunity.

Depending upon the activity, we may request your name, contact information, number of participants, volunteer interests or availability, and other information reasonably necessary to organize and administer the activity.

We may use this information to communicate with participants, coordinate volunteers, administer the event or activity, maintain appropriate records, and provide information about future opportunities related to Friends' mission.

If an activity requires additional information for safety, insurance, emergency contact, waiver, or similar purposes, Friends may provide additional notices or forms applicable to that particular activity.

7. Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically by our website hosting provider, analytics providers, or other technology services.
 
This information may include:

• your Internet Protocol (IP) address;

• browser and device type;

• operating system;

• approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;

• referring website;

• pages viewed and links selected;

• date, time, and duration of visits; and

• other technical or website usage information.
   

We generally use this information in aggregate to understand how visitors use our website, evaluate community interest in our programs and activities, improve website functionality and content, and maintain website security.

8. Cookies and Analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies. Cookies are small data files placed on a user's device that can help websites function properly, remember certain preferences, and provide information about website usage.

We may also use third-party analytics services, such as website traffic and usage analytics tools, to help us understand how visitors interact with our website. These services may use cookies or similar technologies and may collect information concerning your device and use of our website.

Most internet browsers allow users to control or disable cookies through their browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain portions of our website.

9. How We Use Information
In addition to the purposes described elsewhere in this Privacy Policy, Friends may use information we collect to:

• carry out our charitable, scientific, educational, conservation, and environmental stewardship activities;

• protect and preserve Scarritt's Mill Pond, its dam structure, and surrounding natural habitat;

• administer donations, programs, events, and volunteer activities;

• communicate with donors, volunteers, supporters, and the community;

• provide educational and conservation information;

• conduct fundraising and community outreach;

• maintain organizational, financial, donor/supporter records;

• evaluate and improve our website, programs, communications, and outreach;

• maintain the security and integrity of our website and information systems;

• prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized activity;

• comply with applicable legal, tax, accounting, insurance, and reporting requirements; and

• otherwise conduct legitimate activities in furtherance of Friends' nonprofit mission.

 
10. When We Share Information
Friends does not sell personal information.

We may disclose personal information to third parties when reasonably necessary to operate Friends and further its nonprofit mission. These third parties may include:

• website hosting and technology providers;

• payment processors;

• email and communications providers;

• donor and event management services;

• website analytics providers;

• accountants, attorneys, insurance professionals, and other professional advisors; and

• other vendors or service providers performing services on behalf of Friends.

We may also disclose information when we reasonably believe disclosure is required by applicable law, regulation, subpoena, court order, governmental request, or other legal process, or when reasonably necessary to protect the rights, property, safety, or legitimate interests of Friends or others.

Service providers may maintain their own privacy policies governing information they collect or process.

11. Third-Party Websites and Services
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, social media platforms, payment processors, registration services, or other online resources.

Friends does not control the privacy, security, or data collection practices of independent third parties. This Privacy Policy applies only to information collected by or on behalf of Friends and does not govern information collected independently by third-party websites or services.

We encourage visitors to review the privacy policies of third-party services before providing personal information.

12. Photographs and Community Activities
Friends may take or receive photographs or videos of conservation projects, community events, educational programs, volunteer activities, Scarritt's Mill Pond, wildlife, and other activities related to our mission.

Photographs or videos may be used in our website, newsletters, social media, educational materials, fundraising materials, or other communications concerning Friends and its activities, subject to applicable law and any specific permissions or restrictions associated with the particular event or activity.

Where appropriate, Friends may use separate photography releases, event notices, or consent forms.

13. Children's Privacy
Friends' website is intended for a general audience and is not directed specifically to children under the age of 13. Friends does not knowingly solicit or collect personal information online directly from children under 13 without appropriate involvement or consent of a parent or legal guardian.

Friends' educational, conservation, and community activities may include children and families. When information concerning a child is reasonably necessary for participation in a particular program or activity, Friends may require registration, consent, or other information from the child's parent or legal guardian.

If a parent or guardian believes that a child has provided personal information to Friends through our website without appropriate authorization, the parent or guardian may contact us and request that the information be deleted.

14. Data Security
Friends takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures appropriate to the nature of the information we maintain to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

Third-party providers used by Friends may maintain their own security measures and practices.

No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. Accordingly, while Friends endeavors to protect personal information, we cannot guarantee the absolute security of information transmitted to or maintained by us.

15. Retention of Information
Friends may retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, administer our nonprofit activities, maintain appropriate donor, financial, and organizational records, comply with applicable legal and tax requirements, resolve disputes, and protect the legitimate interests of Friends.

Different categories of information may be retained for different periods depending upon the nature of the information and the reason it was collected.

16. Your Choices and Requests
You may contact Friends to:

• update or correct personal information you have provided;

• unsubscribe from email or other communications;

• request removal from mailing lists;

• request that a donation remain anonymous for public recognition purposes;

• inquire about personal information you have provided to Friends; or

• raise a question or concern regarding our privacy practices.

Friends will make reasonable efforts to honor appropriate requests, subject to information that we are required or reasonably need to retain for legal, tax, accounting, recordkeeping, security, or other legitimate nonprofit purposes.

17. Changes to This Privacy Policy
Friends may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our website, programs, technology, service providers, organizational practices, or applicable law.

When we make material changes, we will post the revised Privacy Policy on our website and update the effective date appearing at the beginning of the policy.

18. Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or Friends' privacy practices, please contact:
Friends of Scarritt's Mill
West Hartford, Connecticut

Email: scarrittsmillfriend@gmail.com
Mailing Address: PO Box 370251, West Hartford, CT 06137