Privacy Policy

1. Information We May Collect

The information BOW collects depends on how you interact with us. We may collect information such as name, email address, telephone number, mailing address, age or date of birth when appropriate, parent/caregiver information, program or service interests, event registration information, volunteer or mentor application information, scholarship information, sponsorship or partnership information, donation information, communication preferences, safe-contact preferences, and information you voluntarily provide in forms or messages. Some BOW forms may request additional information necessary to determine program eligibility, provide requested support, administer financial assistance, review applications, coordinate services, or fulfill other legitimate organizational purposes.

2. Information About Children & Youth Participants

BOW provides youth-development and mentorship programming, including PURPLE Girls. Information concerning a minor participant may be collected from a parent, legal guardian, caregiver, or the participant when appropriate and permitted as part of BOW's enrollment, program, safety, communication, or administrative processes. BOW may require parent or legal-guardian authorization, permissions, releases, emergency information, and other documentation before a minor participates in applicable programs or activities. Youth information collected through BOW programming is handled according to applicable organizational policies and legal requirements.

The public website is not intended to encourage children to independently submit sensitive personal information without appropriate adult involvement.

3. How We Use Information

BOW may use collected information to respond to questions, inquiries, and requests for support; process program and service applications; administer PURPLE Girls and other BOW programs; communicate with participants and parents/caregivers; review BOW Access financial-assistance requests; administer scholarships and other approved assistance; process volunteer and mentor applications; conduct applicable screening and onboarding processes; register individuals for events and activities; process donations, sponsorships, and in-kind support; send newsletters and organizational updates when requested; coordinate community partnerships and referrals; maintain appropriate organizational and program records; improve BOW programs, services, communications, and website operations; protect the safety, rights, property, and legitimate interests of BOW and those we serve; and meet applicable legal, regulatory, grant, insurance, financial, or reporting requirements.

BOW does not use a survivor's story simply because that person requested assistance.

4. Survivor Privacy

Your Story Belongs to You.

Contacting BOW, participating in a program, requesting assistance, attending a H.E.R. Circle, or receiving BOW Access does not automatically give BOW permission to publicly share your identity, personal circumstances, survivor status, photographs, story, or experience. When BOW wishes to use an identifiable participant story, testimonial, photograph, video, or similar material publicly, appropriate authorization or consent should be obtained according to applicable BOW policy. Where appropriate, BOW may also offer options for anonymous or limited-identification storytelling.

Receiving support should never automatically become publicity.

5. Safe Communication

Tell Us How It Is Safe to Contact You.

For certain survivor-support or sensitive inquiries, BOW may ask whether it is safe to contact you by telephone, voicemail, text message, or email. We may also ask for your preferred method of communication or whether there are times or methods BOW should avoid. BOW personnel should follow the safe-contact information provided through the applicable request, subject to organizational procedures. However, no electronic communication method can be guaranteed to be completely private or secure. If you believe someone may be monitoring your phone, computer, email, browsing history, or other communications, consider using a safer device or contacting an appropriate domestic violence service provider for assistance with technology safety.

6. Confidentiality & Its Limits

BOW takes reasonable steps to protect information entrusted to the organization. However, confidentiality is not absolute. Information may need to be disclosed when required or permitted by law, when necessary to address applicable safety concerns, mandatory-reporting obligations, court or legal requirements, organizational operations, or other circumstances permitted under applicable policies or law. Specific BOW programs and services may provide additional confidentiality notices explaining how information is handled within that particular program.

7. How We Share Information

BOW does not sell personal information to advertisers or data brokers. BOW may share limited information when reasonably necessary with organizations or individuals that help us operate our website, process payments, administer programs, provide technology or communications services, conduct authorized screenings, support events, maintain records, or perform other legitimate organizational functions. When appropriate, information may also be shared with your consent or authorization; with a parent or legal guardian when applicable; with an authorized service provider; to facilitate a requested referral or outside service when appropriately authorized; or as required or permitted by applicable law.

8. Donations & Financial Information

Donation and payment processing may be handled through third-party payment platforms. BOW may retain records of donation amounts, dates, and donor information for financial, tax, acknowledgment, grant, and recordkeeping purposes. BOW does not sell donor information. Donors may contact BOW to update communication preferences or ask questions about how donation information is handled.

9. BOW Access & Financial Information

Information submitted through BOW Access is used to evaluate and administer requests for financial accommodations associated with eligible BOW programs or services. Information may include financial circumstances, household information, hardship information, requested assistance, and supporting documentation when required. BOW Access information should be accessible only as reasonably necessary for authorized review, administration, financial recordkeeping, and other legitimate organizational purposes.

Receiving BOW Access does not authorize BOW to publicly identify someone as a financial-assistance recipient.

10. Scholarship & Grant Information

Applications for the Avis' Legacy Scholarship, Avis' Legacy Survivor Stabilization Grant, or other BOW assistance opportunities may require personal information necessary to evaluate eligibility and administer the award. Application information may be reviewed by authorized individuals involved in the applicable selection or administrative process. Receiving an award does not automatically authorize BOW to publicly disclose sensitive information, including someone's status as a domestic violence survivor. Public recognition, photographs, biographies, testimonials, or survivor stories should be handled according to applicable consent and authorization procedures.

11. Volunteer & Mentor Information

Individuals applying to volunteer or mentor with BOW may be asked to provide information related to their identity, contact information, experience, availability, references, qualifications, and other information relevant to the role. Certain positions, particularly those involving youth or vulnerable participants, may require additional screening. Information collected during volunteer or mentor screening is used for legitimate organizational, safety, selection, placement, and compliance purposes.

12. Email & Newsletter Communications

Individuals may voluntarily subscribe to receive BOW newsletters, announcements, program information, event information, and other organizational communications. Recipients may unsubscribe from nonessential marketing or newsletter communications using the unsubscribe option provided in the message or by contacting BOW. Unsubscribing from promotional communications may not prevent BOW from sending necessary administrative communications relating to an application, registration, donation, program, service, or other active relationship with the organization.

13. Cookies, Analytics & Website Technology

BOW's website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, understand website usage, improve performance, remember preferences, or support embedded third-party services. The privacy notice and consent mechanism reflects the actual technology being used on this website.

14. Third-Party Websites & Services

BOW's website may contain links to third-party websites, payment platforms, forms, social-media services, community resources, or other external services. Once you leave a BOW-controlled website or use a third-party service, that provider's privacy practices and terms may apply. BOW is not responsible for the privacy practices, security, content, or availability of third-party websites or services that it does not control.

15. Photographs, Video & Media

BOW may photograph or record certain public events, programs, or activities when appropriate. For participants — particularly minors and individuals involved in survivor-centered programming — BOW follows applicable consent, media-release, privacy, and safety procedures before using identifiable images or recordings. For PURPLE Girls, appropriate parent/legal-guardian authorization and any required participant assent should be obtained before identifiable youth images are publicly used.

Participation in survivor support does not automatically equal consent to publicity.

16. Data Security

BOW uses reasonable administrative, organizational, physical, and technical measures appropriate to its operations to help protect personal information. However, no website, email account, electronic form, database, internet transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. For that reason, visitors should avoid submitting unnecessary highly sensitive information through general website contact forms.

17. How Long We Keep Information

BOW retains records according to applicable organizational record-retention policies, legal requirements, grant or contractual requirements, financial and tax obligations, program needs, and legitimate operational purposes. Different categories of information may have different retention periods. Information that has reached the end of its required retention period should be securely destroyed or deleted according to applicable BOW procedures.

18. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on the information involved and applicable legal or organizational requirements, you may contact BOW to update or correct certain information, change communication preferences, unsubscribe from newsletters, ask questions about how information is handled, withdraw certain optional permissions for future use, or request information about applicable privacy procedures. Some records cannot be immediately deleted upon request because BOW may be required to retain them for legal, financial, program, safety, insurance, grant, contractual, or recordkeeping purposes.

19. Social Media

Information posted publicly on BOW's social-media pages may be visible to other users and is subject to the policies of the applicable social-media platform. For your privacy and safety, please do not post sensitive personal information, detailed abuse experiences, addresses, safety plans, or emergency requests in public comments. If you need assistance, use BOW's designated support-request process or appropriate emergency/community resources.

20. Emergency & Crisis Communications

This Website Is Not an Emergency Service.

BOW's website, email, contact forms, social-media accounts, and general support-request forms are not monitored as emergency response systems. If you are in immediate danger or experiencing a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Individuals seeking immediate domestic violence assistance, emergency shelter, crisis intervention, or safety-planning assistance should use appropriate emergency or community resources.

21. Changes to This Privacy Policy

BOW may update this Privacy Policy as our programs, website, technology, legal obligations, or organizational practices change. When material updates are made, the revised policy will be posted with an updated Last Updated date. Continued use of the website after an update is subject to the revised policy as permitted by applicable law.

22. Contact Us About Privacy

Questions or concerns regarding this Privacy Policy or BOW's privacy practices may be directed to Blessing Our Women, Inc.

Email: [email protected]